Put It in Stone

Thy Rod And His Staff, They Comfort Me

2010-12-28T22:41:00.001-05:00

Investments can be frustrating things. Words like risk, reward, affluence, convenience, chance, prosperity, fortune, bankruptcy, and luck are prevalent whenever the topic of our precious pile of property rears its head. Do we play it safe? Or do we spin the wheel of fortune and put our future in jeopardy? David Brandon has to deal with this question not only about his portfolio, but also with the head football coach at the University of Michigan. He sits in his dark office in the long hours of the night scheming his next move. But what he should be doing is enjoying his cable TV, plush couches, beautiful women, small giraffes and saying, “Opulence…. I has it.”

David Brandon already has the next great coach of the University, now he just has to realize Rodriguez is already in the fold. This is the gamble worth the risk. This is the investment worth waiting for the proverbial payout. Intelligent investors know that, historically, new businesses and investments take two to three years to mature and become financial boons to those who stood by the product and saw it grow. Rich Rodriguez’s product at the University of Michigan is on the precipice of becoming a consistent national power who will vie for titles for years to come under the authority of the current coach.

The main argument made by the detractors of Coach Rodriguez is that he doesn’t care about defense, and that Michigan will never have a respectable one while he resides in Schembechler Hall. This is completely ignorant. Yes, the surface facts point blatantly that Michigan’s defense has gotten worse each year under Rich, and that this past season was the worst statistical defense Michigan has ever seen. These are easy things to point to without having to do much research, but a closer look reveals that a vast majority of the defensive flaws do not rest solely on the shoulders of a coach that has been here for three years and only two recruiting classes. Believing that a spread offense automatically equals a bad defense is not logical. Obviously with a quick strike offense the opponents will have more possessions which lead to generally higher scores on your defense, but it doesn’t mean the talent level has to be poor. Which it wasn’t at Michigan until…..

The secondary imploded. It was supposed to include Donovan Warren, Troy Woolfolk, JT Floyd, Justin Turner, and a hotshot freshman named Demar Dorsey. Donovan Warren took really, incredibly, terribly bad advice and turned pro unexpectedly. He did not get drafted, and should have been a key piece in the Wolverine’s defense. Troy Woolfolk was the other starter at cornerback, and was lost for the season due to injury before it started. Justin Turner was a five star recruit that was supposed to be the top backup corner for this program in 2010, but spent more time at the buffet line than in the gym in the offseason. He is now out of division one football. JT Floyd was considered the fourth option at corner this year, but was forced into a starting role. He was injured halfway through the season. Demar Dorsey was denied by Michigan’s admissions department even though he passed all the NCAA requirements. He was a sure fire contributor and possible starter at safety. Tiger Woods thinks the Michigan secondary had a bad year. Even George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg thought it was a perfect storm of misfortune.

Obviously every program in the nation has injuries, defections, and other similar issues. But losing five players on the two deep for your secondary is unheard of. No program in the country could absorb the types of losses Rich had to deal with in the secondary and been considered a good defense. Think about it. Whatever football program you are a fan of, take out the two starting corners, the two backups, and your newest hotshot five star and what would you have left? Freshman, perhaps? Sound familiar?

Let's continue. Rodriguez had six players from Lloyd's 2007 class worth a damn as redshirt juniors/true seniors this year. One of them plays for Arkansas by the name of Ryan Mallett, and one of them is now a fourth string cornerback for the Jets named Donovan Warren. Junior Hemingway, David Molk, Ryan Van Bergen, and Troy Woolfolk are the others. That's the extent of the contributors from Lloyd's last full class who are currently Michigan's four year players worth their scholarships. Unfortunately, Carr also recruited most of Rodriguez's junior class. Darryl Stonum, Kevin Koger, Mike Martin, and Kenny Demens are the only players of the seventeen recruited by Lloyd that have proven themselves to be even average players for a division one football team, with Mike Martin being the one player who will be drafted into the NFL. Six of the eight players that Rodriguez recruited in two short months are successes. That list includes JT Floyd, Michael Shaw, Martavious Odoms, Roy Roundtree, Patrick Omameh, and Ricky Barnum. Five of them are starters when healthy, and Barnum is a probable two year starter on the offensive line. Also, Rodriguez's recruiting classes in 2009 and 2010 have leaned heavily towards the defensive side of the football because of the voids left by the ineptitude of Lloyd Carr's final classes and Rodriguez's need to retool the offense.

With the talent that’s already on the roster, the total lack of graduating contributors on both sides of the ball, and the young defenders Rich is bringing in bode well for next year and beyond. People say there is no hope for next years defense, but the Wolverines gain back two immediate starters in JT Floyd and Troy Woolfolk for next year’s secondary. Their black hole of gaping sorrow, known as their pass defense, can become a land of mediocrity. This is technically a huge upgrade if one were to look up the words “hell on earth” and “kind of capable most of the time.” This upgrade at the corner spots, coupled with Rich’s continued labor of increasing the talent pool of the defense through recruiting offer proof of an improving defense to go with an explosive offense.

While the offense needs no defending, it’s time to stop defending the defense and go on the offensive about the offense. Are you still with me? The offense was the ninth best offense in yards but twenty first in scoring. The Wolverines have a first year starting quarterback in Denard Robinson that destroyed almost every Michigan record, and is considered someone to watch closely for future Heisman consideration. The fact that the copious amounts of yards didn’t turn into as many points as it should have is mostly from Denard’s timing. As a first year starter he was late to throw on many routes that were wide open, and most of his interceptions were a result of not reacting in time. The rule of thumb on starting quarterbacks is the biggest jump is from year one to year two as a starter. It’s scary to think of what Denard could accomplish next year. Actually I'm getting warm fuzzies right now. This isn't scary at all. Give me a minute....

...The return on the Rich Rodriguez investment is about to be realized. To cut bait when the returns are so close would be a travesty. 1927 was the last year a Michigan coach wasn’t given five years to prove his worth. To be able to coach his own juniors and seniors. To install his system. Why should that change now? Especially when Rich has arguably the biggest overhaul to achieve. If you do not trust what is written in this article, then trust Jim Schwartz. When asked why the Lions have been so bad over the last decade, his answer was that there were too many different philosophies, too many coaches, and too many different trains of thought to be successful. He went on to say that stability and believing in what you are doing is the key to success. Stay the course Mr. Brandon, or I’ll be forced to switch to Mr. Illitch’s pizza out of spite.

Here we go again.....

2010-01-25T18:10:00.004-05:00

Its the time of year where Detroit Lions fans look longingly at the Swimsuit Issu......COUGH..... Superbowl matchup and wonder what it might take to someday be in such a position, and no I'm not still talking about the Swimsuit Issue. I don't have the time or the energy to write a volume the length of the Koran to dissect the entire problem, but the two weeks between the championship games and said 'Bowl is the time where I reflect most on the should'ves and the could'ves. While most Lions fans have been discussing the offseason and draft since Week 3, I was too involved with losing both of my fantasy football leagues while having a regular season record of 22-5, not to mention watching the playoffs to refresh my memory of what real American football should look like. But without further ado, I give you my Koran cliffnotes as it were to how the Lions can reverse their Cubs-like run at the bottom of the NFC.

#1. Draft Mr. Suh or Gerald McCoy. And yes I wrote Mr. Suh because I have no idea how the blazes to actually spell his first name. Where is that cat FROM anyway? Wherever he is from, draft all 8 players from there, and yes I know how many rounds there are in the NFL draft. Do some research of our picks this year before chastising me you intellectual weaklings. Sorry..... back on topic...... This isn't actually what I would consider the biggest need of our team, but the talent level of these two compared to everyone else in the draft is undeniable, and it still is a need. The biggest need in my mind is actually.....

#2. Get an effective Left Guard for all that is Holy. I'm sorry, I thought Manny Ramirez played baseball. What? Daniel Loper, Jon Jansen, and Ephriam Salaam couldn't fill in admirably after our starting Guard went to play for the Dodgers??? Why can't we be like the late great Broncos and have a dominating offensive line that can make Tatum Bell look like a Pro Bowler? Then we trade said mediocre running back for players that are actually talented. Fool proof. My plan is to re-sign Tatum in the offseason after we sign a Left Guard and have him amass 1,500 yards from scrimmage and then trade him back to the Broncos for Dre Bly. I don't understand why we haven't done this yet. Yes, yes I know the line would still not be perfect, but that is the weakest link, and helping out our running backs and our multi-million dollar baby faced quarterback is a huge necessity.

#3. Find a secondary. I don't even know why they call it a secondary. In the National Passhappy League it should be called a primary. It is the primary problem of our defense, besides the defensive line which gives opposing quarterbacks Adrian Peterson to throw........... All day?...........Nobody?............ Anyway, I basically just said "besides our secondary and our defensive line we have a pretty good thing going" which makes me want to kill myself. Which leads me to important thing #4.

#4. Get a sharp knife and end it already, but do so in the tub so your family has less to clean up. The team is so bereft of talent that bleeding out is a better option for me than to continue this post. Ugh.......

*No authors were hurt in the posting of this commentary.

Ryan Raburn

2009-10-05T18:24:00.004-04:00

My worst nightmare happened. Not even Zack Greinke could prevent the stupid Twins from sweeping the Royals, who chose the worst times to get hot and then go in a slump. Plus we all knew it would be completely unreasonable to expect the Tigers offense to score more than one run against Freddy Garcia (4.34 ERA), so how could the Tigers possibly take 2 of 3 from a non-playoff team at home.

So here we are, scared to death that the Minnesota house of horrors will mean another year added to the division championship drought.

But, as I keep having to remind myself, the Tigers are not out of it yet. I also need to often remind myself that I am not the manager of the Tigers and have no control. That said, I can continue to pretend.

I already gave the Tigers, specifically Carlos Guillen, quite the verbal licking from the left field stands on Saturday, a message that seemed to be received. I also chastised Leyland for sitting one of his best offensive options, Ryan Raburn, on Saturday in favor of the completely worthless, unless playing for a last place team, Aubrey Huff. My theory then was founded basically on my completely unjustified belief that every time I attend a Tigers game that Raburn plays in, he has a great game at the plate. Perhaps not completely unjustified considering I have seen him hit is first career hit, home run, and grand slam in addition to several 3-4 games and a couple multi-RBI games. (Ryan, if your superstitious you can email me about my season tickets next year, I'm not asking for much, and you get to go to the hall of fame. Deal?)

However, after looking purely at the numbers, Raburn might be the guy who most needs to play in the one game "playoff." Here are some stats for you to chew on.

Raburn is hitting a home run just over every 16 (16.025) at bats. That is better than both Miguel Cabrera (18.36) and Curtis Granderson (20.867). In fact, it is just a little worse than AL HR leader, Mark Teixiera (15.6).

I know what you are going to say. "Ryan Raburn plays mostly in a platoon, in favorable hitting match-ups" to which I say, how dare you doubt Ryan Raburn's abilities! Raburn has 128 at bats verses right handed pitchers and 158 at bats against left handed pitchers. Most of his power numbers are coming against left handed pitchers (12 HRs against lefties vs. 4 against righties), but Raburn actually has a higher average against right handed pitchers (.296 vs. .278).

Mind you, Raburn's .288 average is 3rd best on the team, and his 45 RBI's is three less than Magglio who had 203 more at bats than Raburn. In fact, if you extrapolate Raburn's 45 RBI's for as many AB's as Miguel Cabrera had, he would be leading the team with 106 RBIs.

However, the most important stat of all might be this chart. Look at his trends: (click link to make it bigger)

Not only is Raburn hitting .345 this month, and he also has half of his home runs in one month of play. The trend says he is saving his best for last.

I wanted to finish you all off and thereby instill the same love that I have for Ryan Raburn into your own heart with a grand finale that showed Raburn hitting .400 against Scott Baker. However, it looks like he has never actually faced Scott Baker in his career. Perhaps this unfamiliarity is problematic, but I don't think you sit your hottest hitter just because he is young and unfamiliar.

Raburn basically single-handedly kept us in this race after not getting a chance to play in games 1 or 2 against the White Sox. He has to play in Tuesday's game.

I gave you all the reasons why we need him at the plate, but we also need him in left field instead of the 3 steps too slow Carlos Guillen. Raburn gives you a huge lift defensively because he has more speed than Guillem, but also because of his accurate arm that has thrown out an amazing 8 assists from the outfield, putting him near the top of the list of outfielders, all of whom are everyday players, unlike Raburn.

So, looking at all the great reasons to play Ryan Raburn, here is my suggestion for tomorrow:

1. Curtis Granderson - CF

2. Placido Polonco - 2B

3. Magglio Ordonez - RF

4. Miguel Cabrera (hopefully sober) - 1B

5. Carlos Guillen - DH

6. Brandon Inge - 3B

7. Ryan Raburn - LF

8. Gerald Laird - C

9. Adam Everett - SS

Raburn is a very hot hitter and NEEDS to play tomorrow. I will be extremely disappointed if he isn't in the lineup because he might be the only remaining key to a halfway decent offense.

Lord Bettman's......ERRRRR.......Stanley's Cup Finals

2009-06-18T17:38:00.008-04:00

This is the world we live in. A team loses in Game 7 of Lord Stanley's Cup and their fans must find ways in which to relieve the pain from a head on collision with reality. "Fans" will spew obscenities about opposing players, coaches, fans, and even the League. As if only the NHL itself could keep down our Kingly Wings. Bandwagoners cannot live with the fact that they hitched a ride on a trail that ended up plummeting over a cliff instead of to "them thar mountains" with a giant silver cup filled with gold, and possibly Crosby's pubic-like beard hair. Casual fans who don't know who the Wings third line Center is or our second line defenseman are cannot believe that such a great team could possibly have gotten so screwed. Even some of the die-hard fans out there believe all of this was some sort of mirage or chirade for Bettman to get "Cindy" (his?) Cup. Listen good all you deficient, incendiary provocateurs. We simply got beat.

I love conspiracy theories. Especially the ones like the government caused 9/11 to rally the American people against Muslims, or that they created the AIDS virus to rid the world of "undesireable" people and their habits, or maybe that our government had plenty of advance knowledge of Pearl Harbor and did nothing. Oh, and let's not forget Princess Diana, UFOs, and JFK, to name a few. H.L. Mencken once said, "The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true desserts. He ascribes all his failure to get on in the world, all of his congenital incapacity and damfoolishness, to the machinations of werewolves assembled in Wall Street, or some other such den of infamy." Whatever helps you sleep at night eh? If you want to delve deeply into paranoia and the absence of logic or probable thought, that's your business. But Bettman's business is trying to expand his product. Yes, he's made mistakes in hyping Crosby too much, but he is looking to increase the viewership of the NHL and has made the biggest contracts in NHL history with TV and radio sponsors. He even brought the NHL back from the Lockout. Unfortunately, Bettman is a smart businessman, and smart businessmen do not put their careers on the line for a Tim Donaghy-ian type backlash. If you must believe that Bettman screwed the Wings out of a Championship, just realize that most people around the world would consider you clinically insane.

I will grant that the national media does not consider Detroit one of their darlings. It's no surprise that Bettman would prefer the Cup go elsewhere, just like Selig loves Subway Series' or BoSox vs. Dodgers. Don't you think Stern was leaping for joy that LA won the NBA championship? Michigan as a whole and Detroit as a microcosm are considered the beaten stepchild of New York, LA, and Chicago among others. They regard our victories as anomalies and sound like a loving mother talking to her handicapped child, "Aww! You did so good honey!" And while we may have an inferiority complex that has a foundation in legitimacy, our destiny is our own. Selig did not force every Detroit Tigers pitcher to not know how to throw to first base in '06, Roger Goodell did not send down a mandate for a t-shirt that had "Built Ford Tough" written on it with a Lions logo, David Stern did not tell Joe D. he had to trade Chauncey (still a good trade), and Gary effen Bettman DID NOT lose this series for the Wings.

Gary Bettman did not give us a 2-0 series lead, only to squander it. Gary Bettman did not give us a 3-2 lead, only to squander it. Hell, it almost seemed like he was on the Wings side there for awhile didn't it? Except the Wings were OFFsides so much it didn't matter. The Wings were worse closers than I was in college, and that's saying something. And Gary Bettman surely doesn't have the mind boggling power to make sure we played with no sense of urgency at the Joe in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. He didn't get the Pens so geeked up for the game that they chased the puck harder than a teen boy on viagra. No, that was Coach Dan Bylsma, who graduated from my high school; and if he brings the Cup to Muskegon I will seriously jump off their new high rise building. . . I digress. . .

In essence, it would have been better for the Winged Wheels to lose indefinitely. Yes this sounds putrid to us all, including me who relished in our 7-0 thumping of Patrick Roy and the Avs in Game 7. But knowing we had another gear that was out of commission until 5 minutes were left in the third period? That is unconscionable. No one should have to tell a veteran team what the stakes are. That's like telling Dane Cook he's not funny, he should already know. And to show that they had more so late in the game after they had been thoroughly outplayed is bush league. It was almost as if we've seen the Pistons reincarnated. Winning a championship . . . coming back to the Finals . . . and being too comfortable for the last 60 minutes of play possible in a season for a chance at immortality and the words Legacy, Legendary, Dominant, and Storied. It's almost too hard to write about.

It's obvious that the Wings had more talent on their roster than the Pens. The Pens coach, players, and media even said as much multiple times throughout the course of the series. But as the Wings have found out many times over the past decade of 100 point seasons, the best team doesn't always take home the Cup. Yes, injuries took a toll with the likes of Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Draper, Kopecky, and Lilja missing multiple games if not series'. But that is only a testament to the Wings depth, not an excuse for the way that they finished out by losing 4 of 5 games to an inferior team. Basically it looked to me as if they got caught staring at all the bling on their fingers instead of playing with the heart and desire to match the hungry, upstart Penguins who expunged their inferiority complex. . . Sidenote: The parents of the Baileys should take notes on how to expunge inferiority complexes from the Penguins. Boss and Champ? Really?? . . . Zetterberg said it best afterwards when he pronounced that the Wings "needed this" and that it "wasn't fun, but will bring us back stronger." Fans would hope that the team wouldn't have to go through such a crushing loss to gain back the fire to win, but everyone is human. There is an innate sense of complacency and an entitlement mentality among players who are used to winning, which helps explain why repeating as Champions is always so difficult.

And yet they are not the "Dead Wings" or "Dead Things" or any of the other horrible things they've been called by friend and foe alike. This team is still very talented and no matter what roster changes happen during the summer to stay under the cap, they will once again be a favorite to win Stanley's preferred drinking mug. In fact, they were the last ones to win incredible back to back championships in '97 and '98, then again in '02 and '08. They have the pedigree and talent to be a force for the next decade, so this is no memorial, epitaph, or eulogy (pronounced ya-goo-ga-ly). Are the Wings guaranteed to hoist the Cup next season? No, of course not. But year in and year out, they are the alpha dog of opportunity for that chance. At least Hossa got that part right.

Dontrelle Willis

2009-05-20T09:54:00.003-04:00

Dontrelle Willis pitched 6 and 1/3 innings of 1 hit ball last night.

Read that sentence above again. Now try and believe it.

Like most of you, I was watching the Wings last night, and I didn't get to see most of Willis' gem; just a few innings during the 2 hockey intermissions. But when the channel did get switched, I could barely believe those 3 boxes displayed on the Fox Sports Detroit screen: 0 | 1 | 0.

These numbers might have been more believable if either A) Number 35 was on the hill, or B) Dontrelle was high kicking in a church-league softball game. But neither were true, and he was pitching to, quite possibly, the best offense in the American League.

I can recite stats to you all day long, but since you are reading my blog I am sure you can just as easily surf over to espn.com and see them for yourself. My role is perspective.

Dontrelle Willis never earned any fans last year in Detroit, but what he did earn was a lot of respect. He is a high profile player, and I know he has a lot of pride, yet he was willing to swallow that pride and be demoted to a minor league baseball team. Did he have to do this? Of course not, he signed a major league contract; the Tigers needed his permission to send him down. He could have screwed the team over, either forcing him to stay on the Major League team, or forcing them to waive him and pay him the 27 million dollars to do nothing.

The other side? Juan Rincon. A worthless reliever who, a lifetime ago, managed to string together a few decent years. In 2009, signs a minor league contract with the Tigers, but manages makes the opening day roster because Zumaya wasn't healthy. The regular season rolls around, and his performance is terrible, and there is no longer any room for him on the roster, so the Tigers option him. He refuses, hoping some team will pick him up, or the Tigers waive him so that he can collect 2 pay checks.

Instead of the easy road, Dontrelle worked his butt off. He righted the ship with hard work, re-learning, and being open to constructive criticism.

So, the point of this blog is praise. There aren't many players like Dontrelle. Instead of believing he was entitled to that big contract, he wanted to earn it. He wanted to earn it, not just for his own utility, but to make the contract look like a good investment for the team. Willis said after the game, "[the win] feels great, because we're winning." His attitude, his performance, and his aura is the kind of thing you want in your team's clubhouse. His dedication and hard work are contagious, and nobody deserves success more than him.

So, I am really happy for Dontrelle's bounce back. Of course, I am cautiously optimistic about his future, but I really, really hope his success continues because he earned it.

Johan Franzen

2009-05-18T16:57:00.003-04:00

Johan Frazen is a simply incredible hockey player. I offer this video as evidence of some of this guy's incredible skills.

Spectacular regular season goals aside, this guy is doing something that few have ever seen before. Here are his post-season statistics that I am sure are drilled into your head by now:

13 Goals last year, 18 points this year in 12 games.

Frazen is singlehandedly keeping the Red Wings in contention for another championship. Think about where the Wings would be without his elevated, clutch play; they would undoubtedly be dead in the water (Pond?). Anaheim would have walked all over the Wings without the play of Frazen in that hard-fought, 7-game series, given how well the Ducks shut down Datsyuk and Hossa.

Frazen is the most clutch post-season performer we have seen in any sport in a while. There is a long list of athletes whose performance takes a serious hit when the post-season rolls around; a list that starts alphabetically in the A's for A-Rod and Ray Allen. There is another list, a much shorter list, of good players who become legends in the post-season, and Frazen belongs near the top.

If Reggie Jackson was Mr. October, Frazen might have to be Mr. May.

Lastly, remember the Wings just signed him to an 11 year deal earlier this season. That contract looks even more appealing now that Frazen's play this post-season proved that last year's amazing statistics were no fluke. The Wings will just about always be good enough to make the playoffs, and as long as this guy steps up his game in April and May like this, expect the engravers to be carving a lot of "Frazen" on those Stanley Cups and Con Smyth trophies.

Clete Thomas

2009-05-10T20:08:00.002-04:00

Can someone please tell me what Jim Leyland sees in Clete Thomas that I don't?

Today was Clete's 5th game in a row starting in the outfield, proving that Jim intends on him being an everyday player and not just a situational left handed bat. Personally, I don't get it. He is hitting .333 right now, but 4 of those hits were in one game, and since them he has gone 2 for 14.

Granted, that nobody in the Tigers lineup is really "lighting it up," but I still do not see the justification of starting Clete every day.

The reason I don't get it is because Clete gets thrown into an everyday role immediately, while Marcus Thames got little to no at bats before hitting the DL. Another being that Jeff Larish also has not even been given the same opportunity that Clete has. I understand that Clete is a much better outfielder than either Marcus Thames, Magglio Ordonez, or Jeff Larish, but that alone does not seem to justify Clete's big playing time or his position in the batting order (3rd).

There are several moves that are more logical than making Clete an everyday player fresh from AAA. First, Leyland could platoon Raburn, Larish, and Thomas. Larish supposedly can play the corner outfield positions, even though we have never seen him do so this year. On the days when facing a right handed pitcher, my lineup and positions would look like this.

1. Anderson - LF

2. Polonco - 2B

3. Granderson - CF

4. Cabrera - 1B

5. Larish - DH/RF

6. Ordonez - DH/RF

7. Inge - 3B

8. Laird - C

9. Everett/Santiago - SS

When facing a left-handed pitcher my lineup would look like this:

1. Granderson - CF

2. Polonco - 2B

3. Ordonez - RF

4. Cabrera - 1B

5. Larish - DH

6. Inge - 3B

7. Laird - C

8. Thomas/Anderson - LF

9. Everett - SS

For the first time in ages, the Tigers are loaded with lefty bats. Temporarily so, until Guillen and Thames come back. But, Larish has been making more with his at-bats than Thomas has and I think he should be getting the vast majority of the playing time. Plus, what are the Tigers waiting for? Larish certainly isn't going to be useful to the Tigers as a first baseman, that spot is pretty much locked down for the next 7 years. He would be far more useful as a corner outfielder or designated hitter. And, lastly, Larish has far more talent than Thomas has, and I think that the most talent should be played most.

Larry Foote

2009-05-05T17:14:00.001-04:00

So, Larry Foote is in town. I have to admit that Larry Foote was my second favorite Michigan Linebacker ever (Ian Gold being my favorite) so obviously I would love him to come to town. But seriously, the Lions, who won ZERO games last year and had a guy named PARIS playing middle linebacker last year, are saying they need to make sure HE FITS THE SCHEME!?!? When you win 5 games you get the luxury of fitting guys in schemes. When you are the Lions and you haven’t won a game in over a year and a half, you take ANY talent you can get. How often do you A) get a guy who WANTS to come to Detroit, and B) actually fits a gaping whole in your team? This is RARE!!! Don’t forget this guy has won multiple super bowls, is a leader/all around good guy, and doesn’t want a long term contract. This is a match made in heaven!

If I was martin mayhew I would have a 2-3 year, 3.5 million dollar contract (he made under 3 last year) ready for him to sign the second he walked into Ford Field. But then again, I wouldn’t draft a TE in the first round, so clearly I know nothing about how to rebuild a football team.

Draft Recap

2009-04-27T15:07:00.002-04:00

I want to begin this post with a quick apology for my hiatus over the past few weeks. I have 2 more weeks of exams and then I should be back to my regular, weekly posting schedule. Thanks for still tuning into the blog though. For those of you who want to stay updated without having to access the site everyday, we do have an RSS feed on this site. The URL for the feed is http://www.putitinstoneblog.com/feeds/posts/default . Feel free to post that into your favorite RSS Tracker (Mac users, may I suggest NetNewsWire, it is really good and free). That way your RSS feed will alert you of any new posts on Put it in Stone without having to access the site! Anyway, lets get to business.

I will confess, I watched just about every pick in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. I have also familiarized myself with the picks the Lions made in the later rounds. So, lets analyze and grade this draft.

The first thing I need to say is the Lions invested a TON in Matthew Stafford. The NFL really needs to do something about these fat and continually inflating rookie salaries. The Lions invested more money in a player that has never played a single NFL down than any other player on the team. That move makes absolutely no sense. The draft, and specifically the draft order, was intended to help bad teams get better; ya know, in economic terms, to encourage competition. But instead, the rookie contracts hurt bad teams. Too much money gets invested in a player based purely on speculation and conjecture. I think the NFL really needs to follow the NBA's lead and cap rookie contracts based on position, and draft number. Currently, the draft is seeing rookie contracts go up about 20% each year. That number is much higher than inflation and way higher than the yearly increases in salary cap. Take the power away from the agents, and put it back in the hands of the teams before 6-8 teams go broke.

Just for a quick example, in the NBA, the number 1 pick is a coveted position. What team doesn't want to add Blake Griffin this year, or wanted to add Lebron James in 2003? In the NFL the number one pick is a curse, resulting in a contract no team want to be burdened by. This needs to change, Mr. Goodell.

Alright, besides the money, Stafford was the only pick. I love Aaron Curry, and the Lions sure could have used Jason Smith, but franchise quarterback is extremely important in a league built for QBs. With the money spent on Stafford, he has to be a franchise QB. If he turns into a Jay Cutler type, he is probably worth the money. If not, expect 6-9 more years of serious losing in Detroit. The Lions have the skill players to help him succeed, but they do not have the protection ready to help him succeed. He already struggles with footwork in the pocket, so protection and time for him becomes even more important. The Lions would be smart to play Culpepper every down this year and let Stafford learn, observe, and lobby for a better O-Line. Next year, the Lions need to address the Line, give Stafford more protection, and you might have a situation conducive for success.

So, after the inevitable happened, I have to say I am disappointed with the selections. The talent level the Lions got, and perhaps the value was really quite good. They got the Best TE, and Safeties in the draft. The problem is, they don't desperately need either of those positions! Don't get me wrong, a game changer can come from any position, even TE or Safety. Ed Reed and Antonio Gates are great examples of game changers from those respective positions. However, the needs of the Lions in the trenches is so important. The Lions didn't draft a D-lineman until the 4th and didn't draft an offensive lineman until the 7th!!! While both of these players have upside and could become contributors, I don't see it. Call it skepticism from years of Millen-late round disappointments, but the odds of finding a gem are diminished when you combine a first year coach with a first year GM. So, my doubts and skepticism is firmly founded

Despite the lack of executive experience, I have no doubt that Pettigrew is a great player and will probably help the offense, and especially Matthew Stafford, succeed. But a first round TE is rare for a reason. Most TE's don't come close to the talent level of the Big-time DE, OT, QB's or skill position players that the first round is normally littered with. Although, it is, perhaps, becoming more commonplace to draft TE's in the first round (Greg Olson, Vernon Davis, Heath Miller, Tony Gonzalez were all first round selections), normally this is a luxury pick. The Lions have NO luxuries, as they have needs all over the field!

At 20, in hindsight, there must be something wrong with Maualuga. Also, from what I have heard, Michael Oher is one step away from being retarded. So, perhaps either of these players nwould not have been a good pick. So, my pick would have been Peria Jerry or Ziggy Hood. The D-Tackles the Lions do have are both fat and old. Some youth injected into this pick would have made sense.

As for the later rounds, I think the Lions made a big mistake trading out of the first pick of the third round because it cost them a chance at getting Michael Johnson, the DE from Georgia Tech. After passing on Peria Jerry, getting an impact DE would have made a lot of sense. But they missed out and took at DT in the fourth round. Hopefully, this big player (330+) will be a big impact on Defense. Also, this probably shows a lot of faith in the skills of Cliff Avril, which is something I can see.

Levy, I have heard, can play middle. Hopefully this is a natural transition for him and the Lions can rely on one of their only strengths, outside linebacker, to help Levy transition and succeed.

In conclusion, I am a disappointed that the Lions did not address some more pressing needs at 20. However, many sports writers and former executives claim the best way to draft is to take the most talented players in the first round and address needs in the later rounds. If this philosophy is the right one, the Lions probably did that in their first 3 picks. However, my fears are that the continued existence of some big holes on the offensive line, defensive line, and middle linebacker will result in a lot of losses yet again this year.

Better Late than Never: BASEBALL PREDICTIONS!!!

2009-04-06T00:17:00.002-04:00

Opening Day is finally here! Baseball season has begun and honoring the theme and spirit of this blog, I bring you my predictions for the 2009 season. Of course, predictions like this are really meaningless because a single injury or trade could change the whole completion of the season changes. Now that the boilerplate stuff is out of the way, lets begin! I bring you my predictions for all the division leaders, the respective league MVP's and Cy Young Winners and my World Season prediction!

AL East: Yankees. They addressed their two biggest needs in a big way this offseason: pitching and defense. Teixeira is a huge upgrade over Giambi and their pitching staff much better with the big acquisitions of C.C. and Burnett. Those additions push them above the Red Sox, but with the Rays close behind.

AL Central: Twins. This division is horrible, but the young hitters and solid pitching of the Twins should be enough for them to rise above the rest of crappy teams in this division. The White Sox claim a good rotation, but they are relying heavily on the miracle recovery of Jose Contreras. I imagine the Indians could make a run for the division, but the young and quick hitters, and the very good defense of the Twins will be enough to win this division. Sorry Tigers fans, I have serious concerns about our rotation and our bullpen. I don't have a good feeling about this season.

AL West: Athletics. The reason I am not picking the Angels is because they have a lot of early season injuries to their rotation and their hitting took a hit with the loss of Teixeira. The Athletics made a great move getting Matt Holliday. I also like the talent of their young pitchers. They will be enough to make the playoffs, barely.

Wild Card: Rays. I honestly think the Rays will be better this year than last year. The problem is the Yankees have a huge psychological advantage, and enough of one to prevent them winning the division. The Yankees will win the season series against the Rays, and barely beat them out of the division. But the Rays will be in the playoffs again.

Cy Young: Roy Halladay. (My dark horse for this award is Liriano.)

MVP: Matt Holliday

NL East: Mets. I think the Mets had the best team last year in the NL, but the bullpen let them down. The addition of K-Rod is a big addition. The bullpen should get a big boost just from his presence. As a result, I like them over the Phillies

NL Central: Cubs. This team improved, while all the others got worse. Only the Cardinals could challenge the Cubs for this league, but that is going to require Chris Carpenter to have a great season, which I doubt.

NL West: Dodgers. Manny should be set to have another great season in LA, assuming he isn't trying only when there is money on the line. But, regardless, the Dodgers have good and enough to get the division

Wild Card: Phillies. I can't hate on the defending champs. They will contend for the division, but settle for the wild card.

Cy Young: Brandon Webb

MVP: Hanley Rameriez

World Series: Rays v. Mets. Rays win it all!

Reefer err I mean Bracket Madness

2009-04-03T15:19:00.000-04:00

I heard some of you are really STRUG-GEL-LING with your brackets. You getting beat by you roommates girl friend, who pick her winners based on criteria such as what teams uniforms would most likely appear on What Not to Where. You even overheard her say, “there’s no way Clinton would wear those awful black Purdue uniforms. He’d go with the classic UCONN look.” Or are you losing to the guy in the cubicle next to you, who has watched two college basketball games all year. The only player in the tournament he has actually heard of is Tyler Hansbrough. He picks all caulk and some crazy upset that of course happens. I can almost guarantee knowledge college basketball fans are losing to an individual such as this. Of course maybe you’re sitting in seventh place out of 32 people like me, but everyone above you has the same freaking teams left. Well, as other things I have fixed in sports (see MooN’s NCAA Football Playoff System or the MFPS for short) I have a system that will eliminate your programs. Once again I will be returning the bullet format for the sake of clarity.

· Disclaimer #1: This system only works for knowledgeable fans and only on a small scale. There’s no way this system works in your office pool in which over 100 participate. It’s too complicated and would be time consuming. You also need a group of individuals that understand how seeding and upsets work. Your cousin’s seven year old son can’t participate here. It wouldn’t work.

· Disclaimer #2: This system is for those expecting more out of their pool. It seeks to eliminate the five minute fill, the crazy upset guy, similar brackets, and going with the caulk. This is for the fan looking to take things to the next level (see Nate’s fantasy football system).

· Disclaimer #3: This system seeks to reward those, who actually make tough picks. I feel that it is unfair to reward someone for picking a #1 seed over a #16 the exact same way as someone, who picks the right #12/$5 upset. It doesn’t make sense. Seeing brackets are essentially a form of gambling they should be based on odds, right?

· The system increasing the amount of points given per round as the teams advanced in the tourney like most systems

· 1^stx1, 2^ndx2, Sweet 16x3, Elite 8x4, Final 4x5, Championship x6

· Points are also given according to seed

· 1-2 start value= 1 point,3-4= 2 points, 5-7= 3 points, 8-10= 4 points, 11-14= 5 points, 15-16= 6 points

· Bonus 5 pts for each Elite 8 team, 10 pts per Final 4 team, 15 per Championship game team, 20 for winner

· Bonus 10 points available in each round for most games picked correctly

What do you think? I am completely open for suggestions on perfecting my system. I believe this system would greatly reduce the likely hood of losing to that guy, who asked you at the water cooler what a Zag was. It also rewards picking upsets correctly instead of going caulk, while not giving so many points that picking higher seeds is not reward. This would make strategy more important for example in a small pool it makes no sense to pick upsets when going with the 1 and 2 seeds will win 90% of the time. This system will also eliminate the likely hood of losing a bracket because of one pick made in the first or second round. I believe that people should be rewarded for picking one 5 seed in the final four correctly more than picking two 1 seeds. What’s harder to do? I bet your brother-in-law’s first wife wouldn’t know, but if you’re reading this you probably do.

Great Season

2009-03-23T11:25:00.003-04:00

After getting over the initial shock of realizing the season was over, and after moving past the initial anger towards the referees, who gave Blake Griffin a Lebron-like treatment, I just wanted to reflect on this past season for the Michigan Wolverines.

What a great, unbelievable season!

Michigan did what all of us thought was impossible at the beginning of the year: the team got to the big dance, and advanced! Michigan Basketball fans were treated to two excellent games in the NCAA tournament. By doing so, I had the most fun I have had watching college basketball in my entire life. (seeing as how I barely remember, nor could I truly appreciate, the fab five when I was 6-7 years old).

But, Michigan proved to be a good basketball school yet again by beating teams like Duke, UCLA, Clemson, Illinois, and Purdue, and going down to the wire with top 5 schools like Oklahoma and Connecticut. Michigan had their ups and downs, and were placed squarely on the bubble for about 3 straight months. However, they overcame where Tommy Amaker teams failed. They made the tournament, celebrating like they had just won the lottery when seeing their name on the screen of the selection show. Not to be outdone, Michigan went in to a tournament game, its first in 11 years, and won on the back of Manny Harris. The miraculous season ended in upsetting fashion, but in a game that did not lack in thrills. Michigan had Oklahoma worried, but they just happened to have the best player in college basketball.

So congratulations to Michigan on advancing a round, something teams like Ohio State, Illinois and Minnesota cannot say. Congratulations for making the tournament with a group of players everyone doubted. And finally congratulations to the basketball program for hiring the right coach and bringing Michigan basketball back on the map.

While this loss hurts, there is so much to look forward to next year. Sims and Harris both announced that they would be back next year; our graduating class only includes C.J. Lee, David Merritt, and Javon Shepard, and most importantly, John Beilein is back. Michigan will have yet another year under their belt utilizing the Beilein system.

The tournament appearance, coupled by the win over Clemson, and the promise of a new basketball facility should entice some nice talent to head up to Ann Arbor. And even if the talent isn't quite "top-tier," expect Beilein to do what he does best: win with less talent than other coaches could dream of.

So, in the grand tradition of "Putting it in Stone," I will dip into my spiritual gift of foresight and make a prediction. Michigan will make the Sweet Sixteen in 2010.

Put it in Stone.

Live Blogging

2009-03-19T12:56:00.028-04:00

12:56: Alright, here is my situation for context. Over at my friends house, got the DirecTV Mega March Madness Package going, sitting in the lazy boy, computer on my lap, and other "enjoyable items" within arms reach. I will be in this position all day, and tomorrow and hopefully the rest of march.

1:01: A&M made their first 10 shots, can the mormons spark a little of that Joseph Smith magic and come back from an early 20 point lead? My guess is no. BYU looks lost. Speaking of nervous teams, what is Memphis doing? They are hacking constantly, as Northridge is in the bonus after just 9 minutes of play. My pick for the finals is worrying me.

1:09: I had no idea that Andy Samberg played basketball for Butler. Apparently, he is quite the player as he was Horizon League player of the year (if that means anything?). Regardless, he is apparently trying to hide his association with Saturday Night Live and playing under the alias of Matt Howard. Do we have a scandal on our hands? Decide for yourself.

1:25: This is unacceptable, all games are at half time currently and forcing me to watch commercials. We got this package to avoid this very situation. ANGRY!!!!

1:32: That was too long, real basketball finally back on.

1:37: If you are watching LSU-Butler you just heard Nantz say that Butler was "young and hungry." No one can go to a commercial break quite like you Jim. In good news this game is getting pretty exciting as Butler is within 1. Samberg inside is doing some damage. In bad news for me, my pick of LSU is not looking quite as safe.

1:43: Seriously Memphis? You can hold every Conference USA team under 50, but you can't destroy Cal State Northridge? You are making me very nervous.

2:12: Important lesson learned from the BYU game: Do not pick a team of all white guys in basketball, ever.

2:27: As the first round of games look to wrap up, I am satisfied with a 2 out of 3 result. Memphis almost made me have a heart attack, but they survived. I am excited to watch the Purdue game as I am hoping for a good showing by the Big 10.

2:48: I have a new favorite (non-Michigan) player in the tournament: Jordan Eglseder of Northern Iowa. Why? Because he is a 7-1, 290 pound white guy. I have eloquently named him Mr. Larson. You might remember this famous character from Happy Gilmore, famous for saying "And you can count, on me, waiting for you, in the Parking Lot." I have watched the entire game and I'm pretty sure he is yet to jump in the air. I will keep you updated.

3:10: Not impressed with Cal's play so far. Purdue is looking strong as well. The other two games are likely to be massacres.

3:26: Sweet Alley-oop dunk by Cal on the backdoor cut. Well played! Cal trying to win back my affection after I dissed them sixteen minutes ago.

3:38: I might be missing it, but Raftery still hasn't said his famous catch phrase "with the kiss" yet. I'm happy and sad. By the way, Maryland just got about 7 offensive boards and 0 points to show for it. Enjoy losing to Memphis on Saturday.

3:50: Yep, the word graceful was just used to describe Eglseder... Sarcasm is running high. On a side note, the Purdue cheer "Boiler-up!" might be the worst in sports. If you can think of a worse one, I would love to hear it. But it has to be the most nonsensical cheer ever. WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?!? Taken literally, you are asking to turn up a furnace? Perhaps you work with what you have, and when your nickname is Boilermakers, what else can you do?

3:56: So, my "friends" have decided to push a certain button of mine. The button being calling Pizza, "za." They then took it to the next level and told me that I should get some 'roni on my 'za. Threats of physical violence and screaming soon followed.

4:20: This Purdue game just got really tight. Purdue seems to have downsized their defensive pressure. They better get their act together after this game because Washington will be a tall task. To make things worse, they can't even hit free throws. Hummel going 1-2 from the line is unacceptable.

4:27: Wow, I hope you all are watching this Purdue game. At the beginning I thought it was going to be a blow out, but Purdue's poor free throw shooting accompanied by some cold blooded 3 point makes by Northern Iowa has made this a 2 point game. I am rooting hard for the Big 10 this year, so come on Purdue!

4:29: Number 11 for Northern Iowa just stupidly took the ball to the basket while down by 4. You gotta shoot the three! What are you thinking. This game is now over.

4:40: The only real thing to watch in this UCONN-Chattanooga game is to see if Chattanooga will score more than 40 points. At least the 1-16 match-ups are over early.

5:39: Not a lot going on, as only Washington and Miss. State are playing. Miss. State seems to be proving my point that conference championships are detrimental to teams in NCAA Tournament. While I am sure Miss. State is glad to be here, I doubt they like being stomped on by Washington on tired legs from 4 games in 4 days. I guess I shouldn't extrapolate as there is plenty of basketball yet to be played, but Miss. State looks like they don't belong here.

7:09: Nerves are running high right now. I was just running back and forth down a high way. Im currently rocking the Tractor Traylor 54 Jersey, Michigan basketball shorts, a maize under shirt and a Michigan hat. If we lose this game, it wont be for lack of fandom by me.

7:19: Bad Passes and bad defense. This is not the sign of a Beilein coached team. They look nervous and scared. Snap out of it, Blue!

7:27: At least we are shooting well so far. Maybe when Sims actually shows up to the game, we could maybe, I don't know grab a defensive rebound, and he might make some plays...

7:32: I love that Beilein is sitting Sims right now. Hopefully, this extra motivation gets him to respond. In his place Gibson is playing GREAT defense! Oh speaking of good play, Manny Harris is playing pretty good. Props to Manny for 2 blocks!

8:08: At half we are ahead by 3. Manny is playing incredible, Sims is playing like crap. If Michigan steps up the defense and Sims shows up, I like our chances. Keep up the intensity though Manny.

9:36: Several years of my life were shaved off my overall expectancy, but I am soooooo Happy!

9:55: Akron really wanted to delay the inevitable, but they finally fell. Gonzaga looked pretty good towards the end of the game. I have them in the Sweet 16. Villanova also gave us a scare (I have them in the elite 8). I have started watching the Duke game, and Binghamton really likes to run. Could be an interesting game, but we shall have to see how many "Duke Fouls" are called. I imagine this game will eventually get out of hand, but I sure love watching Duke struggle.

10:23: Despite already knowing the inevitable, I am rooting hard for Morgan State. Go Golden Bears!

BRACKETS!

2009-03-19T10:47:00.004-04:00

Above are my brackets. Personally, I am not really very happy with them because my final four is really BORING. Alas, I tried really hard to not pick this final four (especially because in picking these final four team that would mean that I actually agreed with President Obama about something), but I did. Click the image to make it bigger and more easily viewable. Good luck to me!

Jay Cutler

2009-03-18T19:41:00.003-04:00

As I sit here mulling over my bracket picks (which I will post tomorrow), I thought I would clear my head and write a quick post about the Jay Cutler to the Lions situation.

So, before I get to far into anything, lets talk about what we "know." Supposedly, Jay Cutler cannot stand his new coaching staff and has asked to be traded. We also know that Denver isn't run by Matt Millen, so they aren't boneheads. Denver seems willing to put him on the block, but they want another quarterback in exchange. Unfortunately for the Lions, they do not have one of those, or at least none that any other team in their right mind would want. (No Sparty, no one else wants Drew Staton)

What the Lions do have is a strong desire to get Cutler and more ammunition in terms of picks than any other team can offer. But, any trade in the near future would likely have to involve another team. Unless Denver gets desperate, the Lions will have to acquire a solid quarterback before swapping him with Denver.

Before I get into some trade scenarios, I need to say a few things regarding this trade. Firstly, I support getting Jay Cutler 100%, provided it is for the right price, of course. Secondly, I am actually impressed with the offseason Martin Mayhew has done in this first offseason. His real test will be the draft, but the moves to dump Kitna and acquire Julian Peterson were very impressive. Kudos, Mr. Mayhew, so far...

Alright, so how do the Lions get Jay Cutler? Here are 3 unique and creative ways to get him.

1. Trade Denver the #1 pick for Cutler+

This trade situation is obviously based on the assumption that Denver loves either Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez. Why any GM would love either of these rookies is beyond me, but if Josh McDaniels is crazy enough to piss off his Pro Bowl quarterback to the point of requesting a trade, he might be crazy enough to love one of these players. Assuming argumendo, that Denver wants to develop another young quarterback, this is the easiest possibility. The problem with this scenario is you would have to get something more than just Jay Cutler for the number 1. There is a big premium on the #1. There are very few players worth the #1, and they are all untouchable. Remember the trade the Chargers got for Eli Manning? They traded the #1 overall pick for the #4, a 3rd rounder, and a first and a fifth round picks in the subsequent year's draft. To move up 3 spots and get an arguably worse quarterback than Phillip Rivers cost the Giants three extra picks including a 1st rounder. So, Cutler + Denver's #12 would probably be more than Denver is willing to give up, especially if Denver believes that one of those two QB's could fall to them at 12, which could easily happen. Perhaps instead the Lions could get a 4th or 5th and next year's first rounder. That is a fair trade, if Denver badly wants Sanchez or Stafford.

2. Involve Cleveland. Now things start to get hairy. In order to pull this trade off the Lions would need to swap picks with Cleveland and get Derek Anderson. Here, the assumption that Denver loves Derek Anderson is required to follow this trade scenario. So, Detroit sends the #1 overall and possibly a late round pick for the #5 and Derek Anderson. Detroit would then send Derek Anderson and either the #33 or the #20 for Jay Cutler. This exact same trade scenario could work just as easily with Kansas City just replace Derek Anderson with Tyler Thigpen. Detroit would, in either situation, get a franchise quarterback and either a top talent OT (Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe) or Aaron Curry. Not to mention they save million of dollars in guaranteed money by getting out of that #1 slot. It also gets Denver a quarterback, and some picks, and KC/Cleveland more picks as well. It is mutually beneficial to all teams, as long as Denver likes one of those quarterbacks enough.

3. The third scenario assumes that Denver panics. Detroit sends the #20 and a late round pick, likely next year, in exchange for Jay Cutler. This won't likely happen because Denver won't panic until training camp, which is well after the draft. Detroit has to make this trade happen before April 25th.

So can this deal get done? I think it certainly can, and I also think the Lions are trying their hardest, but Denver is probably asking too much. 3 way trades are hard to pull off, and take time. Detroit does have some premium for acting quickly, as the Jets and the Buccaneers are excited about their chances to get Jay Cutler too. So, get it done Mayhew, I did the hard work, just make a few calls and turn on that charm and persuasion! Stop reading my blog and get me Jay Cutler!

Get Rid of Conference Tournaments

2009-03-17T11:34:00.004-04:00

I will be honest; I could do without conference tournaments. They are unrealistic, overhyped, and frustrating.

As a subscriber to this sports blog, you inevitably ran into the ESPN “Championship Week!” commercials. Also, as someone who reads my likely meaningless words, you probably see eye-to-eye with me on many issues, including how annoying these commercials were. The hype for these conference tournaments is unbelievable. Do you really care who wins the Horizon League? I don’t, until I see a bracket. And yet, we are berated by an onslaught of inconsequential basketball games – even in the major conferences. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching college basketball, but I am just trying to get you to see conference tournaments for what they really are: money-makers for television networks.

You may not all agree with me, in fact, for some people, the conference tournament is an image of hope, as sitting atop the figurative Aggro Crag representing a grueling, 4-day tournament is an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. An automatic bid essentially erasing 4 months of poor play, and replacing a dreadful season with, believe it or not, a conference championship! Can you believe it folks; it only takes 4 wins to make the NCAA Tournament.

For some people the conference tournament is a source of fear (see: Penn State, St. Mary’s, San Diego State, etc.). Teams like Cleveland State (52 RPI, only 2 wins against the top 50, one of those coming in the conference tournament) stole a bid from an arguably more deserving team like St. Mary’s, whose only sin was having their star player get hurt, or Penn State, whose unforgivable transgression was scheduling a relaxed non-conference schedule.

The reason that this fear exists is simply because teams KNOW they are in. It is really not surprising that during “Championship Week” there are so many upsets. The classic upset follows the formula of teams playing for their lives vs. teams that only care about seeding. If anyone watched the Pitt Game, or the LSU-Miss. State game, you know they didn’t give it their all.

The lack of effort stems from a natural human reaction to a meaningless game: apathy. If LSU won the SEC would they have gotten a higher seed than 8 seed? Maybe, but they would not likely have gotten a much higher seed than a 7. So, what difference does it make to LSU if they lose to Mississippi State and get a day off instead of playing for a conference tournament championship? Exactly, nothing.

So, unlike any other tournament in major sports, conference tournaments are completely unrealistic. College Basketball teams never play more than 2 games a week, except in this tournament. Even in the NCAA tournament, teams get a day off between matchups. In a conference tournament, teams have to play 3-4 days in a row to win the tournament. Do good teams really want to wear themselves out for 3 more days before eventually receiving that inevitable #1 seed? Pitt didn’t, Michigan State didn’t mind settling on a #2.

So, I ask you this. Would you really miss the conference tournament? If they moved the NCAA tournament a week earlier (thereby making it really March madness, instead of March/April madness), would you care? Would you feel outraged if you were a Miss. State fan? Or would do you sympathize with the Penn State fan? I guess my point is the season is 30+ games in duration, while the conference tournament is 3-4 games long. Clearly the longevity of the regular season is a much better representation of a team’s success. So erase the conference tournament and make the selection committee’s job a little easier because I think most see my point and could really take or leave the conference tournament.

John Beilein...

2009-03-16T18:09:00.003-04:00

Before I get into the awesomeness that happened at 6:30 on Sunday night I want to take this time to apologize for my extended absence from writing. I have been busy, but mostly I just haven’t been struck by anything in particular to write about. As Nate put so eloquently, there is a ton of stuff going on this week so I too plan on being an active participant this week.

On that note, today’s post is brought to you by procrastination. Why post today? I can ALWAYS wait till tomorrow…sorry guys.

Ed DeChellis (Head Coach at Penn State) and Tom Izzo split the coach of the year award in the Big Ten this year. Congratulations to both of them are in order for very productive and successful years. Now that my manners are out of the way, I want to tell you that it’s bull crap that both of them won this award over John Beilein.

DeChellis’s Nittany Lions went 15-16 last year and finished seventh in the Big Ten with a 7-11 conference record. Compare that to this year at 22-11 and 10-8 and you can see a significant improvement over the year. Izzo on the other hand, led his Spartans to a 27-9 record last year with a 12-6 Big Ten record. This year the Spartans went 26-6 and 15-3 respectively. Izzo maintained the excellence he so frequently demands and gets out of his players this year.

John Beilein on the other hand went 10-22 last year with a second to last place 5-13 Big Ten record. This year, not only did the records change to 22-10 overall and 9-9 Big Ten, but Beilein’s Wolverines are NCAA Tournament bound for the first time in ten years. After changing around his starters for a big portion of the non conference schedule, he finally settled on starting 4 guards and one forward for most of the Big Ten schedule and into the post season. In a conference loaded with talent (MSU I am talking about you) Michigan starts a pudgy, white freshmen shooting guard at power forward (Zach Novak.) Michigan also starts a committee of walk-ons at point guard or occasionally the defensive liability Kelvin Grady. With not a single starter taller than 6’8 and no smell of a 5 star recruit since the ‘sigh’ Ellerbee days, Beilein was able to completely flip the teams record in one year from the worst in school history to being NCAA Tournament bound.

When it all comes down to brass tacks, DeChellis did a lesser form of what Beilein did but with more experienced players and no past NCAA sanctions looming over his head. Izzo had a great season and his Spartans won the conference out right for the first time since 2001, but does he start any walk-ons? When was the last time Izzo was ever as talent deprived as Michigan is now? Oh yeah, I know, it was before Michigan got in trouble by the NCAA. Congratulations Tom for doing exactly what everyone thought you would do, win, and do so with excessive amounts of talent. So, although both Izzo and DeChellis had admirable seasons, neither of them stacks up even close to what Beilein has accomplished in his short tenure at Michigan.

As for Thursday’s game against Clemson, I pretty much agree with every bit of analysis that Nate has brought up. Although on paper Michigan is an underdog (10 seed and +5.5 points to Vegas,) they are by no means EXPECTED to lose. With Clemson not being very tall either, our 1-3-1 zone may actually be somewhat effective too.

Remember our team’s motto; shoot first, cross the timeline later. When that doesn’t work remember that DeShawn Sims is on your team. Death to Clemson. Its Great to be a Michigan Wolverine.

Busy Week!

2009-03-16T12:46:00.004-04:00

It is a busy week in sports, so as a result it will be a busy week for me as well! Today I offer the Michigan keys to victory. Tomorrow a post about the Lions getting Cutler, Wednesday I will post my brackets, and Thursday through Sunday, I hope to live blog most of the tournament games as I hope to watch all games (with DirecTV's sweet service)

So, visit often!

Here are my reasons to be hopeful for a Michigan victory on Thursday evening:

Coaching. Beilein has as history of success in the NCAA tournament, Prunell has lost every single tournament appearance in the first round. Any sort of “chess match” between these two will clearly go to Michigan’s Beilein.
Clemson is not a team with tremendous size. Everyone knows Michigan is a small team and any 4.8 rebounds per game type becomes a 8-9 rebound per game type. That said, almost any team will have a size advantage against Michigan, but Clemson doesn’t have much of one. Clemson is not like a Florida State or Ohio State that just could beat Michigan because of a clear size advantage. Booker is a good player, but I think the size advantage is not enough to overcome Michigan’s defense and shooting advantage.
Pace of Play/Clemson’s press. Michigan has never struggled with a press all year. Because they are a well coached team that isn’t looking to run, Michigan’s three guard offense will not struggle with this press. Michigan will look to get it over the timeline and set up their offense. They proved my theory by beating strong teams. UCLA tried to press us to no avail. I expect Kelvin Grady to play a little bit bigger role in handing the ball, but walk-on CJ Lee has been fairly careful handling the point (only 19 turnovers all year, 2.8 assist/turnover ratio). The pace of play will put Clemson in long defensive sets. Michigan will confuse Clemson with their constantly changing defensive zones and looks, slowing the pace down even on Clemson’s side of the ball. The UCONN had one of their lowest scoring games of the season against us, and expect Clemson to suffer the same fate. The lower the total points, the more Michigan gains an advantage.
Free Throw shooting. As with any NCAA tournament game, I expect it to be close and the winner will probably be the team that shoots free throws at the end of the game. Michigan ranked first in the big ten with a 75.5% free throw shooting with one of the best free throw shooters in Manny Harris shooting almost 86%. Clemson as a team shoots 68%. Expect Manny to drive, get to the line, and convert.
Lastly, Trend. Michigan is on a bit of an upswing in their schedule, while Clemson has been struggling more as of late. Also, Michigan seems to really show up for big games. They played their heart out against UCONN, Duke, UCLA and all their big games. They needed a win against Iowa and destroyed them. This is the biggest game of the year and I have no doubt they will play their hardest.

Please add your own. Talk to you tomorrow!

DUMARS FOR GM OF THE YEAR

2009-03-08T12:32:00.003-04:00

I’m sure I will lose the very few people who might enjoy reading some of the nonsense I write on this blog, but I can’t help but laugh at the hatred that’s being thrown in the general direction of the Pistons these days, and in a more direct way to my boy Joe. Now the title of this post is obviously overblown. He is in no way a part of the running for GM of the year in any circle of people not associated with a GED reunion. But there is definitely a foresight shown by Dumars that the average fan, and many talking heads, doesn’t seem to appreciate.

Obviously the trade Joe pulled to send Chaunce to the Nugs for AI appears to be one of the worst trades the franchise has ever suffered. Chauncey has led the Nuggets to one of the top spots in the West, joining the Lakers and Spurs as true Western Conference contenders. Meanwhile, the Stones have been relegated to .500 ball and fighting for a playoff spot after making the Eastern Conference Finals for the past six years. Looking at the impact of the trade over the course of the year would lead one to believe that it was as much of a “no contest” loss for the venerable Dumars as OJ Simpson’s murder trial, but it all had to play itself out there too didn’t it?

I’ve written previously on how I believe Rodney Stuckey is the young, dynamic point guard of the future who has a Finals MVP in his future. I wrote that the cap flexibility that the Pistons have created will give them a great chance to find an All-Star big man to go along with Stuck, Rip, and Tay. And I’ve also stated that AI should come off the bench and be the expiring contract has-been that should be hogging the ball with the second teamers, which was what the Sixers had when he was there anyway. And while those are all compelling reasons to continue to believe that this was a good trade for the future, we have an amazing example set before us as to another reason that Joe pulled the trigger.

Joe Dumars was the starting point guard of the Bad Boys with Isiah (no I didn’t spell that wrong) and Company. He saw first hand what a group of hard nosed veterans who were still in their prime could do to the opposition and their star power. So he went about turning the Pistons into the same bunch of team oriented players who could go up against the opponents big guns shut them down. And within a few years, Joe had won a Championship and came within a quarter of winning back-to-backs as a GM like he did as a player.

But this is where the stories diverge. The Brass of the Pistons in the late 80’s kept the core together as they got older and watched them win fewer and fewer games, hoping that another run was in their old and tired legs. What the higher ups failed to see was that they were starting a Geriatric Committee posing as an NBA franchise. Their skills began to decline at a rapid pace, but kept hoping for “one more run” with an aging core that never materialized. Dumars was a part of those Championship teams and was a key member of participating in them. But he was also a member of the team during a good portion of the 90’s, when the team was relegated to the cellar because the younger, up and coming teams of the NBA had caught and surpassed them. This began a horrible streak for our beloved ballclub. They made a habit of not making the playoffs, had high draft picks, and had Terry Mills as their center for close to a decade. The Palace was a Ghost Town of it’s former self, and was in constant rebuilding mode reminiscent of our current Lions organization.

Basically, Joe saw first hand that a core which is kept together too long hoping for that “last great run” is only fooling themselves. And when Joe D. saw that the team had peaked, and were ousted in the ECF for a string of four straight seasons, he knew that that the time had come to react, no matter how hard that might be during the present season. He traded their floor general and brought in a “superstar” with an expiring contract who didn’t play the style that the team prides themselves on. While he knew this would throw off chemistry, he also knew that it would put himself in a position to get a player he missed out on when he had the 2^nd pick of the draft. Joey has made mistakes, yes, but he always works hard to rectify them. He missed out on Bosh, Wade, and Melo, but he is now in a position to redeem himself. He will now look to pair a player of that caliber with their core. It’s quite obvious that Stuckey, Rip, and Tay are the core guys that will be a part of this team in the near future, and it is no coincidence that they are the youngest players from the team that won the ‘Ship in ‘04.

In essence, this is a probable one or two year “rebuilding” period, in which Joe has handed the keys of the franchise to his younger players while increasing the odds of landing a big time free agent over the course of the next two seasons. Meanwhile, we are still beating some of the top teams in the league and will most definitely make the playoffs after Curry finally got the rocks to put his future, Rip, into the starting lineup and benching free agency fodder AI, who is more equipped to play with the second stringers anyhow. Remind me to send a Thank You letter to Allen’s back problems. Bringing AI off the bench with a defensive team around him with an outside shooter to dish to makes the 2^nd unit as good as the Sixers were when THEY made it to the finals with AI. . . . Maybe not quite but you can understand what I’m getting at. ESPN has also reported that AI is willing to do “whatever it takes” to help the Pistons win a championship when his back is healthy enough to allow him to play. Of course, AI is in a contract year and doesn’t want to be considered a cancer going into the (probable) final free agent period of his career. Whether this is just lip service, or a true desire to win at whatever cost, you can’t help but like the chances of the Stones getting “hot” at the right time as Rip put it on PTI Thursday.

Yes, Chauncey is having a great year, and has elevated the play in Denver dramatically. This has most assuredly pushed the knife a little further into Joe D’s back, as he is dealing with trading his prize point guard and now also has to deal with fans and media who always want to win. Yet no one wants to remember what happened to the Stones in the ‘90s. The move impacts the next four years, in which Chaunce will be getting paid twelve million dollars a year as he loses a step, ala Ben Wallace, with the multiple teams he has played for and the albatross contract he is playing out. The next year that Ben is sought after is the year his contract expires. Point taken? So when a team can be a playoff squad with the chance to once again go deep into the postseason while “rebuilding” you have to look at it as a success. There will be no decade long slump in this organization with Dumars at the helm, and that is why he has my worthless vote for GM of the year.

It's Rasheed Wallace Fault

2009-02-25T11:34:00.002-05:00

As the trade deadline came and went I realized that Joe Dumars has given up on the season, and counting his money for next year.

So, while there is still 2+ months left in the season, I will give up too. Time to look back.

Chauncey Billups was apparently (if we didn't already know) the glue that held this team together. Perhaps, while Rasheed can clearly be seen to be the emotional leader on the floor, Billups was the actual basketball leader. Lacking such a strong presence of leadership, and lacking a level-headed, strong basketball mind, there is no balance to contradict 'Sheed. Without that balance and glue, a group lacking a super star (sorry AI) simply can't get it done.

It seems everyone on the team has given up. Not even Iverson who has millions of dollars at stake this offseason, seems to be motivated. Such apathy can only be attributed to Rasheed Wallace.

It seems that not only has Sheed given up on trying to emotionally encourage and motivate his fellow teammates, he has also formed an alliance against Iverson. This team is lost and done.

While I am guilty of being the guy who has wanted Sheed shipped out of town for the last 3 seasons, I think its clear the Pistons need him out of town in a hurry. I want Rodney Stuckey to become the leader in the locker room, not a clown whose idea of getting his team fired up is getting a technical foul.

The fact is that Stuckey cannot grow or assume the role as leader until Sheed and Iverson are out of town. And that is why this season is over.

This is NOT about A-Rod or Brett Favre

2009-02-12T17:06:00.001-05:00

Today’s post is brought to you by Valentines Day. Not because it’s a stupid Hallmark holiday and its sole existence is to drive sales of retail stores nationwide during a financial down time, but because ONLY girls like it. When I say only girls like it, I mean absolutely NO guy would ever care if it didn’t exist. In fact most would be happier. This stupid “holiday” appeals to like 25% of the nation but like everyone is roped into celebrating (or not celebrating) it with someone else. I wish there was a holiday where a girl is forced to deliver guys a six pack of beer and a pizza in like August or something. Get on that sh*t Budweiser!

So, like Nate, I too have been busy/lazy and haven’t really had the time I would like to write a post about steroids and how they relate to the Baseball Hall of Fame (its coming sometime I promise.) So I want to take this time to look at the rest of the Michigan basketball season.

Michigan has only two home games remaining, those being Purdue and Minnesota. The other games are all away, those being at Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Northwestern. Michigan is currently 15-10 overall and 5-7 in the Big Ten. The ONLY way Michigan has a chance to get into the field of 64 is to finish with a Big Ten record of 9-9. This really looks like a daunting task. Michigan would have to win both home games against Purdue and Minnesota (both ranked), and steal road victories most likely at Northwestern and at Iowa. Saying Michigan can actually pull that off, they also would need to add a first round win in the Big Ten tournament in my opinion. All of that mixed in with the UCLA and Duke victories should give us the nod at like a #9 seed. I promise there is not a single #1 seed team that wants to play Michigan knowing what they can do against quality opposition.

With all that being said, sadly it looks like a #1 NIT seed for Michigan yet again this year. To be honest, a #1 NIT seed is still leaps and bounds better than Michigan’s bruising 10-27 record a year ago. The growth of this team over the course of a year has been nothing short of astonishing and there is no need to think that it will stop next year. C.J. Lee is the only graduating senior and all signs point to DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris coming back for another year. Coupled with the core of the team staying together is the addition of Darius Morris. Morris is a Rivals top 100 player for next year who is already committed to Michigan. Fortunately for us, he also plays PG. Morris will be able to actually handle the ball effectively and be able to distribute the ball to players like Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims. This will increase their productivity as well as lower team turnovers. Sims can complete his post game, Harris can actually play the small forward position, and Morris can drive and dish effectively. If that all happens, players like Stu Douglass and Lavel Lucas-Perry should have way better OPEN looks at three point attempts.

College Basketball is all about good guard play and if Darius Morris can achieve these things at the tender age of 18, Michigan will be in shape for a top 5 finish in the Big Ten.

On a horrible side note…with the NFL Draft looming close by I have a prediction. Put it in Stone, Mark Sanchez will be a better NFL Quarterback than Matthew Stafford.

Lazy + Busy = This Post

2009-02-10T17:41:00.002-05:00

The result of February being a down time in sports and an increased academic schedule results in this short and only relevant for about 2 more hours post. Sorry, but instead of writing another post about something I really don't care about (see: Michael Phelps' drug problem or A-rod's, well, drug problem), I am just copying and pasting an email I wrote to several MSU fans earlier today regarding the Michigan-Michigan State Basketball game. I will try and give a few quick thoughts about the game after it's conclusion to make it up to you.

Here are my predictions and keys for victory for tonight's game.

Michigan basketball is the very definition of a bubble team, but they are also a team that no number 1 seed wants to see sitting in a 9 seed. That said, I believe that today is their defining moment. Will they impress the selection committee with a strong victory at home against yet another top 10 ranked opponent, or will they fade into the oblivion that is the NIT?

I was asked about my thoughts on how Michigan could pull an upset today. I will do that, but first allow me to explain what I expect to happen. I honestly believe that Michigan will lose by 15 points today. Michigan’s weakness is, unfortunately for me, Michigan State’s strength: rebounding. Our short line-up and zone defense has resulted in second opportunities for opponents all year long. Because MSU will likely outrebound Michigan by 15-20 boards, Michigan likely has no chance to keep it close.

That said, lets talk a minute about the UCONN game. In that game, Michigan was outrebounded 46-21 and still managed to keep it close. The way they did that was 2 fold: (1) they intermittently ran a 2-3 zone to try and combat the Connecticut advantage in size; and, (2) they caused 17 turnovers by constantly changing defense types and through the solid defensive play of Zack Novak and C.J. Lee. What killed Michigan was that they shot below 35% from three and UCONN (a team that does not shoot the 3 very well) made 6 three pointers.

While State should expect to see a steady mix of 1-3-1 zone, 2-3 zone, and man-to-man, I respect State’s outside game more than Connecticut. Because of this fact, Michigan will likely be forced to play mostly man defense. That plays to state’s favor with their advantage in size and rebounding ability.

So, to sum up. Here is what Michigan needs to do to win:

1. Shoot 35% or above from three. (likely meaning they will make at least 12 three pointers)
2. < 20 rebounding differential
3. Cause double digit turnovers.

Again, all 3 of these are not likely. Michigan’s three point shooting has not been good as of late, mostly a result of Lavel Lucas Perry losing confidence in his shot. In addition causing turnovers is difficult to do when you are trying to steal from a very good ball handler in Kalin Lucas.

So, while I am not looking positively towards this game, I am still excited. It really is do or die; win and Michigan is in.

Hail! Hail!

2009-02-09T13:30:00.004-05:00

Name	Position	ESPN	Rivals	Scout	Under-Amour	Army	Early Enroll
Isiah Bell	S	81	3*	3*	X
William Campbell	DL	79	5*	5*		X	X
Vladimir Emilien	S	80	4*	3*			X
Tate Forcier	QB	81	4*	4*			X
Jeremy Gallon	WR	77	4*	3*		X
Brendan Gibbons	K	77	2*	3*		X
Cameron Gordan	WR	78	4*	3*
Thomas Gordan	S	77	3*	2*
Brandin Hawthorne	LB	78	3*	3*			X
Mike Jones	S	77	3*	3*			X
Teric Jones	RB	78	3*	3*
Anthony LaLota	DE	80	4*	4*		X	X
Talor Lewan	OL	80	4*	4*	X
Denard Robinson	ATH	81	4*	4*
Craig Roh	DE	83	4*	4*	X
Michael Schofield	OL	77	4*	4*
Vincent Smith	RB	77	3*	3*			X
Je'Ron Stokes	WR	82	4*	4*		X
Fitzgerald Toussaint	RB	79	4*	3*
J.T. Turner	DB	80	4*	5*		X
Quinton Washington	OL	82	4*	3*	X
Adrian Witty	DB	40	2*	2*

For RichRod’s first class in which he had more than two months of recruiting players, you have to be impressed. There is obviously great disparity in how these kids are ranked, probably more so than in year’s past: ESPN ranks Michigan’s class #14, while Rivals has them at #7 and Scout at #11. Those of you that think U-M was being out recruited by the Spartys, you are sorely mistaken. Chris Norman is the only kid that RichRod went hard after, and, quite frankly, the kid was born and raised a Spartan. U-M also got the best player in the state, Big Will Campbell. Trust me, there isn’t even a close second. This is big seeing as in the past two years USC has came in and snagged the best in the state see: Ronald Johnson and Nick Perry. RichRod also went down and pulled 8 recruits out of the state of Florida which should bring speed and athleticism to the program. These are skills that are certainly needed to run RichRod’s system, and were lacking as you can see by last year’s game play. Unfortunately, the Wolverines lost two solid DT recruit in Pearly Graves and DeQuinta Jones that were committed until signing day. The loss of these two players will certainly be felt as the program will be lacking depth at DL next year and LB in the near future. Despite those losses, U-M bounced back with two huge commits in QB Denard Robinson and WR Je’Ron Stokes that solidified other positions of need. Brian has keep you up to date on the past de-commits and recruits so I won’t dwell on losing recruits to Tulsa (yup you read that right, It says Tulsa. You know the Golden Hurricane? Yes, they have a football team). U-M did a great job of getting kids at the positions where they lost recruits to decommits. In most cases they actually got better players to replace them (see Bryce McNeal-Je’Ron Stokes). I’ll give you a quick summary of this year’s class from a little different perspective.

Isaiah Bell 6-2/205: He impressed at the Under-Amour game playing mostly LB. He played a lot of safety in high school, but I fully expect him to grow into a LB that fits into the 3-3-5, if Greg Robinson decides to run that. He would bring some quickness to the LB corps that they have been lacking, and brings good coverage skills for a LB. Some questioned his coverage skills as a safety and U-M has had problem in the past, see: every safety U-M’s had since 2000. Bell might see playing time as a true frosh on special teams.

Next Year Prediction: Redshirt

Career Prediction: Potential 2-year starter at LB. All-Big Ten.

William Campbell 6-5/315: A flat-out stud. Check out his film if you get the chance. He is a real man-child with potential to be a Top 10 NFL draft pick. He is able to play both ways, but I expect to see him on the DT, because it’s his best position and U-M needs him there. He must keep his weight down and not fall into the trap of laziness as some past U-M DT, and also needs to focus on his fundamentals, instead of relaying on his strength. He could be special, especially when paired next to Mike Martin. Expect immediate playing time, especially if we stick with the four man front.

Next Year: Significant PT, potential starter

Career: Potential All-American

Vlad Emilien 6-1/190: Probably the only player in this class who is a true safety. His commitment sort of came out of now where and he was injured for most of his senior year. I would expect him to redshirt, but given U-M’s past struggles at safety, early playing time is there for the taking. Hopefully, he won’t see the field this year and he gets the chance to develop, but I think he has great upside.

Next Year: Redshirt or back-up special teams depending on health

Career: 2 or 3–year starter at safety

Tate Forcier 6-0.5/183: The name should sound familiar as his brother Jason transfered out when Ryan Mallet rolling into town. It’s too bad because he would have been the starter last season. Tate graduated early and had a personal QB coach so he should be further along than most freshman. The kid has a good arm, accurate both in the pocket and on the run with decent speed. His skill-set fits RichRod’s system well and will battle Threet for early PT. I expect him to be starting by the time Big Ten games roll around if not sooner. Don’t expect too much, but he will be an upgrade over last year.

Next Year: Starter by default

Career: Depends on future QB recruiting

Jeremy Gallon 5-9/175: He turned heads at the Army All-American game practices. He played mostly QB out of the Wildcat formation in high school, which means it will take some time to get used to the slot. He is the perfect slot for the spread. The talent is there and he seems to just have that “IT” factor when the ball is in his hand. His PT next season will depend on Terrence Robinson’s health, but a red shirt is unlikely. He will bring added excitement on the return teams.

Next Year: PT at the slot, KR, PR

Career: Future starter in the slot, All-Big Ten potential

Brendan Gibbons 6-0/210: U-M offered after Anthony Fera decommitted. He was an Army All-American. I like his attitude and he has potential to punt as well.

Next Year: Starter for FG and KO

Career: Add punter that list. Possible All-Big Ten

Cameron Gordon 6-3/210: Gordon is a heck of an athlete, perhaps the best in the state of Michigan. He is from Inkster, which is also home to top 10’ QB Devin Gardner. Plays both outside WR and LB. U-M offered pretty late as there seems to some controversy as to where he will play. His upside seems to be at LB, but as of now he’s a wide out.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: Back WR, Possible starter at LB

Thomas Gordon 5-11/205: Teammate of Big Will and Teric Jones at Detroit Cass Tech where he played QB and S. He is known in the internet community as “Prison Abs,” because he is a work out fiend. He is fairly raw at this point and I would expect a redshirt, but should make an impact on ST with a decent upside at S.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: Back-up S, special teams contributor

Brandin Hawthorne 6-0/197: He is a teammate of Vincent Smith out of Pahokee, FL. Brian seems to really like this kid, and I can’t argue that he has potential. He seems a little skinny at this point and could use a year or two in Barwis’ program. He seems like a good fit at outside LB in RichRod’s system, but needs some more development. He is a hard worker, and I expect him to reach his potential whatever it may be.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: 1 or 2-year starter at outside LB

Mike Jones 6-2.5/200: He is another kid out of FL, who enrolled early. Played safety in high school, but I expect a move to LB soon. Although he might play the tweaner, a chance is there is a move to the 3-3-5, similar to the rover used by John L. Smith a couple of year’s ago. He is obviously tall and skinny, and it’s a good thing he is there early to start his Barwisizing.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: 2-year starter at rover

Teric Jones 5-10/194: He is really fast and has allegedly run a sub 4.4 forty. He is listed at RB, but has excellent pass catching abilities. Don’t be surprised if he moves to the slot. He is a workout buddy of Thomas Gordon, and I think he will make a good third-down back as well.

Next Year: Redshirt (but will contend for PT)

Career: Never a starter but a solid contributor at several spots

Anthony LaLota 6-5/260: He was originally listed as a five start recruit on some sites, which is surprising considering he has only played football for two plus years. He focused on hoops early on, and he is a heck of an athlete. He seems to have a really good head on his shoulders, and being at U-M early will certainly help him. He is listed as a DE, but I would suspect a move to DT with the lack of depth there. His best position is probably somewhere on the O-Line, but he seems adamant on playing defensive.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: One year starter at DT

Taylor Lewan 6-6.5/270: He has great upside although he might need a couple of years to develop. He is tall, quick, and fits into the system extremely well. He should be an anchor on the O-Line for years to come, probably at LT. I highly doubt he plays next year, as the depth seems to be pretty good there.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: 3 or 4-year starter. All-Big Ten potential.

Denard Robinson 6-0/185: He and teammate Adrian Witty committed on signing day, although he was once thought to be a FL lock. He is fast, real fast. He really wants to play QB, and will get his shot. This kid isn’t Justin Feagin; he has much better potential. I think it will be hard for him to beat Forcier or Threet out this season, but I suspect that he will get playing time in certain packages. His future will be dependent on future QB recruiting as U-M will certainly get one and possibly two more in the 10’ class. A move to CB is certainly possible, and he projects well there too.

Next Year: PT at QB in some packages

Career: Pending, but will contribute

Craig Roh 6-5/225: He is a teammate of Taylor Lewan, and has family ties to the state. His stock rose after a strong Under-Amour week, where he was constantly around the ball because of his tremendous motor and quickness. I really wish they could find a way to redshirt him, but I am not sure if they will be able to keep him off the field. DE depth is solid but not great behind Graham. He will need to shore up his run stopping ability, but can get to the QB.

Next Year: PT especially in passing situations

Career: 3-year starter. All-Big Ten

Michael Schofield 6-6/270: He is another impressive physical talent. He played in the Hawaiian All-American game, where he was fairly impressive. He will need a year or too, and won’t be rushed into playing early because of the depth they have there. He will most likely be a tackle, but that situation is certainly fluid.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: 2-year starter

Vincent Smith 5-8/165: He is a small guy, but a very hard worker. He is in tremendous shape. I wasn’t so sure about his game when he first committed as U-M has been recruiting a plethora of slots and scat backs. He’s been growing on me, and I could see him playing some this year. He will probably end up as a RB and a return man.

Next Year: Special teams demon and return guy

Career: He’ll get carries, but probably never be a starter

Je’Ron Stokes 6-0.5/178: He is a great late pickup and a perfect example of RichRod’s recruiting skills. Stokes games fits either the outside spot or the slot, which gives him ample opportunity for early PT. He has very good speed, which along with his versatility creates matchup problems that RichRod will certainly exploit. He younger brother is a junior dual-threat QB with U-M interest so keep an eye on him.

Next Year: PT at both WR spots

Career: I expect him start somewhere for 2-years. Potential All-Big Ten

Fitzgerald Toussaint 5-10/185: Besides having the coolest name in this class, he also has the best film. He is a pleasure to watch and has some crazy moves. I actually like his film better than McGuffie’s last year. He just doesn’t jump over people! He will play next year in my opinion, and could return kicks as well. I think he is underrated and will surprise some people.

Next Year: This year’s version of Shaw in terms of PT

Career: I don’t think he is the starter type but will get a lot of carries

J.T. Turner 6-2/185: Early commit out of Ohio (that isn’t easy by the way), whose stock rose over the year. He was debatable the top DB at the Army game. He can play either safety or corner. It will depend on the development of others, as I expect Warren and Cissoko to be the starters. He could be starting at one of the safety spots, and possibly slide to corner on passing downs with him on the outside and Cissoko covering the slot. Either way, he will see the field early and often and might be our best recruit.

Next Year: Starter or a lot of PT at DB

Career: 3-year starter. All-American

Quinton Washington 6-4/322: I think he has the most potential in this class behind Campbell and Turner. I would call him a sleeper as a 3* on Scout, but ESPN has him as U-M’s top recruit making for an unfair assessment. He has a chance to be in the two deep this year, but like the other O-Linemen a redshirt would be ideal. He is the most physically ready of the three to play early, expect a major impact.

Next Year: Backup and will see some time

Career: 3-year starter if he doesn’t redshirt. All-Big Ten and possibly All-American potential

Adrian Witty 6-1/185: I can’t really give a fair analysis of him. U-M didn’t just offer him because of his connection with Denard Robinson though. They would have taken him even without a Robinson commit. He is fairly athletic and can play receiver as well. My guess is they will try him in at DB, as it is a more pressing need.

Next Year: Redshirt

Career: Special Teamer, depth

Overall, this class is a definite top ten with top stud recruits in Campbell and Turner and two QB’s, which was the programs biggest need. U-M also has several players on the O-Line that could become multiple year starters. They also brought in several players that are much better fits on offense for what RichRod is trying to do, as well as some great athletes on the defensive side of the ball. U-M’s class varies in ranking by the services quite a bit (although MSU has about 20 spots difference depending on where you look). It’s probably not as high as Rivals ranks them and not as low as Scout does. These recruiting services have there own agendas in mind when ranking these kids and classes (I will post on that some day). What is important is that you fill your team’s need with quality players. Even if the class is lower ranked, filling needs makes the class more valuable to the school. I am extremely happy with this class especially considering the 3-9 season and the negative recruiting surrounding the RichRod and the program. For those that took shots at the program last year, you might be eating your words in the very near future (paging Mark Dantonio…..)

National Signing Day 2009

2009-02-05T17:53:00.001-05:00

Today’s post is brought to you by my neighbors “broken” washing machine. Seriously the trap is just clogged and a wire hanger coupled with some Drano will do the trick. No need to call the land lord, or use my washing machine for a month…

Well another year of recruiting has came and passed as of yesterday. Rich Rodriguez has his first year of recruiting under his belt and everyone in the 2009 class was recruited by him. In this post I will outline every position and what recruits Michigan got at those respective positions. Also, I know not everyone who reads this blog is a Michigan fan, so I will briefly outline recruiting classes for Michigan State as well as Notre Dame.

But…first things first! Michigan’s 2009 recruiting class by position accompanied with horribly optimistic comparisons.

At QB Michigan landed 4 star recruit Tate Forcier (enrolled in January) as well as 4 star ATH Denard Robinson. A good comparison to Forcier is Colt McCoy. Both are a little undersized and both don’t have the strongest arm. On the other hand both are quite quick and are deadly accurate throwing the ball. Denard Robinson is not listed as a QB to Rivals, but has played QB his whole life. He too is a little undersized, but runs a sub 4.4 40 yard dash. Direct comparisons to Pat White are inevitable. Overall Michigan got 2 QB’s which they desperately needed and both of them fit Rich Rodriguez’s system very well.

At RB Michigan received commitments from 4 star recruit Fitzgerald Toussaint and 3 star recruits Teric Jones and Vincent Smith. With current depth at the RB position this was not a pressing need in this class yet Michigan still landed a pretty good change of pace back with Fitz Toussaint. A good comparison to all of these RB’s would be a person like Steve Slaton or CJ Spiller. All three are small, quick types that do best running outside the tackles.

At WR Michigan landed 4 star recruits Je’Ron Stokes, Cameron Gordon, and Jeremy Gallon. All of them are in the Rivals top 250 and Stokes is close to the top 100. Stokes and Gordon are more of an outside WR type to compliment Greg Matthews who is better suited as a #2 WR. Stokes is a game changer and I think compares well to Derek Williams out of Penn State. Both can stretch the field vertically and both are very reliable catching the ball as well as being reliable running routes. Gordon is more of a bigger possession type receiver who compares well with Jason Avant. Jeremy Gallon will play slot WR and (hopefully?) can return some kicks. Gallon is lightning quick and really can make plays out of nothing. Unfortunately, Gallon was a QB in high school so he will have to learn the WR position a little more. Depth at every WR position was an issue and is no longer an issue. Great group coming in and also two great WR’s coming in 2010 (Ricardo Miller and Jeremy Jackson.)

Michigan recruited no TE in this class because there are many on the current roster and Rich Rodriguez doesn’t really utilize the TE position very much anyway.

At OL Michigan landed 4 star tackles in Michael Schofield and Taylor Lewan. Lewan was kind of a late bloomer and is said to have a massive up side. Schofield has been a top 250 recruit all along. Michigan also got 4 star guard Quinton Washington, another top 250 recruit. Because OL are very hard to project I am going to spare you all the uselessness. On the other hand, all three are rated very well after a year where Michigan took six OL so we now have depth on the OL that won’t make you want to vomit (2008.)

At DB Michigan landed 4 star recruits Justin Turner (borderline 5 star) and Vladimir Emilien, 3 star recruits Thomas Gordon and Mike Jones and 2 star recruit Adrian Witty. Turner is a stud who locked down top rated receiver Reuben Randle in the Army All American Game. He will be looked on to help almost immediately by playing slot DB or possibly safety, but ultimately his future is certainly at CB. Direct comparisons to any tall lockdown CB are in order so why not just say Charles Woodson. Emilien is a big safety who was hampered by an injury his senior year. Everything I have heard about him recently is very good as well, and he has enrolled early. Early playing time could also be in order for him with a comparison to one of my favorite Wolverines, Marcus Ray. Thomas Gordon, Mike Jones and Adrian Witty are all depth type of players. Unless something miraculous happens I don’t really see them becoming starters, rather being involved in nickel coverage and special teams. A position switch for Mike Jones is also possible to LB. Although we added 5 recruits at this position, I really would have liked one more quality guy here. Jayron Hosley was our closest bet and sadly he chose Virginia Tech. Quality is not an issue in 2009, but talented depth could be.

At LB Michigan received commitments from 3 star recruits Isaiah Bell and Brandin Hawthorne. Bell (borderline 4 star) played very well at the Under Armor All America Game, but at safety. His future is somewhat of a question mark. I personally believe he will end up at LB at Michigan with a little help from Mike Barwis to add a few pounds. Brandin Hawthorne is a recruit that I outlined in my first recruiting post. I really like this kid. Although he is somewhat undersized (possibly knocking him down to a 3 star) he hits very hard and seems to have a knack for finding the football. Both of these recuits are hard to project because they play a LB/S hybrid type of position which hasn’t really been seen at Michigan before. I guess the best example would be Cato June (played S while at Mich.)

At DE Michigan was somehow able to keep Brandon Graham away from the NFL for one more year, thus making the position a little less of a pressing need, but still a big need none the less. 4 star recruits Craig Roh and Anthony LaLota were both top 250 guys and both played in All America games. During those games, Roh saw his stock drastically rise (borderline top 100) and LaLota’s fell a bit. Roh is a speed rusher who is very polished and could have an impact as soon as this year. LaLota on the other hand is a strong side rusher who only has one year of football under his belt. Because of a lack of experience LaLota will most likely have to red shirt. I really think Roh will end up being a VERY good player and I think comparing him to Jason Taylor is very reasonable.

At DT Michigan landed 5 star recruit William Campbell (Thor) and that’s it. Although Big Will is an awesome recruit, depth at DT was a necessity and Michigan suffered decommitments from DeQuinta Jones and Pearlie Graves. This sucks. Because of a lack of depth at the position (Taylor and Johnson graduated) Big Will is penciled in as a starter along side of Mike Martin. After those two there is a severe lack of depth. Graves and Jones were both 4 star recruits and it would have been nice to be able to keep at least one. It is possible to add a DT who has struggled with grades or a 2 star that still is yet to sign. Hopefully that happens…

Michigan also received a commitment from 2 star kicker Brendan Gibbons (kickers don’t really get rated above a 3 star.) Apparently Gibbons was hitting 60 yard field goals in practice, so he has a good leg. He will be playing right away.

Rich Rodriguez talking about his 2009 class...

All in all this class is very good I think. After having forgettable season last year Michigan finished with the #7 overall class for 2009 according to Rivals (I personally dislike Scout so I go strictly by Rivals results.) QB needs were addressed as well as needs at DE and WR. Man would I have liked another DB and DT though. I guess you can’t get everything you want can you?

Michigan State finished the year with the #16 overall class for 2009 finishing third in the Big Ten behind only Ohio State and Michigan. State even beat out Penn State for the number three spot. State cleaned up in the state of Michigan picking up 12 commitments there. Headliners for the class include RB Edwin Baker (top 100), OL David Barnett (top 100), QB Andrew Maxwell (top 250) and LB Chris Norman (top 250.) Michigan State has a VERY balanced group of kids coming in and all in all seemed to do extremely well. This is a great class for Mark Dantonio and could set up well for him in the future.

Notre Dame finished the year with the #21 overall class for 2009. This was somewhat of a down year for ND recruiting. A mixture of recent success recruiting and lack of production on the field could be a factor here as well as the uncertainty of Charlie Weis’ future. Highlights from this year’s class include LB Manti Te’o (#12 overall recruit), WR Shaquelle Evans (top 250), OL Chris Watt (top 100), LB Zeke Motta (top 100), and RB Cierre Wood (top 250.) Obviously Manti Te’o is a huge recruit being ranked as highly as he is and him paired with Zeke Motta will do wonders for their LB corps. This class also included two kickers, a long snapper, and Mike Golic’s son Jake Golic who is a 2 star recruit probably strictly because of his last name. Overall this class has to be disappointing to ND fans.

If you made it this far maybe you to are as obsessed with recruiting as I am, or maybe you are just a State or ND fan and had to scroll all the way to the bottom. Needless to say, a lot happened yesterday on National Signing Day.

IT WAS AN INCOMPLETE PASS!!!!

2009-02-03T23:24:00.004-05:00

I have to say, I am disgusted with the NFL officiating this year. The entire year has been about as bad as before they implemented Instant Replay. And to cap things off, the ending of the Super Bowl was probably the most controversial play of all. Not to mention, all fans of the NFL were deprived of seeing the most exciting play in football, the Hail Mary, to end the Super Bowl!!!!

Just how bad was the officiating this year? Well, an NFL official has publicly apologized for making the wrong call twice. Once was the infamous Jay Cutler “incomplete pass,” which I blogged about earlier in the year. The other, while not being as controversial, was the Tomlinson “forward pass” that happened at the end of that fantastic Chargers-Steelers game, and resulted in a devastating loss for my fantasy team. There was also the Santonio Holmes catch against Baltimore, which I am still skeptical as to if the ball actually crossed the plane. Lastly, a little closer to home, there was the Leigh Bodden “pass interference” call against the Minnesota Vikings, which cost the Lions their only win of the season.

And now, to cap off a year of lackluster and potentially game changing officiating, the refs blew two calls in the last minute of the Super Bowl. The first was the Santonio Holmes ball prop celebration, and the far more egregious “fumble” call.

While we could go back and forth all day about that particular call, I will begin by simply displaying the video.

Due to the piss poor camera angle, the best way to analyze is to look at Warner’s body movement before Woodley hits him. As you can see his hips and shoulders are moving forward before Woodley hits him. However, this is one of the closest fumble/incomplete pass plays I have ever seen. So, this play is one of the closest plays ever, in one of the best games of all time, and the replay official isn’t even going to take more than one look? Not even going to get another set of eyes on it? **COUGH** STEELERS FAN **COUGH COUGH**

No matter how you look at the Warner play, you have to admit it was handled poorly. Decisions like these are the difference between wins and losses, between champions and losers. After such blunders as those listed above, there has to be a change. Lucky for you, I have the solution: technology.

If football is a game of inches, technology could make it a game of nanometers.

If you know anything about microeconomics, you know that incentive will encourage innovation. The NFL has a huge incentive to fix this problem because replay isn’t enough, and they also have very deep pockets.

So, what am I proposing exactly? Just a complete revolution! The NFL already relies on computers and technology with video replay, using more technology and more advanced technology is just the next logical step towards the goal of a perfectly officiated game.

Any change in the review system has to be a balance of four things: (1) increase objectivity, (2) maintaining quick game pace, (3) decrease mistakes, and (4) maintain the tradition and sanctity of the game.

My first suggestion is to have a goal line invisible fence. Such a fence would probably use similar laser technology to those already widely implemented in golf simulators. Basically, the function of this fence would be to tell if the ball crossed the plane, but at a higher level it could also make the determination of if a player was down before the ball crossed the plane. If the invisible fence were to have a timer on it, the fence machine could measure the exact time the ball crossed the plane. By syncing the game clock with the invisible fence and the TV broadcast, a review official could fast forward the review to the exact millisecond when the ball crossed the plane and simply look at a freeze frame to determine if the player was down or not. Video review of that play would be a snap shot rather than a moving picture guess.

Together with the above stated technology, you could immediately improve a vast number of things. Simply by inserting sensors in the ball itself, measuring in correlation to the invisible fence, a computer could easily tell what direction the ball was moving, as well as how far away from the goal line the ball is. These two relatively wide spread pieces of electronics would vastly improve ball spot accuracy and eliminate the fumble/incomplete pass dilemma. If this technology is employed, the NFL could also simply add sensors to the first down chains or another invisible fence type gadget to quickly determine first downs or not.

Lastly, if feasible, include a touch sensor on the ball, somehow measuring ball control and possession. This last part is more than likely science fiction with today’s present technology, but if the easily implemented NFL officiating technology is successful and profitable, innovators and companies a huge incentive to create.

Each of these pieces of technology accomplishes three out of my four goals. Objectivity and accuracy are obviously accomplished, while the game pace would certainly improve because most of these additions would actually speed up video reviews or provide instant feedback.

But in order to maintain the sanctity of the game, I am not proposing firing all officials. Instead maintain the replay rules. Each team gets 2 challenges, but a technology challenge would be part of it. Instead of simply correcting an eye level human call with a technology result, a red flag would have to be thrown to see the result of the NFL officiating technology.

The NFL could team up with television companies like ESPN, FOX, CBS, and NBC. The technology the NFL implements could be synced and shown to all the people at home in unique and aesthetically pleasing ways, enhancing thee viewer’s experience Of course there would probably have to be some rule delaying broadcasters from showing the technology results until after the coach has a chance to challenge. The red flag challenge would be decided not by coaching intuition, but simply because someone associated with the team was watching NBC.

The NFL needs to change something so winners and losers are not determined on close (non-reviewed) plays. Technology such as what I have suggested is the next logical step. The NFL should entice innovators with large contracts to create the technology to solve their officiating predicament.

NOTE: If you have lots of capital and happen to be an entrepreneur and would like to start a business with me and my ideas, please email me at Dashiz008@gmail.com. I do have an electrical engineering degree...☺

Super

2009-02-02T00:00:00.003-05:00

I hope that everyone enjoyed superbowl XLIII as much as I did. I must say going into this game I was a little nervous about the Cardinals hot streak continuing but Big Ben and the Super Steelers were able to pull out an EPIC win.

Now some may ask - "why do you care about the Steelers, I thought you were a Lions fan?" - so let me give a little context as to my Pittsburgh allegiance before I talk a bit about the game. Growing up, my best friend was from Pittsburgh. I spent many a hours watching Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, Panthers, you name it games. I have grown to love the city for its sports and it doesn't hurt that Ben Roethlisberger is a stunning replica of myself at about 6-5, 245. What a stud.

Back to the game. The first half could have provided a little more excitement - who has ever heard of Gary Russel or Ben Patrick? The highlight of the first 30 minutes was the doritos crystal ball - until James Harrison made the longest play in superbowl history. His pick 6 (Good call Bishop!) was a game changer and really looked like it would deflate the Cardinals' hopes and dreams. What a play and what an amazing athlete. Bill Cowher is a great coach but how did he not see the potential that this guy had? He cut him 3 times! Another reason Mike Tomlin should be coach of the decade but we can save that for another day...

Halftime: Bruce Springstein = Legendary. Not gonna lie I was a little distracted and didn't catch the whole thing but that guy still knows how to rock...

Needless to say it was nothing but excitement heading into the second half for the 2% of us in the world actually rooting for the Steelers instead of the underdog Cardinals. Harrison's play was a game changer and looked to set the tone for a blowout. However all that excitement would quickly turn.

Larry Fitzgerald has proven himself to be one of the greatest recievers to ever play the game and he showcased his superiority over every other reciever in the league in this one. Look at his versatility - scoring a 1 yard touchdown where he simply outjumped and outplayed the defender and a 64 yarder where he outran everyone including the defensive player of the year in the regular season - Harrison - and arguably the best defensive player in the postseason - Polamalu. These catches will get the highlights but he made a few others for first downs that kept the Cards in the game and gave them the ability to make their comeback. This kid is sick. I think I will take him in the first round of every fantasy draft I ever take part in for the rest of his career.

While Larry got all of the props this postseason for recievers (deservedly so...), the catch that Santonio Holmes made to win the game was incredible. Though I was getting nervous toward the end because of all the bad Lions karma Terp tried to rub on me with his #20 Lions jersey (as beautiful as it was...), Santonio saved the day. He showed up HUGE tonight (wish he woulda done that in the regular season - the super bowl MVP and my 5th round pick did a lot of good for me this year) and made arguably one of the best catches in Superbowl history. Though Big Ben with always be my MVP, Holmes deserved the spotlight and recognition he got because he won the game for the Steel Curtain with that catch. Not only was this Superbowl better than last years but that catch was more impressive than David Tyree's. What a way to cap off the game.

Congrats to both the Steelers and Cards on an amazing and entertaining game - the best football game I have watched in years.

Random Musings from the Pistons/Celtics Game

2009-01-31T12:39:00.003-05:00

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.

The Super Bowl through Lion's Colored Glasses

2009-01-29T18:42:00.007-05:00

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.

Here's to you Darren McCarty

2009-01-29T17:40:00.002-05:00

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.

Tigers - 2008 World Series Champs!

2009-01-28T17:15:00.000-05:00

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.

Chemistry

2009-01-27T14:20:00.004-05:00

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)

Criminal Intent

2009-01-26T18:30:00.002-05:00

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.

Thank-You John Elway

2009-01-22T17:07:00.002-05:00

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!”

Hope?

2009-01-19T23:23:00.005-05:00

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.

Aaron Curry

2009-01-16T15:51:00.005-05:00

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.

A Man Among Boys

2009-01-13T13:05:00.002-05:00

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.

Invested in Southern California

2009-01-13T12:18:00.005-05:00

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

A Beaverless year...

2009-01-08T18:50:00.004-05:00

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.

Stuck Yea!

2009-01-08T17:45:00.003-05:00

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.

John Beilein

2009-01-07T00:38:00.005-05:00

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.

NFL Picks: Week 17

2008-12-28T16:46:00.003-05:00

Results:
Elliot: 11-5
Nate: 12-4
Dave: 10-6
Brian: 12-4

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Nate: 140-69 (67.0%)
2. Dave: 120-76 (61.2%)
3. Brian: 126-83 (60.3%)
4. Elliot: 124-85 (59.3%)

Elliot's Picks:
Falcons over Rams
Patriots over Bills
Chiefs over Bengals
Packers over Lions
Colts over Titans
Vikings over Giants
Saints over Panthers
Steelers over Browns
Bucs over Raiders
Bears over Texans
Dolphins over Jets
Eagles over Cowboys
Ravens over Jags
Redskins over 49ers
Cardinals over Seahawks
Chargers over Broncos

Nate's Picks
Falcons over Rams
Patriots over Bills
Chiefs over Bengals
Packers over Lions
Colts over Titans
Vikings over Giants
Panthers over Saints
Steelers over Browns
Bucs over Raiders
Texans over Bears
Dolphins over Jets
Eagles over Cowboys
Ravens over Jags
Redskins over 49ers
Cardinals over Seahawks
Chargers over Broncos

Dave's Picks:
Atlanta over St. Louis
NE over Buffalo
KC over Cincy
GB over Detroit
Indi over Tennessee
NYG over Minnesota
Carolina over NO
Pitt over Cleveland
TB over Oakland
Chicago over Houston
Miami over NYJ
Dallas over Philly
Arizona over Seattle
Washington over San Fran
Baltimore over Jacksonville
San Diego over Denver

Brian's Picks:
Falcons over Rams
Patriots over Bills
Chiefs over Bengals
Packers over Lions
Colts over Titans
Vikings over Giants
Panthers over Saints
Steelers over Browns
Bucs over Raiders
Texans over Bears
Dolphins over Jets
Eagles over Cowboys
Ravens over Jags
Redskins over 49ers
Cardinals over Seahawks
Chargers over Broncos

Piston's Window is Closed

2008-12-25T01:48:00.002-05:00

For 4 NBA teams, the window has closed. Hard.

Which NBA teams are posers? Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio, and.... Detroit.

Why are these teams suspect? Because of one, ever important stat.

Defense.

Not overall defense, field goal percentage defense.

Why this stat? Offense is usually a very context sensitive fact, mostly dealing with pace of play and the types of shots a team generally likes to take. Defense generally gets a team to the finals and wins championships. This very stat was the stat that I relied on so heavily to predict that last year's winner of the Eastern Conference would dominate the finals, despite the changing west.

Basically, all these teams have fallen greatly in this stat from last year's ranking. Detroit has fallen the hardest, from 3rd to 21st. The others have fallen significantly, but not nearly as hard.

While earlier I predicted that Detroit would improve with the addition of Allen Iverson and eventually Antonio McDyess, I will admit my folly. Detroit's window is closed. They can't play defense anymore, they can't run with the offensive juggernauts of Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando. They have faded away.

The question is, was Chauncey that important on the defensive end? I say no, he was a solid defensive player, but he cannot contain quick point guards. Rajon Rondo's performance in the ECF last year was proof of that. Especially considering that Rondo had no business being a factor in that series as anything more than a turnover machine and choke job. Instead, he used quickness to get around Chauncey had create. The loss of Chauncey is not the problem.

Age, and possibly coaching is the problem. Certainly, the addition of another year is turning out to be the nail in the Piston's coffin. We all can see it on the court; the Pistons just can't run with this good teams anymore, except in short spurts. They still seem to get up for big games, like the Lakers and Cleveland games earlier in the year. But, this year instead of being able to play without giving 100% does not result in wins over easy opponents.

Which brings me to my next point. Wasn't Michael Curry supposed to be THE guy who could get 100% effort out of this team? Wasn't he supposed to be the coach they all respected? Well the record and their continued bad play against mediocre teams is a reflection on the coach. Plus, the worst knock against him is that he has been outcoached by DOC RIVERS, not once, but twice! Curry had better learn on the job in a hurry, or pray for a miracle because he looks like he could possibly be the weakest link on the team.

But, it is really too early to judge Curry, and he probably walked into this coaching job a few years to late to really maximize this group's potential. So, I will wait to really criticize him until later in the season or even after.

The truth is, we have all knew the window closed. The fact is, it closed 3 years ago. Joe Dumars may have realized before the rest of us realized that it closed this year, but the truth is, he realized 2 years to late. This team of complacent. This group of elderly teammates stopped becoming relevant when Lebron realized he could single handely win an Eastern Conference Championship. At that point, Joe should have given up his hope of multiple championships with a bunch of average players and made that big splash.

Instead our "big splash" involved a player who was WAY past his prime. Plus the move appears to have made the Pistons worse, not better.

I may be a Joe Dumars hater, but the results of this year (just wait until our second round exit from the playoffs) prove this team should have been blown up long ago. If he had blown this team up 2 years ago (buy low, sell high?), we might have Chauncey, Carmelo, Stuckey, and ***insert your "favorite big men." A team that might have had a chance to at least challenge the Celtics, instead of make them laugh every time they hold us under 80 points.

Joe better have a few tricks up his sleeve or next season will be another disappointment. Lucky for him we are also Lions fans, therefore, expectations are very low.

NFL Picks: Week 16

2008-12-25T01:23:00.002-05:00

Results:
Elliot: 9-7
Brian: 6-10
Dave: 7-9
Nate: 9-7

Overall
1. Nate: 128-65
2. Dave: 110-71
3. Brian: 114-79
4. Elliot: 113-80

Elliot's Picks
Colts over Jags
Ravens over Cowboys
Browns over Bengals
Saints over Lions
Steelers over Titans
Dolphins over Chiefs
49ers over Rams
Patriots over Cardinals
Bucs over Chargers
Jets over Seahawks
Texans over Raiders
Broncos over Bills
Redskins over Eagles
Falcons over Vikings
Panthers over Giants
Bears over Packers

Brian's Picks:
Indianapolis over Jacksonville
Dallas over Baltimore
Cincinnati over Cleveland
St. Louis over San Francisco
New Orleans over Detroit
Pittsburgh over Tennessee
Miami over Kansas City
Arizona over New England
Tampa Bay over San Diego
Houston over Oakland
Denver over Buffalo
NY Jets over Seattle
Atlanta over Minnesota
Philadelphia over Washington
Carolina over NY Giants
Chicago over Green Bay

Dave's Picks
Indi over Jacksonville
Dallas over Baltimore
Cleveland over Cincy
NO over Detroit
Tennessee over Pitt
Miami over KC
San Fran over St. Louis
NE over Arizona
TB over San Diego
Denver over Buffalo
Houston over Oakland
NYJ over Seattle
Minnesota over Atlanta
Philly over Washington
Carolina over NYG
Chicago over GB

Nate's Picks
Indianapolis over Jacksonville
Baltimore over Dallas
Cincinnati over Cleveland
San Francisco over St. Louis
New Orleans over Detroit
Pittsburgh over Tennessee
Miami over Kansas City
Arizona over New England
Tampa Bay over San Diego
Houston over Oakland
Denver over Buffalo
NY Jets over Seattle
Atlanta over Minnesota
Philadelphia over Washington
NY Giants over Carolina
Chicago over Green Bay

The Lions "Super Bowl" and Recruiting Update

2008-12-18T17:30:00.002-05:00

This post is brought to you by Davenport University. That is where I will be attending starting in January and further adding me to the potentially unemployed list starting in the calendar year of 2009. If that happens you can be rest assured that my posting will increase significantly…

0-14.

That’s where we sit with the New Orleans Saints coming to town Sunday afternoon. As everyone knows, the Lions and whether or not they finish their perfectly blemished record off this year has been a very hot topic nationally, locally and on this blog.

I did something yesterday I thought I would never do, I called into a local radio show. I always thought the only call I would ever make would be to Jim Rome mainly because he runs the only radio show available in Grand Rapids that I actually respect. But…I called into the Huge show. Ugh. My main reason of calling was to name drop Ryan Terpstra on his show and get a response from Huge. All hilarity aside I really just want to comment on his topic from that show. Huge as well as many of his listeners think that its OK to call yourself a Lions fan and still root for them to finish perfectly blemished. That’s crap. If you call yourself a fan it is absolutely never acceptable for you to wish defeat upon them. Huge made a comparison after I got off the line about the Lions season and your fandom being similar to your “favorite” restaurant serving you terrible food for 16 straight appearances. I had to think this was just completely absurd because I am fairly certain that if you received a terrible meal once from your so called favorite restaurant, you would not label it your favorite any longer. Sports and fandom are completely different. Hard times or good times, you should absolutely always root for your team to win.

Which leads me into justifying my post from a month or so ago about the Lions finishing “defeated.”

I, like anyone, want to see the Lions win the Super Bowl. Next to a U-M national championship I personally can’t think of anything better in the sports world for me.

So long as Bill Ford Sr. is running this team we can all keep it locked in our heads as a pipe dream until his resignation or death. Some form of change is going to happen and we all have no idea what that may be but one thing is for certain. The Lions are loosing money as we speak, lots of money. Ford Field is half empty every game now and that hits this organization where it hurts the most, their pocket book. Seeing red numbers thrown around on an Excel spreadsheet like Macy’s red stars on shopping bags at Christmas time is never desired. Sadly though, the Lions have been here before finishing not to long ago at 2-14. This team has never smelled the Super Bowl much less contended in the regular season since “his greatness” Barry Sanders unexpected departure. What I think going 0-16 might do, would be to add that extra slap in the face to Bill Ford Sr. possibly encouraging him to hand the team over to his eager son. I can’t predict the future but if that were to happen this season could potentially have a silver lining. Without that exact course of events I just simply don’t see any radical changes being made.

So when Sunday comes along and I am wanting to gouge my eyes out watching this team more than likely put up another “Epic Fail,” just know that I am not rooting for a loss. I care to much about this team to wish defeat upon them, hell I feel like 14 times is enough for one season. Also know that this team will be playing as if they were in a Super Bowl. NO player wants to have the “Only team ever to go 0-16” label affiliated with their name. This is their last chance at home to prove their worth and you know they will come with everything they have. Hopefully for a select few players whom actually deserve a win (Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson…) they get it, but also know that they are basically the only ones who deserve a W. This organization DESERVES 0-16. Its sad that the players are the ones who really have to live with the label…

Quick U-M recruiting update!

2009 recruiting class

Since my first recruiting post Michigan has added: OL Taylor Lewan, DB Vladimir Emilien, ATH Cameron Gordon, and DT Pearlie Graves, all 4 star prospects. We have also lost by decommitment LB Jordan Barnes. All 4 additions are great and have good upside for the class. I personally don’t believe losing Barnes was a big deal. He was a 3 star LB and Michigan knew he was wavering and didn’t put in a real effort in keeping him. Maybe because Michigan likes its chances with Jelani Jenkins? Doubtful. But LB isn’t a huge position of need now with the current kids in the class and the kids from last years class.

Right now we are sitting at the number 7 overall recruiting class for 2009 and we still have a few needs: Will Campbell, maybe another offensive linemen, and some more defensive backs. Obviously there is always room for the likes of Jelani Jenkins or WR Reuben Randle (the number one overall rated prospect for 2009.) Although they would be nice, don’t get your hopes up. I give it a 10% chance we land either and that may be on the high side…

Tigers make bold move to fill Copa in '09

2008-12-18T12:39:00.004-05:00

According the mlive.com, the Detroit Tigers have made their boldest off season move yet by signing Matt Treanor. This appears to be Dave Dombrowski’s greatest effort to fill Copa (The House that Jones Built) in 2009. After last year’s hot stove league surprises which brought the Tigers Renteria, Willis, and Cabrera action was needed to put fannies in the seats for 2009. The lagging season tickets sales are a result of a lack of optimism from the fans is no surprise. The team still has not filled its greatest need. Basically, “crooked hat” is still our “designated guy we put out there to blow saves,” and Brandon Inge is still allowed to bat.

DD needed to take the bull by the horns and that is exactly what he did. There’s no need for a closer when you can have Matt Treanor on your team. Now Treanor is probably a solid backup catcher. He isn’t expected to put up .275, 10, 50 type numbers after all the guy was released by the Marlins so they could put a Rule 5er on their roster. He just needs to handle the pitching staff and be a disciplined hitter. Why is this such a great move? I am not here to give you the analysis of the baseball aspect of the signing ( I will leave that to Nate), but rather show you the real reason or this real reason the move was made.

The celebrity couple that I will dub Tristy (I am taking the copyright on this one). For those that do not know or willing to check out my hyperlinks, Matt Treanor is married to beach volleyball superstar Misty May (May-Treanor). Misty is an accomplished athlete, who has won countless tournaments and two Olympic gold medals with her partner, Kerri Walsh. Typically, this wouldn’t be a big deal seeing that May season coincides with her husbands and she typically would make very few games. However, Walsh is pregnant and is due this spring. This means we should see a lot more of May around the D and Copa (The House that Fick Built) in 2009. I expected a similar reaction to the one that took place last off season. Season ticket sales should go through the non-existent roof. The 3 million fan mark of last year will be shattered by at least 500,000. All this for an expected one year $750,000 contract, what a bargain! Those extra revenue driving fans will bring millions of dollars in disposable income into Copa at a very low cost. The extra money can then be used in the future to sign a third baseman or shortstop, who can actually hit, and bullpen help. Who needs to win now? Just fill the seats baby! The wins will come. This move to bring in Tristy just further proves the genius that is Dave Dombrowski.

Terrell Owens

2008-12-17T15:49:00.005-05:00

I suppose something in this blog should be said about Crazy McGee.

As much as I hate to shine the Put it in Stone light on such a worthless story, I have to. Mostly, I decided to write about this topic and push back Baseball hot stove talk until next week, is because I enjoy making fun of TO.

TO has had an amazing ride: He went from hated because of the Cowboys star incident, to respected for coming back from injury so quickly to play awesome in the Super Bowl, to being called greedy during the sit ups in the driveway scene, to mocked for crying on camera, and now back to hated. (Even self proclaimed that he is hated)

Yesterday in an interview with Steven A Smith (why him?), TO claimed he was a "villain" in the NFL.

To start TO, you aren't a villain, you're a joke.

Everything you do off the field is a joke and the media loves following you because people love not feeling sorry for you. By calling yourself a villain are you trying to generate sympathy? People stopped feeling sorry for you the second you claimed you needed more money to feed your kids, well, everybody except maybe Latrell Sprewell.

You are a joke because you stopped caring for team long ago. Instead you care about fame and stats, and the only reason you care about stats is because it will lead to more fame. Was the real reason TO cried after losing to the Giants last year because his team lost and his quarterback was under scrutiny, or because he knew he would have to wait a few months, until training camp, to get the cameras back focused on him? After reading this post you should already know my hypothesis.

As much as TO is to blame here for being a baby and a complete waste of everyone's time, ESPN is just as much to blame. I highly doubt Ed Werder made everything up, but he probably exaggerated a few details because that is what ESPN wants. ESPN has made sports into a reality TV show. I know that isn't why I watch sports.

While TO is a great story to talk about with you friends, it isn't what really matters: champions. The only thing TO is a villain to is the Dallas Cowboys. To everybody else, he is a pathetic joke.

Put this in Stone! (Cuthery edition)

2008-12-15T22:26:00.007-05:00

After constant harassment from my fellow Put in Stoners (has a nice ring to it, eh?). I have finally decided to get off my lazy behind and add a post. The truth is that since Elliot has finally gotten around to it I was feeling somewhat embarrassed by my lack of participation. While I refuse to make excuse as to why it took my so long to make that post everyone has been eagerly anticipating, the main problem was trying to find that perfect topic to make my debut with. I didn't want to make my presence known by quietly going about my business. No, I want to make the big bang. I wanted to be like Chris Jericho interrupting the Rock on Monday Might Raw in 1999. My presence needed to be known by the best of the best, you see. I tossed around several ideas that started with Rob Parker letting his racism shine though by accusing a college kid of a felony without any hard evidence. I thought this would have truly let my brilliance shine through. The thing is Rob Parker gives us at least one reason every time he's on First and 10, and honestly making up stories isn't anything outside of the norm for the Detroit sports media. There were several other ideas being tossed around in this fantastic head of mine and when I had settled on the genius that is MSU wide receivers that look like aliens (see Plaxico "Cheddar Bob" Burress) someone else beats me to the punch. And then suddenly while driving to class today it hit me. And I bet you really want to know what it is....

Cuthery!

Cuthery is right up there with Benifer, Brangelina, and Spidey. Well, in case you hadn't heard, Sean Avery made some remarks about his ex, the mega-hottie Elisha Cuthbert. First, let's set the context.

Cuthbert is dating Dion Phaneuf, defensemen for the Calgary Flames. In fact, Phaneuf is a beast. The only defensemen in the NHL who rival him at this point, are Nic Lidstrom and Chris Pronger. Anyway, Cuthbert has what you would call a past of dating hockey players. Basically, Cuthbert is the Alyssa Milano of the NHL. Sean Avery is just a above average NHLer who just really wants to be famous more than he wants to play hockey. He actually got his start with the Wings back in the day and was a solid player. Eventually, Avery was traded for Matty Scheneider in 2004. In addition, Avery was what you would call and agitator on the ice and had some decent skills. Avery makes some money and some celeb friends in LA and is then traded to the Rangers in 2007. He goes on to intern at Vogue and work his way out of the hockey dime light and into the limelight. Apparently, his lack of dedication to the game led him to sign with the Dallas Stars in the off season on a 4-year 15.5 milllllllllion dollar contract. Let's put it this way, if Avery had an offer in any city of significance in the limelight world (LA or NY), he would have taken it. No one wanted him because at this point everyone in hockey except Brett Hull knew what Avery's real intentions are. This brings us to the comments. Avery calls Cuthbert his, "sloppy seconds," before a game against Calgary to piss off his opponents most notably Phaneuf, which is basically Avery's game on the ice. Draw some penalties, score a goal here or there, and get in fights. Apparently, Gary Bettman did not take too kindly to this and suspends Avery for 6 games, which in and of itself is stupid. Listen the guy calls his ex, "sloppy seconds." That's it. Yes, it is disrespect full to Cuthbert, but since when did Bettman and the media become Dr. Phil? It is not like Avery swore. Our society allows certain words to be said on radio airways and the FCC lets cable go uncensored after 1 AM on the weekends. Yet, everyone seems to be defending the league for the suspension. This is dumb because if he would have played against Calgary, people would have actually watched an NHL game outside of Canada and the D, but that’s another story completely.
And don't give me that it was disrespectful to women crap. I agree that it was disrespectful, but our society accepts an industry like pornography. In addition, advertising uses sex to sell, especially during sporting events. As a result, sporting leagues and teams have absolutely no right to censor the viewing audience's "delicate, virgin ears," because they are already profiting from risque material.
Sunday night, Avery, who served his 6 game suspension, would have been eligible to play. But, Brett Hull had other ideas; he's not playing for the Stars ever again. Hull is thanking his lucky stars, pun intended, that he is getting out a terrible contract with his former teammate. That's what this really is about. Hull found out what everyone else in the NHL knew: that Avery did not care about hockey as much as he did about his celebrity. But, what really yanks me is the media acting like the Stars are setting some new moral standard for the sports. Give it a break. Avery does not do drugs from what we know. He doesn't hurt people physically. He just doesn't put his job number one on his list. Is that a crime? Most of us are the same way. Isn't it Hull's fault for signing the guy? Doesn't anyone have a problem with someone getting the scarlet letter for saying, "sloppy seconds," when this guy is allowed to play again.
Sean Avery isn't a bad guy. Ask Chris Chelios. He was on a local sports talk show promoting his appearance with a our local minor league team and talked about when he and Avery played in Flint during the lockout, and how the two of them paid for all their teammates to go out. What a jerk that Sean Avery is! He merely made a comment about a woman that he shouldn't have. But you know what? Avery was paid to be an agitator on ice, but when he does it off ice that's not allowed. The NHL, the media, and Brett Hull are an absolute joke for playing the moral high road card in this situation. Did anyone suspend Darren McCarty for his problems, which are mostly reprehensible and illegal? Nope, he just could not get signed because he sucked on ice. No one wrote stories about what a jerk McCarty was. He only gets praised when he came back (God bless him for it). My point is when guys in the NHL have problems behind closed doors but the produce no one says anything. Yet, when they say things publicly, like Avery, the media and the NHL enforce a moral high ground theory. Isn't the moral high road suspending the guys who do have off the ice problems too? Everyone knew about McCarty's problems but no one did a thing until his game suffered because he was such a "nice guy." Avery's game was suffering. Not to mention, he's a jerk, so it became convenient for the Stars to part ways with him. That's not the moral high road. They should not be praised and the media has no right to point fingers at this guy when they make money off the very same thing Avery represents, if not worse. Avery's punishment does not fit the crime, or even come close to it, in this case. So pull the wool off your eyes and see what's really going on here before you decide to judge the man.

Picks: Week 15

2008-12-14T00:09:00.003-05:00

Results:
Brian: 10-6
Elliot: 9-7
Dave: 10-6
Nate: 11-5

Overall:
Nate: 119-58 (67.2%)
Dave: 103-62 (62.4%)
Brian: 108-69 (61.0%)
Elliot: 104-73 (58.8%)

Brian's Picks:
New Orleans over Chicago
Atlanta over Tampa
Washington over Cincy
Indy over Detroit
San Diego over KC
St. Louis over Seattle
Miami over SF
New York Jets over Buffalo
Green Bay over Jacksonville
Houston over Tennessee
Arizona over Minnesota
New England over Oakland
Carolina over Denver
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Giants over Dallas
Philadelphia over Cleveland

Elliot's Picks:
Saints over Bears
Falcons over Bucs
Redskins over Bengals
Colts over Lions
Chargers over Chiefs
Packers over Jags
Titans over Texans
Rams over Seahawks
Dolphins over 49ers
Jets over Bills
Cardinals over Vikings
Panthers over Broncos
Steelers over Ravens
Patriots over Raiders
Giants over Cowboys
Eagles over Browns

Dave's Picks
Chicago over NO
Atlanta over TB
Washington over Cincy
Indi over Detroit
San Diego over KC
St. Louis over Seattle
Miami over San Fran
NYJ over Buffalo
Green Bay over Jacksonville
Tennesee over Houston
Arizona over Minnesota
NE over Oakland
Carolina over Denver
Pitt over Baltimore
Dallas over NYG
Philly over Cleveland

Nate's Picks:
Chicago over NO
Atlanta over TB
Washington over Cincy
Indi over Detroit
San Diego over KC
Seattle over St. Louis
Miami over San Fran
NYJ over Buffalo
Green Bay over Jacksonville
Tennessee over Houston
Arizona over Minnesota
NE over Oakland
Carolina over Denver
Pitt over Baltimore
NYG over Dalls
Philly over Cleveland

Just Win, Please?

2008-12-09T23:40:00.002-05:00

0-13

Being a Lions fan sucks.

But, what I don’t understand is this argument that going 0-16 will somehow be “good for the Lions.” I have heard this argument made by various radio hosts, writers and even in this blog. Those making this claim see going 0-16 as the only way towards actual progress, explaining that it will change things by getting management and ownership to notice.

Frankly, I don’t buy that argument. Sounds like an excuse by fans, as if somehow laying a justification for setting the least desirable NFL record.

I am not suggesting that Lions fans who believe in this notion are rooting against their Lions, I just think they have become apathetic; so apathetic in fact, that they don’t even care if they lose every game. Even the die hards have stopped caring, but drown their sorrows by trying to justify it using the aforesaid change and notice theory.

Readers of this blog should be well informed that I am not a fan of the Detroit Lions ownership. But, despite my strong dislike of Lions ownership and upper management, I still have a little faith in these people. I know they have already taken notice, and if they haven’t, 0-16 isn’t going to snap them out of it; nothing will.

How do I know?

Think about it. NFL Owners are first and foremost businessmen. Even though William Clay is a proven, bad businessman, he still likely endorses the theory that the answer to 99 out of 100 questions is money. I know that he knows that the Lions are losing fistfuls of money. The Lions didn’t sell a lot of season tickets this year, as a result the Lions drastically cut ticket prices. Tickets still didn’t sell. Now, he is losing money because of mandatory NFL imposed black outs. Such giant fiscal problems are hard to ignore.

Want more proof? Matt Millen is unemployed.

Compare this year with the past. Millen lost as many as 13 games in the past, yet he kept his job. What is the difference this year? Fans stopped going to the games and spending money. Even Billy’s BFF was sacrificed for the sake of his true love: profit.

The “change and notice theory” is based on a ridiculous notion. It is based on the idea that William Clay, Tom Lewand, and whoever else is running this team are partying up in their “castle,” sipping fine wine, and rolling around in money laughing at the ignorance of those gullible fans making their retirement seem sooner and sooner; until, suddenly, week 17 ends: the music stops with a loud screech of a record scratching; someone drops their wine glass, shattering it; and they all sit up in silence and say, “Oh crap, we just went 0-16. What do we do now?!”

I am exaggerating, but the thought that going 0-16 will somehow give William Clay and his advisors an epiphany revealing the perfect general manager candidate; that foresight, of course, combined with a new found gift of persuasion, is outrageous.

Its not winning that drives people like those who run the Lions, its black dollar signs. Loses don’t get them to take notice; large red numbers with two parentheses around them do.

If you don’t believe in my shallow version of upper management and ownership’s human nature, a more positive outlook leads to the same conclusion. If you believe in good human nature you have to believe that most people who set out to do something, set out to do it well. Especially those who are successful enough to reach such a prestigious position as an NFL executive. I seriously doubt those running the Lions are proud to be the butt of every ESPN joke. Either way you look at it, it boils down to success and making money.

My theory? Going 0-16 will put a black mark on this team that will take years to shake off. Just look at the what happened to the 1976 Bucs. By now you should all know that the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the only winless team in the history of the NFL. After, an abysmal 0-14 season, do you know how they followed that season? They lost their next 12 games! It took Tampa 26 years to win a Super Bowl after that winless season. Reputations are hard to shake, and being the worst team ever could linger with the Lions for a long time.

Please do not think I am ignorant. Its not like I want the Lions to win out or something and miss out on the first overall pick. I just want to stay out of the record books. Being a Lions fan is hard enough, I don’t need more reason to be ridiculed.

Win a game, get the first pick, stay out of the record books and MOVE ON.

Week 14 Picks

2008-12-07T11:53:00.004-05:00

Results:

Elliot: 12 - 4

Brian: 11-5

Dave: 9 - 7

Nate: 10 - 6

Overall:

1. Nate: 108 - 53 (67.1%)

2. Dave: 93 - 56 (62.4%)

3. Brian: 98 - 63 (60.1%)

4. Elliot: 95 - 66 (59.0%)

Elliot's Picks:
Chargers over Raiders
Bears over Jags
Vikings over Lions
Packers over Texans
Titans over Browns
Colts over Bengals
Saints over Falcons
Giants over Eagles
Jets over 49ers
Broncos over Chiefs
Dolphins over Bills
Patriots over Seahawks
Cardinals over Rams
Steelers over Cowboys
Redskins over Ravens
Panthers over Bucs

Brian's Picks:
Chargers over Raiders
Chicago over Jacksonville
Minnesota over Detroit
Green Bay over Houston
Tennessee over Cleveland
Indianapolis over Cincinnati
Atlanta over New Orleans
NY Giants over Philadelphia
Denver over Kansas City
Miami over Buffalo
NY Jets over San Francisco
New England over Seattle
Arizona over St. Louis
Pittsburgh over Dallas
Baltimore over Washington
Tampa Bay over Carolina

Dave's Picks:
Chargers over Raiders
Chicago over Jacksonville
Minnesota over Detroit
Green Bay over Houston
Tennessee over Cleveland
Indi over Cincy
Atlanta over New Orleans
NYG over Philly
Buffalo over Miami
Denver over KC
NYJ over San Fran
NE over Seattle
Arizona over St. Louis
Dallas over Pitt
Baltimore over Washington
TB over Carolina

Nate's Picks:
Chargers over Raiders
Bears over Jags
Vikings over Lions
Packers over Texans
Titans over Browns
Colts over Bengals
Falcons over Saints
Giants over Eagles
Jets over 49ers
Broncos over Chiefs
Bills over Dolphins
Patriots over Seahawks
Cardinals over Rams
Steelers over Cowboys
Ravens over Redskins
Bucs over Panthers

Michigan Basketball???

2008-12-04T20:14:00.002-05:00

Today’s post is brought to you by Sony Playstation. Thanks for building a great controller that literally breaks while I am playing Bioshock. Real cool. Its not like it cost me 55 dollars to get another one or anything. I’m not bitter. Ass hats.

So really? Michigan basketball? Yeah! I’m serious everyone, these kids are gonna be fun to watch this year. As everyone knows last year was about as painful as this years version of anything but “ninja” football. John Beilin has his kids playing hard and playing with a purpose. Another year into the system and big wins have already succumbed to reality. Unranked Michigan upsets UCLA. I watched every play of that game completely expecting to get blown out. They didn’t, they played right along with UCLA and their number one rated recruiting class. Eventually the clocks hit 0:00 and Michigan was singing “Hail to the Victors!”

Could this have been a fluke? Most certainly, but I would like to propose to you why it isn’t. The following day after the UCLA victory Michigan went into another game against a top 5 team in Duke and played VERY competitively. Yes they lost by 15, but last year they would have lost by 40. Michigan survived a scare from Savannah State about a week ago and then went into hostile territory in Maryland last night. Michigan lead at the half only to lose in the end. Normally this would make me upset but given the current state of Michigan hoops I will literally take any minor victory. But seriously, they played hard and gave this Maryland team fits who not to long ago put a whooopin’ on MSU. I am in no means saying that Michigan is better than MSU at basketball, but you can clearly see development. Manny Harris and Sims are making huge strides and Stu Douglass can hit 3’s from all over the court. Adding LaVell Lucas Perry (LLP) to the mix at guard will eliminate a walk on (Merrit) and increase the teams offensive productivity immensely. Defensively this team has been great using the 1-3-1 zone to its advantage, and I have to say, so far I really like it. The team is quick enough defensively to not get burned and they have created a lot of turnovers. I am somewhat concerned about its longevity however. I would like to see some man to man defense so they can be more versatile defensively.

Because of my huge love for Michigan Athletics, I am always excited about basketball season. This year everyone else should be too. They have been competitive and have even won games they have no business winning (UCLA.) Support this team. Go to games. You will be happy in the end of the year when John Beilin has this team in the NCAA tourney. Yes, put it in stone, this team WILL be in the tourney this year. I know its bold and I know I am a homer, but this kind of development is not a fluke. The Big Ten is great as a conference, but John has these kids playin’ well and LLP is only going to add to the mix. With the UCLA victory and a better than .500 mark in the Big Ten this team will make the tourney (probably as like a ten seed or something.)

Watch the development of this team because next year could be special…

The Williams Sisters

2008-12-04T00:19:00.005-05:00

Upon hearing the news of the impending suspensions of both Pat and Kevin Willaims, my immediate thoughts were - "great, now maybe the Lions can make Sunday's game competetive" and "at least it happened now, that would suck if they were out for some of the playoffs (if they make it)". Both of these thoughts, however, were stuck to dust by one Gary Larson - an idotic judge from the wonderful state which also produced Al Franken...

This post is not about how much I, a die hard Lions fan, want the Lions to win; or how I am sad that now these guys might be back in the mix - Quite the contrary! I would actually like for the Lions to go winless at this point. They deserve it for their years of idiocracy and blind faith. Maybe going 0-16 could finally be a shot in the arm for them (Doubtful...). I am, however, upset at the stupidity of a judge who is abusing his power and, in turn, could implode the season for the Vikings.

It's still up in the air whether the Williams sisters will play in this Sunday's game, but I have to ask the question - why would this judge decide it is a good idea to attempt to postpone these suspensions with the risk of them carrying into the playoffs, should they be upheld. In all reality, the Lions will probably lose either way but it makes me question the intelligence of Minnesota's elected officials. Lets weigh our options. 1) Take the suspensions, still beat the worst team in the league and keep our 2 best players on defense available should we make the playoffs. OR 2) Block the suspensions, knowing fully that they will likely be upheld, therefore risking the potential for the sisters to play in the only meaningful game of the year, should it come about. It makes about as much sense as Paris Hilton's My New BFF.

I agree, the suspensions are dumb. Who knows what these players were really taking. They should, however, know better than to take a substance of which they don't know the ingredients. With that being said, you don't see judges from Louisiana or Texas bailing out their players and trying to push their weight around. Take a hint, Minnesota - let it go. Play out the year, pray that AllDay can get you into the playoffs, and let the Williams sisters work their magic in the playoffs like only Venus and Ser - I mean Pat and Kevin can.

Be Careful with that Thing, You Could Shoot Your Eye Out... or Your Own Leg

2008-12-01T21:28:00.003-05:00

Plaxico Burress really is an idiot, and not just because he was dumb enough to carry a weapon without a license and then shoot himself with it. No, he is an idiot because he is basically throwing away every wide receiver's dream situation.

How perfect exactly?

1. He is the number 1 receiver on arguably the best team in the NFL.

2. He signed a 35 million dollar extension (including an 11 million dollar signing bonus)

3. He already won a Super Bowl.

Come on, Plax; you could be Calvin Johnson (more on him later). Would you rather fight through triple teams and watch a defense that couldn't stop a high school team week after week?

Seriously, how hard is it to stay out of trouble in the NFL?

Plaxico Burress didn't just shoot himself in the leg, he shot his career in the leg. Plax won't get to participate in any more games, the playoffs, or, potentially, the Super Bowl. Instead, he can add a felony charge to his resume, right next to that Super Bowl victory. Plus, it is increasingly likely that the Giants give up on Plaxico and go a different direction?

I understand that NFL players are very recognizable and are generally known to be wealthy, but does that really justify carrying an illegal weapon? Plaxico claimed he carried the weapon because he was carrying a large sum of money and wearing expensive jewelry. Well, common sense should kick in here at some point right? Why would you need to carry that much cash? Why not, show a little bit of conservatism and tone down the flash? Or shoot (no pun intended), maybe engage the safety on your weapon while carrying it (okay maybe the pun was a little intended)? You could try testing the safety while the gun isn't pointed at any of your limbs to make sure your weapon isn't malfunctioning? Or if all those ideas are difficult to get your mind around, you could always not play with your gun! Are these outside the realm of common sense?

I am totally guessing here, but team rules or NFL rules might prohibit the possession of firearms. Or maybe concealed weapons licenses are very difficult to obtain, I don't know. But what I do know is having a weapon illegally is dumb, no matter who you are. If you are really feeling so unsafe Plax, hire a body guard! I bet 11 million could get you like an ex-Navy Seal or something.

While it is really fun for me to make fun of a former Michigan State player, the real substance of this blog is that the Lions are actually lucky. They have a primetime, legitimate, number 1 receiver who isn't a head case. In fact, he SHY!

Calvin Johnson is the anti-(insert annoying whinny receiver you are sick of hearing about: Options include TO, Ocho-cinco, Plax, Randy Moss...)

A few weeks ago, I got the excellent experience of going to the Lions-Buccaneers game with a media pass. When I went into the Lions locker room for post-game interviews, Calvin Johnson was MIA. While I understand that nobody wants to talk to the media after a loss, it seems this is pretty standard practice for him. He doesn't talk. He doesn't miss practices. He doesn't shoot himself in his own leg. He seems like a decent person who has his head screwed on straight; lets just hope the Lions and losing culture don't drive him insane, because the Lions have a real good player to build around. Include the added bonuses of not having to worry about his off-field demeanor and tendencies.

One of my favorite things about Barry Sanders was his demeanor on the field. He never celebrated his dozens of touchdowns; just handed the ball to the referee and quietly left the field. Calvin Johnson is a lot alike in that aspect, and I really respect that.

While I give credit to Calvin Johnson, I must also give credit to the New York Giants. Despite losing their two best defensive players to retirement and injury, and a year long distraction from their best offensive player they somehow manage to win week in and week out. That is impressive.

Plaxico, your fame and success turned into infamy and $100,000 worth of bail. Instead of a Super Bowl champion, you are the laughing stock of the whole league.

Announcement followed by Real Sports Analysis

2008-11-26T16:21:00.006-05:00

Greetings once again, my hiatus is over, and I'm back talking sports with an important announcement! As I am sure many of you are frustrated by my inconsistent writing of this blog, I have vowed a new rule of routine! Instead of having 6 posts in 1 week, followed by 2 months of absence, I shall from now on do my best to have at least one post a week, on Tuesdays! I know what you are thinking, but today is Wednesday! Well, I'm not off to a great start okay! Jeez. Plus, this week, followed by the next two, will be slightly hectic with exams and what not, but, nonetheless, I endeavor to meet this goal. So, be sure to check in every Wednesday, for a new post from this guy. Not to mention the strong possibility of a post from our other fantastic bloggers (especially once Elliot and Mooney get in the groove). But, here at Put it in Stone, we aim to please, and I hope to bring you some consistency, if nothing else. Just think! Now, when hump day rolls around, and you are feeling a bit glum, you can always log on to read some new sports opinions and shenanigans. What could be better?

Well, as promised, I hope to bring you some real sports insight. But, today I want to do something a little different. Normally, I offer you opinions, or I offer you predictions, or suggestions for my (our?) favorite teams. Instead, today I want to put something different in stone: A person.

While you get over that initial shock, I am going to waste an unnecessary paragraph with no actual content in it. Your eyes simply glaze over words that mean absolutely nothing, because in your head I know you are not really reading these words, instead your thinking Nate has jumped off the deep end.

Hear me out. Today, I want to put Antonio McDyess in stone. Why such an honor? Because here is a player who knows what sports is all about. Winning, fans, and team.

Lets travel back to a time, when televisions were only for the rich, but baseball was still a game of the commoners. Mickey Mantle was playing and winning World Series for the Yankees. The Mick was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. A real all around player, and a really likable player. In 1961, the Yankees gave him a contract for $75,000, which was the highest contract ever given to a baseball player at the time. For comparison sake, lets add inflation. That would be something like, $500,000 in today's dollars. Not quite the $140 million dollars CC Sabathia is looking for, huh? Times were different then (obviously), but what Mickey Mantle said in an interview after receiving such an "enormous" contract is timeless. He said, "I love this game so much, that I'd do it for free." Mickey Mantle, if I had a blog in 1961, I would have put you in stone then.

How many players do we see following in the steps of Mickey Mantle today? How many players love the game and love their team so much, that they are willing to forget the money and just play? I will give you one. Tom Brady. Remember when he restructured his contract to allow the Patriots to have more cap space? That selfless action allowed the Patriots to resign some key players, and go on to win several Super Bowls. I remember watching a 60 minutes special with him. Brady said, and Im paraphrasing, "In college, I got by on Subway coupons, anything else while I get to play football is just a bonus."

And now, added to the wall of fame is Antonio McDyess. He could have gotten paid a bigger salary in Denver. He could have taken a bigger salary from Boston or Cleveland. But he didn't. He stayed loyal to the Pistons and loyal to his goal of attaining a championship with the Pistons, his team. Instead of millions of dollars, McDyess will make the minimum salary exception. But, McDyess doesn't care about the money. We all know that he was bought out by the Nuggets, but for how much is not certain. Many have speculated that it was for far less than his actual contract's value. It is more than likely that he left a lot of money on the table.

I salute you Antonio McDyess. You could have turned your back on a team that traded you. Instead, you helped them get a superstar guard in Allen Iverson, at the cost to you of millions of dollars left on the table and a month of no playing time.

Now, contrast McDyess with Lebron James. Last night, Lebron played at the Madison Square Garden, where rumors and speculations that he might someday become a Knick ran wild. Instead of Lebron focusing on playing for his current team and becoming and NBA Champion, he allowed these ridiculous questions come from all sides, and seemed to thrive on it. He could have said, "I am a Cleveland Cavalier, and I will be in 2009. My goal is not a max contract, or moving to a bigger media market. My goal is to win now with MY team, the Cleveland Cavaliers." But he didn't. No, he spoke about lofty things like the Garden being the "Mecca of Basketball" and his New York shoe line. He loved the attention, he loved the thought of MORE attention, and most of all he loved the though of more money. Lebron, you may be a better basketball player than Antonio McDyess, but you aren't half the man or the teammate that Antonio is.

Look, this post isn't about how badly I would love to see Lebron in a Pistons uniform in 2010. This is a post about what the game SHOULD be about. Also, don't get me wrong, this isn't a rant about how athletes make to much money. No, instead, it's about giving credit where credit is due. But, also, its a post about remembering that even basketball is a team sport, and team should come before the individual. Antonio McDyess represents everything this game should be about: loyalty to a team, hard work (see: his return from multiple knee surgeries), and most of all love of the game. Lebron may represent a superstar, but with that comes an attitude, greed, and a loyalty only to the highest bidder.

Lebron and McDyess may be on opposite horizons of their career, but they weren't all that different once. McDyess was drafted as the second round pick overall. He won a gold medal with the Olympic Team, similarly to Lebron. McDyess was never the prima donna that Lebron most certainly is. Certainly injuries and age may have affected McDyess' perspective, but the fact remains that he is still being offered a lot of money for his services. He could easily let that go to his head. But, as opposed to Lebron James, McDyess remains loyal to the game and loyal to the Pistons, not himself.

Antonio McDyess, I hope my "award" can somehow come close to the example you set to the rest of the league. But most of all, I hope you made the right choice coming to Detroit, because nobody in this league deserves a championship more than you.

NFL Picks: Week 12 & 13

2008-11-24T00:00:00.005-05:00

Week 13 Picks:

Week 13 Results.

Elliot: 6 - 10

Dave: 11 - 5

Brian: 8 - 8

Nate: 11 - 5

Overall:

Nate: 98 - 47 (67.6%)

Dave: 84 - 49 (63.2%)

Brian: 87 - 58 (60%)

Elliot: 83 - 62 (57.2%)

Elliot's Picks:

Lions over Titans :)
Cowboys over Seahawks
Cardinals over Eagles
Bills over 49ers
Ravens over Bengals
Colts over Browns
Packers over Panthers
Dolphins over Rams
Saints over Bucs
Redskins over Giants
Falcons over Chargers
Jets over Broncos
Raiders over Chiefs
Steelers over Patriots
Bears over Vikings
Jags over Texans

Dave's Picks:

Tennessee over Detroit
Dallas over Seattle
Arizona over Philly
Buffalo over San Fran
Baltimore over Cincy
Indi over Cleveland
Green Bay over Carolina
Miami over St. Louis
NO over TB
NYG over Washington
Atlanta over San Diego
KC over Oakland
Pitt over NE
NYJ over Denver
Minnesota over Chicago
Houston over Jacksonville

Brian's Pick's:

Tennessee over Detroit
Dallas over Seattle
Arizona over Philadelphia
Buffalo over San Francisco
Baltimore over Cincinnati
Indianapolis over Cleveland
Green Bay over Carolina
Miami over St. Louis
New Orleans over Tampa Bay
Washington over NY Giants
Atlanta over San Diego
New England over Pittsburgh
NY Jets over Denver
Oakland over Kansas City
Minnesota over Chicago
Houston over Jacksonville

Nate's Picks:

Titans over Lions
Cowboys over Seahawks
Cardinals over Eagles
Bills over 49ers
Ravens over Bengals
Colts over Browns
Panthers over Packers
Dolphins over Rams
Bucs over Saints
Giants over Redskins
Falcons over Chargers
Jets over Broncos
Raiders over Chiefs
Steelers over Patriots
Bears over Vikings
Texans over Jags

Week 12 Results:

Brian: 9-7

Dave: 10-6

Elliot: 11-5

Nate: 13-3

Overall:

1. Nate: 87-42 (67.4%)
2. Dave: 73-44 (62.4%)
T-3. Brian: 79-50 (61.2%)
T-3. Elliot: 77-52 (60.0%)

Brian's Picks:
Pittsburgh over Cincinnati
Cleveland over Houston
Dallas over San Francisco
Tampa Bay over Detroit
Tennessee over NY Jets
Kansas City over Buffalo
Chicago over St.Louis
New England over Miami
Minnesota over Jacksonville
Philadelphia over Baltimore
Denver over Oakland
Atlanta over Carolina
NY Giants over Arizona
Washington over Seattle
San Diego over Indianapolis
Green Bay over New Orleans

Dave's Picks
Pitt over Cincy
Houston over Cleveland
Dallas over San Fran
Tampa Bay over Detroit
Tennessee over NYJ
KC over Buffalo
Chicago over St. Louis
NE over Miami
Jacksonville over Minnesota
Baltimore over Philly
Denver over Oakland
Atlanta over Carolina
NYG over Arizona
Washington over Seattle
Indi over San Diego
Green Bay over New Orleans

Elliot's Picks
Steelers over Bengals
Falcons over Panthers
Browns over Texans
Cowboys over 49ers
Bucs over Lions
Titans over Jets
Bills over Chiefs
Bears over Rams
Dolphins over Patriots
Jags over Vikings
Ravens over Eagles
Broncos over Raiders
Giants over Cardinals
Redskins over Seahawks
Colts over Chargers
Saints over Packers

Nate's Picks
Steelers over Bengals
Falcons over Panthers
Texans over Browns
Cowboys over 49ers
Bucs over Lions
Titans over Jets
Bills over Chiefs
Bears over Rams
Patriots over Dolphins
Vikings over Jaguars
Ravens over Eagles
Broncos over Raiders
Giants over Cardinals
Redskins over Seahawks
Colts over Chargers
Packers over Saints

Future Maize n' Blue...sadly...

2008-11-22T15:53:00.002-05:00

Welcome, todays post is brought to you by Drew Rosenhaus. Only he can smooth talk around the fact that Chad Johnson er…Ocho Cinco slept through a team meeting at 8:30 PM. Spot on buddy.

It has been made known to me that some readers may be interested in learning more about exactly what shape Michigan may be in concerning next years recruiting class. I want to start off by saying that I am in no way an expert on this matter, but I follow it closely. All the information that I have is researched through either rivals.com or espn in one way or another. Oh and my good ole buddy Brian at mgoblog also helps me form my opinions.

First a word about star ratings and what they mean. Kids can be rated anywhere from a 1 star to a 5 star prospect. How many stars kids get is strictly based upon how many different coaches are recruiting the specific prospect. 1 star prospects rarely happen and are generally equate to a walk on at a college. 2 star prospects are generally kids who have came on to the recruiting scene late in their football career and little information about them is widely known. 3 star prospects are very common and can mean a ton of different things. They can be very talented kids of whom little is known about or kids with a ton of speed or kids with a great body type who haven’t really “grown into” their body yet. Other times 3 star prospects can be very polished kids who play for very popular schools and may not have a large upside to them but simply have a lot of exposure because of their situation. These types of players make up a very large portion of D-1 college teams. 4 star players again are very similar to 3 star players but either have more hype about them or are the star of their current high school team. There are a lot less 4 star recruits than 3 star recruits that are available. 5 star recruits are what you would call uber recruits. Everyone in the nation wants them and you can be rest assured that USC is making a big run for them. Most years there are only about 3 dozen kids in the nation who get labeled a 5 star recruit. Michigan’s last 5 star recruit was Donovan Warren.

Star ratings by no means are a guarantee. For example, Kevin Grady was a 5 star “can’t miss” prospect and Mike Hart was a low 3 star recruit. Coaching is still the ultimate determining factor of success or failure, but having a highly rated recruiting class sure helps out a bit.

http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2009&School=44

Above is a link to Michigan’s current list of commits for 2009. I’m not going to go through every individual on that list, but I will highlight a few who are good and also a few that I want/hope ending up committing at a later date.

Shavodrick Beaver: A dual threat QB commit from the Friday night lights state of Texas. He played in a nationally televised game against Tyrik Rollison (Rivals 100 recruit) and completely outplayed him. He lists a 4.5 40 yd. dash so he has a ton of speed. Needs some work throwing the ball. My guess is that if at all possible he ends up redshirting his freshmen year because of….

Tate Forcier: Younger brother of ex Michigan QB Jason Forcier. He also is a great dual threat QB recruit out of San Diego. Aside from being very fleet of foot he also owns the nations highest completion percentage for high school QB’s. With a probable early enrollment (along with Beaver) he hopefully will be able to step right into the starting role next year with Threet as his backup.

Both QB’s are enrolling early. This is without a doubt the best news Michigan has in the offseason.

Justin Turner: A defensive back recruit out of Massillon, Ohio. Most likely projects as a safety which we are in dire need of. Right now he is our highest rated overall recruit. This guy is good and if all goes the way I see it he will start along side Stevie Brown next year at the SS position.

Craig Roh and Anthony Lalota: Both are DE recruits which we are also in dire need of. With the graduation of Tim Jaimison and the impending departure of Brandon Graham to the NFL, one if not both could see playing time next year. Craig Roh is the more polished of the two so my money is on Roh to see playing time next year. It would be nice to redshirt Lalota. Both are 4 star prospects and both are in the rivals 250.

Fitzgerald Toussaint: A 4 star RB recruit out of Youngstown, Ohio. Usually this city is pretty much dominated by OSU but somehow Fitz decided that Tressel is a d-bag and wanted to come up north where it smells less like old hot dog water. He is listed at 5-10 and every bit of video I have seen on this kid just screams athleticism. Unfortunately for him, he plays a position that Michigan actually has depth at. To make a bold comparison he would be similar to Felix Jones. Not a starting RB, but a significant change of pace back. Probable redshirt.

Jeremy Gallon: A 4 star WR from Apopka, Florida. He most certainly projects to the newly acquired slot WR spot on the team. This kid is ridiculously fast and athletic. He fits the RichRod style of offense perfectly. I really have no idea if he would redshirt or not but Michigan did take a few slot receiver types last year. Doubtful that they are as quick as he is though.

Brandin Hawthorne: A 3 star LB out of Pahokee, Florida. I know he is a 3 star prospect, but from what I have read I really think he will turn into a special prospect. He plays at a perennial powerhouse in football in the talent rich state of Florida and many kids have commented on how hard he hits people. Michigan’s linebacking core has been lacking recently and adding some intensity to it could really help. He attends the same school as current WR Martavious Odoms, and according to rivals, Pahokee is just loaded with potential for 2010 and 2011. Michigan getting their foot in the sand here could yield huge benefits for years to come.

Obviously other kids could have an impact, all of this is wild speculation by yours truly. That being said its also important to know that none of these kids have signed letters of intent yet because national signing day isn’t until next year. On the contrary, all these kids have expressed a verbal commitment to Michigan for 2009. DeQuinta Jones and Dewayne Peace are kids to watch out for a possible decommitment.

Other kids to look at who MAY commit to Michigan…

William Campbell: 5 star DT recruit from Detroit Cass Tech. Thomas Gordon and Teric Jones, two of his teammates, have already committed to Michigan. He is very likely to commit seeing how he already was committed at one point and has been at basically every Michigan home game this year. He projects to either offensive or defensive line, but I really see no reason why he wouldn’t want to remain at DT. Besides, Michigan needs another quality DT to play aside Mike Martin next year because of the departure of Will Johnson and Terrance Taylor.

Jelani Jenkins: 5 star OLB recruit out of Maryland and the number 4 recruit in all the land. This is somewhat a long shot, but he has maintained Michigan in his top five all year. The only real piece of info about what he wants out of a school was an article about what kind of city he wants to live in and what type of college fits him the best. He essentially described Ann Arbor to a T, but that really means nothing. He would be a HUGE addition to next years class because he plays a position of need and is an uber recruit.

Je’Ron Stokes: A 4 star recruit who is currently committed to Tennessee. He is an outside WR and with the decommitment of Bryce McNeal, this position is very weak in this class. Tennessee lost Phil Fulmer and as we all know coaching changes make a big difference to kids planning on attending that school. He has mentioned Michigan right along with Tennessee so he is a possible recruit, this may take a little bit of snake oil from RichRod.

There are more potential recruits on the horizon, but these are three of the big time ones. Right now Michigan is listed as having the number 8 overall recruiting class for 2009. Most likely adding Will Campbell and filling in the rest I would guess we finish right around that number, give or take 4 spots or so. Athleticism is a very big trend in this class and that trend is continuing into 2010 with the early commits from Ricardo Miller and Jeremy Jackson, both big time WR prospects.

Hopefully all that wasn’t too much for everyone but it was meant to be informative and to shine light on the fact that RichRod is out there getting great players to fit his system and to fill specific needs of the team. Help is on the way everyone!

Hopefully all these kids will be singing “Its Great to be a Michigan Wolverine” in the near future.

Go Bucs?

2008-11-19T15:41:00.003-05:00

This is a big weekend for Michigan State football. They could walk away from the regular season with a huge road win at Beaver Stadium and finish with a 10-2 record. They can say they beat every team they should've with no letdowns all year. They can say they beat UofM, Notre Dame, and a highly-ranked Penn State team and regained the "Land Grant" trophy. And they could go to the Rose Bowl. . . . . Oh wait. . . Nope. . . Dantonio doesn't care about getting there. He doesn't want to smell the roses, join the parade, and hang out in Pasadena for the weekend. He doesn't want to be the ambassador of the Big 10 and the outright champion. And I wouldn't want him as my coach.

I'm sure everyone has heard by now that when asked if he wanted an upset special of UofM over OSU so he could play in the Granddaddy of em All that he said "Go Bucs!" Really? Really?? I know there is a rivalry to uphold and Dantonio has done a wonderful job over the past two years in bringing the MSU program back from the John L. Smith debauchery. (That basically means "bad times" Staters, try to keep up.) I know he has a clock in the practice facilities counting down the months, days, and minutes to the next UofM game. I know he grew up in Ohio and was on Tressel's staff. I know he hates that University with every ounce of his being after a running back who doesn't even go there anymore called his team the "little brother." I know that they have been beaten by that University for the past 6 years up to 2008. But really??? Go Bucs?

When the rivalry comes between you and what's best for your team, you have to re-evaluate what your motives are. Where's the foresight? Where's the eye of the tiger? Where's the eye on the prize? You haven't been to the Rose Bowl since 1990 and you say Go Bucs? UofM is 3-8 and you say Go Bucs? It's nice to know that your hatred of Michigan stems so deep that you find more joy in watching Michigan lose than play in the most historic bowl game of all time. Seeing an already beaten down, laughingstock Michigan team fall to 3-9 is more important to you? Dantonio, you need to get your head right and think about your own team's best interest.

I know the Staters are going to jump all over this one. "Yea well at least we are going to a bowl! At least Dick Rod isn't our coach, that snake oil salesman! What's it like down there at the bottom scUM? Look at him cry that our coach doesn't want UofM to win! Your coach said to get a life!" I see it coming. Which is why my love of MSU as my #2 college football program is falling precipitously (that means FAST guys). But this isn't about me or the University of Michigan at all really. And it's a moot point, because Michigan won't win whether Dantonio wants them to or not. It's the mindset of your coach and what he should be striving towards that's appalling. He isn't hoping for the best for his squad, he's hoping for the worst for someone else's squad. Which should piss off all State fans, and if it doesn't, then you aren't really State fans at all, you are just Michigan haters. And if that's the case, then I feel very sorry for all of you.

NFL Picks: Week 11

2008-11-13T18:58:00.008-05:00

Results: ** The tie is not being counted as a game wrong or correct.
Elliot: 10-5
Dave: 10-5
Brian: 11-4
Nate: 11-4

Standings:
1. Nate: 74-39 (65.5%)
2. Dave: 63-38 (62.4%)
T-3. Brian: 68-45 (60.2%)
T-3. Elliot: 68-45 (60.2%)

Elliot's Picks:

Patriots over Jets
Broncos over Falcons
Eagles over Bengals
Bears over Packers
Colts over Texans
Saints over Chiefs
Dolphins over Raiders
Giants over Ravens
Bucs over Vikings
Panthers over Lions
Titans over Jags
Rams over 49ers
Cardinals over Seahawks
Steelers over Chargers
Redskins over Cowboys
Bills over Browns

Dave's Picks:

NE over NYJ
Atlanta over Denver
Philly over Cincy
Green Bay over Chicago
Indi over Houston
NO over KC
Miami over Oakland
NYG over Baltimore
Minnesota over TB
Carolina over Detroit
San Fran over St. Louis
Arizona over Seattle
Pitt over San Diego
Tennessee over Jacksonville
Washington over Dallas
Cleveland over Buffalo

Brian's Picks:

New England over New York Jets

Denver over Atlanta

Philadelphia over Cincinnati

Green Bay over Chicago

Indianapolis over Houston

New Orleans over Kansas City

Miami over Oakland

New York Giants over Baltimore

Minnesota over Tampa Bay

Carolina over Detroit

San Francisco over St. Louis

Arizona over Seattle

San Diego over Pittsburgh

Tennessee over Jacksonville

Dallas over Washington

Cleveland over Buffalo

Nate's Picks:

Jets over Patriots
Falcons over Broncos
Eagles over Bengals
Packers over Bears
Colts over Texans
Saints over Chiefs
Dolphins over Raiders
Giants over Ravens
Bucs over Vikings
Panthers over Lions
Titans over Jags
49ers over Rams
Cardinals over Seahawks
Steelers over Chargers
Redskins over Cowboys
Bills over Browns

Finishing up Defeated

2008-11-12T20:15:00.003-05:00

Today’s post is brought to you by my crackberry… for reasons to be explained later in this post.

Last week I went to Detroit with some friends and got to watch the Wings beat the Devils and Marion Hossa score a freakin’ sexy goal. But the following day I got the distinct pleasure of watching the Lions and their Epic Fail against Jacksonville.

Heading into the game I was fairly certain that not only would the Lions get destroyed, but Daunte would do something completely retarded. Come to find out his first completion as a Lion was to the other team, good job, at least you tried your best. I also knew heading into the game that I would spend a few minutes on my crackberry checking my fantasy football team, little did I know that it would be the very thing that kept my sanity throughout the debacle Rod Marinelli orchestrated.

The Lions are 0-9 and on a fast track to being the first winless team in the history of the NFL. Many ‘fans’ are actually rooting for such a thing to happen which I think is ridiculous but it may actually be the ONLY thing that Bill Ford Sr. will notice. Essentially everything within the Lions program is a disaster save Calvin Johnson and a few others.

I want to take a stance and say that I truthfully want the Lions to finish only defeated, no wins, just defeated. I want this to happen not because I think it would be the most hilarious thing to happen to any professional team but because of embarrassment. I want Bill Ford Sr. to actually be embarrassed about his business decisions over the last 30 or so years. Maybe being labeled the worst team in the history of sports will actually provoke some positive action, some good hires, and a resurgence of talent via the draft. If finishing 0-16 isn’t enough to inspire change then the Lions truthfully are hopeless. I love the Lions and want nothing more than for them to be the New England Patriots, but the Fords need to do something big and they need to do it now.

Put this in stone, the only way real change will happen with the Lions is a 0-16 season. So ‘root’ for the loosing season if you will but do it strictly for the purpose of inspiring change, not just the first draft pick.

Which leads me to my next point, did Matt Millen accidentally stumble upon a talented player who actually cares about winning? Kevin Smith sincerely put a smile on my face upon hearing his comments about the game. A third round draft pick from UCF, kind of a hard knocks type of player who has worked hard to get where he is at, and HE is the one who takes a stand for the whole team. Amazing. Hey at least Gosder Cherilus and Jordan Dizon are on track, countless holding and procedure penalties and whiffed special teams tackles respectively. Kevin Smith is the man and I feel terrible that he is forced into such a culture that is the Lions.

Allen Iverson: A Piston; McDyess, Maybe?

2008-11-11T15:52:00.003-05:00

0-2. That is what the Pistons are with Allen Iverson.

What does that mean? Absolutely nothing. Basically, it means that a team that has played the same way for about 7 straight years is adjusting. Is anyone surprised? I sure hope not, because if you are, you probably shouldn't be reading my blog.

But here is the question: Couldn't this deal have been done, say, 2 months ago? (Yes, this blog is yet another criticism of Joe Dumars. So, if you would like to have his babies, quit reading now.)

Seriously, what happened in a week, that couldn't have happened over an entire offseason?

Im pretty sure most of the bigger Pistons fans knew that Carmelo wasn't available, but Marcus Camby and Allen Iverson were. A. Sherrod Blakely reported this very fact on WXYT last June.

Look, don't get me wrong, I love this deal. The Pistons are now a front runner for the Lebron James/Dwayne Wade/Chris Bosh sweepstakes in 2010. They also have a legitimate scorer and a superstar face on their team for the first time since Grant Hill. I think this is a good move for this year and a great move for 2010.

In addition, I appreciate the fact that Joe probably exhausted every option to get a player possibly of a higher caliber than Allen Iverson (see Carmelo, T-Mac, Josh Smith).

HOWEVER, the New Jersey Nets had no business beating the Pistons on Friday night, and the Boston Celtics had no business holding the Pistons to under 80 points. Losses like these are a direct result of growing pains; growing pains that could have been avoided by having Iverson on the team BEFORE the preseason.

I mean, seriously, does learning that a team doesn't want to trade you their superstar soak up 4 months of our General Manager's time? None of those players changed teams, the next best choice was Iverson. Seems like this deal could have been done in late July, early August.

I suppose I can't guarantee that the Pistons would be 4-2 (or 6-0 for that matter) if Iverson was on the team during camp and during the preseason, but it seems like some of the really bad plays could have been avoided with a little more familiarity between Iverson and the team.

I know, its a long season, and 2 losses in the grand scheme of 82 games really isn't that big of a deal. I just wanted the raise the question: if Iverson was available in June, why didn't he arrive until November?

McDyess-less second unit looks rough.

The Pistons can get away with playing Kwame Brown against teams like the Bobcats, but McDyess is severely missed against bigger and better teams, like the Celtics.

As stated in many articles, McDyess has a strong mid-range game that has to be respected by post defenders. He thereby draws bigger men away from the basket, allowing slashers, like Iverson and Stuckey to get to the basket and make high percentage shots.

The Pistons need McDyess if they want to get back to the Finals. He can sign with us in 28 days. Let's just hope that the lure of the Celtics recent championship or the enticement of more money (like 3 times more) from Cleveland doesn't prevent him from coming back to Detroit. There are reports that he only wants to play for Detroit. I really hope they are right because McDyess is probably the most valuable bench player.

NFL Picks: Week 10

2008-11-06T19:19:00.006-05:00

Results:

Brian: 10-4

Dave: 10-4

Elliot: 8-6

Nate: 11-3

Overall:

1. Nate: 63-35 (64.3%)

2. Dave: 53-46 (61.6% without 13 games missed)

3. Elliot: 58-40 (59.2%)

4. Brian: 57-41 (58.2%)

Brian's Picks:

Denver over Cleveland
New Orleans over Atlanta
Tennessee over Chicago
Jacksonville over Detroit
Miami over Seattle
Green Bay over Minnesota
Buffalo over New England
NY Jets over St. Louis
Baltimore over Houston
Carolina over Oakland
Pittsburgh over Indianapolis
San Diego over Kansas City
NY Giants over Philadelphia
Arizona over San Francisco

Dave's Picks:

Denver over Cleveland
NO over the ATL
Tennessee over Chicago
Jacksonville over Detroit
Miami over Seattle
GB over Minnesota
NE over Buffalo
NYJ over St. Louis
Baltimore over Houston
Carolina over Oakland
Pittsburgh over Indi
San Diego over KC
Philly over NYG
Arizona over San Fran

Elliot's Picks:

Broncos over Browns

Saints over Falcons

Titans over Bears

Lions over Jags

Dolphins over Seahawks

Vikings over packers

Bills over Patriots

Rams over Jets

Texans over Ravens

Panthers over Raiders

Steelers over Colts

Chargers over Chiefs

Giants over Eagles

Cardinals over 49ers

Nate's Picks:

Broncos over Browns

Falcons over Saints

Titans over Bears

Jags over Lions

Dolphins over Seahawks

Packers over Vikings

Bills over Patriots

Jets over Rams

Ravens over Texans

Panthers over Raiders

Steelers over Colts

Chargers over Chiefs

Giants over Eagles

Cardinals over 49ers

Michigan State Delusions

2008-11-02T14:38:00.003-05:00

I have always been a Big Ten guy. I like seeing the conference win all of their non conference games and beat the media overhyped big boys out West. I'd like to see Penn State win a national championship this year in football, I'd like to see Michigan State finish 9-3 with a New Years Day bowl and win a national championship in basketball as well this year. And yes, I'd even like to see OSU win their bowl game. Every year I hope the University of Michigan goes 12-0 in football and MSU go 11-1. Most Michigan fans want OSU to lose every game they play, but I don't. The rivalry would be worthless if OSU was 0-11 going into the UofM game every year. When OSU plays good football along with Michigan, the Big Ten gets a little more recognition that it truly deserves.

Now we all know that the Michigan football team will not finish 12-0. There are many reasons that Michigan is having a down year but that is not what this post is dedicated to. My problems are with MSU fans who DO want Michigan to lose every game even though it is another Michigan school. My problem is MSU fans spouting off that Michigan fans are arrogant, and then tout that MSU is now overtaking UofM as the top program of the state after one win in seven years. My problem is that MSU fans think that they are begininng to win the recruiting battle in Michigan after they have gotten some better recruits from our great state. And my problem with MSU fans is that they think their basketball and football programs have begun to rise based on their own merits.

At least for me, it's pretty clear that the health of the MSU recruiting classes in basketball and football are in direct correlation to whether or not the Michigan basketball team has any scholarships to award, and whether or not the University of Michigan is even targeting the same players it used to in football. People often forget that UofM used to have one of the best basketball teams in the country and went tromping through March Madness on a regular occasion. However, after the Chris Webber fiasco, Michigan basketball was sentenced to death for a decade and could not offer athletes what they needed to come play for UofM anymore. Interestingly enough, at that point, MSU's basketball program began to rise from the ashes of the UofM funeral pyre and has now become a national contender every year going into the tournament. MSU fans like to point to Tom Izzo, their facilities, and themselves as good reasons that their basketball team is always a contender. But they don't like to remember that this all stems from the fact that UofM was not a viable option for basketball players. MSU began winning the recruiting battle because there really was no competition anymore. A competition they usually lost in years past.

Now to MSU football. This year they are having a great season, and I applaud them for that. I really do want them to play well and win a bowl game this year. However, my MSU fan friends are saying that now they are winning the recruiting battle in Michigan for the best football players because they are having a better football season and Michigan is circling the drain. They really believe in their little Sparty World that their football team is going to follow the same path as their basketball team. What MSU fans fail to realize is that Rich Rodriguez has been recruiting all over the country and is looking for a different type of player than they have in the past. While they still recruit some Michigan players, they have set up shop in other places like Florida to get the fast playmakers that Dick Rod craves. Really in effect, MSU is still only getting the players in Michigan that UofM doesn't want, there just happens to be more of them now, and of a higher quality.

Put in Stone my friends, UofM will continue to be the cream of the crop in the Michigan football scene. It may take 2 or 3 years, but look for MSU to be crying into their cheap beer after most football games between these two rivals for years to come. And as UofM continues to regain scholarships and respect in basketball, look for them to pour money into their facilities and begin once again to attract Michigan's best and brightest ballplayers, leaving Tom Izzo to wonder what he has done wrong. You haven't done anything wrong good sir, you will just have to realize that a better option than your program is beginning to become viable again. I love State, and I like to see them do well. But let's be honest. . . They still really are the "little brother."

Picks: Week 9

2008-11-02T11:43:00.003-05:00

Results:
This Week:
Elliot: 9-5
Dave: 11-3
Brian: 8-6
Nate: 12-2

Overall
1. Nate: 53-31 (63%)
2. Elliot: 50-34 (59%)
3. Brian: 47-37 (56%)
4. Dave: 43-42 (without 13 games missed, 61%)

Elliot's Picks:
Bills over Jets
Bears over Lions
Jags over Bengals
Ravens over Browns
Cardinals over Rams
Vikings over Texans
Titans over Packers
Bucs over Chiefs
Broncos over Dolphins
Giants over Cowboys
Eagles over Seahawks
Raiders over Falcons
Colts over Patriots
Redskins over Steelers

Dave's Picks:
Buffalo over NYJ
Chicago over Detroit
Jacksonville over Cincy
Baltimore over Cleveland
Tennessee over Green Bay
Tampa over KC
Arizona over St. Louis
Minnesota over Houston
Denver over Miami
Atlanta over Oakland
NYG over Dallas
Philly over Seattle
Indi over NE
Pitt over Washington

Brian's Picks:
Buffalo over NY Jets
Chicago over Detroit
Jacksonville over Cincinnati
Baltimore over Cleveland
Green Bay over Tennessee
Arizona over St. Louis
Minnesota over Houston
Tampa Bay over Kansas City
Denver over Miami
Atlanta over Oakland
NY Giants over Dallas
Philadelphia over Seattle
New England over Indianapolis
Washington over Pittsburgh

Nate's Picks:
Bills over Jets
Bears over Lions
Jags over Bengals
Ravens over Browns
Cardinals over Rams
Vikings over Texans
Titans over Packers
Bucs over Chiefs
Dolphins over Broncos
Giants over Cowboys
Eagles over Seahawks
Falcons over Raiders
Colts over Patriots
Steelers over Redskins

NFL PIcks Week 8

2008-10-26T19:41:00.003-04:00

Results:
Brian: 7-7
Dave: 9-5
Elliot: 9-5
Nate: 10-4

Overall:
Elliot & Nate: 41-29 (59%)
Brian: 39-31 (56%)
Dave: 32-38 (without 13 games, 56%)

Brian's Picks:
Tampa Bay over Dallas
Washington over Detroit
Buffalo over Miami
New England over St. Louis
San Diego over New Orleans
NY Jets over Kansas City
Philadelphia over Atlanta
Baltimore over Oakland
Arizona over Carolina
Jacksonville over Cleveland
Houston over Cincinnati
Pittsburgh over NY Giants
San Francisco over Seattle
Tennessee over Indianapolis

Dave's Picks:
Tampa Bay over Dallas
Washington over Detroit
Buffalo over Miami
NE over St. Louis
San Diego over New Orleans
NYJ over KC
Philly over Atlanta
Carolina over Zona
Baltimore over Oakland
Jacksonville over Cleveland
Houston over Cincy
NYG over Pitt
San Fran over Seattle
Tennessee over Indi

Elliot's Picks:
Bucs over Cowboys
Redskins over Lions
Bills over Dolphins
Patriots over Rams
Saints over Chargers
Jets over Chiefs
Eagles over Falcons
Ravens over Raiders
Panthers over Cardinals
Jags over Browns
Texans over Bengals
Steelers over Giants
49ers over Seahawks
Titans over Colts

Nate's Picks:
Tampa Bay over Dallas
Washington over Detroit
Buffalo over Miami
New England over St. Louis
New Orleans over San Diego
NY Jets over Kansas City
Philadelphia over Atlanta
Baltimore over Oakland
Carolina over Arizona
Jacksonville over Cleveland
Houston over Cincinnati
NY Giants over Pittsburgh
San Francisco over Seattle
Tennessee over Indianapolis

Amir Johnson as Starter

2008-10-22T23:52:00.004-04:00

The Pistons did not "shake up" the team as everyone thought. The pretty mental pictures of Carmelo wearing blue and red did not happen. Instead we signed Kwame Brown and got a new coach.

But the starting lineup will not be the same as last year. 'Dyess got demoted to the bench and the starting role was handed to Jason Max-, no, Amir Johnson.

In a this way the Pistons did shake up the team.

While it isn't being said this year, I believe most of the "big" trades the Pistons could have made would have somehow involved the inclusion of Amir Johnson. They specifically said that is why they didn't make a trade in the 2007 offseason. Apparently Joe thinks he found gold in the draft (something he has never done).

But, the fact is, Joe isn't alone in this belief. Apparently many GM's think this kid has a real chance to be dynamic big man. It is the only explanation as to why all the GMs request his inclusion in any trade deal. In addition, I have heard many reports from other GMs and scouts that Amir is a player who lots of teams wish they could have on their team. He is athletic, long, and possesses a load of talent.

But he has never really shown the whole package. Sure his 1.3 blocks in 12.3 minutes is impressive, but some people question whether he has the size to throw down inside and score.

Well the answer is he can. Amir is not intended to be an intimidating post scorer like a Yao or a Shaq (in his younger days). Instead he is going to be a guy who will get you offensive rebounds because of his length and put back points. He might be more like a Ben Wallace, but with more offensive talent. The plays will still be called for Rip and Sheed primarily, with Amir being the 5th option. This certainly shakes up the team in a some way. He may not be new blood, but it will be a different offense

As much as other people would like to give Joe credit for this move, I won't. Instead I will praise Michael Curry for realizing that 'Dyess and Maxiell are better off the bench. He also realized that having a tall, long, athletic player will get more rebounds, something the Pistons seriously lacked in the playoffs (see: game 3).

Lastly, Curry realized he has to see exactly what he's got in Johnson. What better way to get the kid acclimated to the pros than giving him the majority of the minutes? Seems to be the best move to make. In fact, those who know me, know that I have been suggesting starting Amir for some time. I have also previously mentioned it in this very blog.

Best case, you get a solid rebounder who puts in 10-15 points a game, becomes a force on the inside blocking shots and forcing defenders to take uncomfortable mid-range shots. Worst case, you have to start Maxiell, a very servicable player (but a player we all know is too short to play well in the post) or McDyess who is getting a bit older.

Personally, I love the move. I think he is going to be a crowd favorite by throwing down some sweet dunks with his long arms and amazing jumping ability. I also think that his defense will be very well respected, even if it doesn't show up in stats like steals and blocks; but it will show up in the opposing team shooting percentage.

So while Josh Smith is still in Atlanta, and T-mac is still in Houston, the Pistons do have a "new" face in the starting lineup, that could provide a boost of energy and a new look that could really change the team and provide that shake up this complacent team so badly needs.

NFL Picks: Week 7

2008-10-19T13:09:00.002-04:00

Week 7 Results:
Dave, Elliot, Brian: 8-6
Nate: 7-7

Overall
T-1. Elliot, Brian: 32-24 (57%)
2. Nate: 31-25 (55%)
3. Dave 23-33 (w/0 13 games missed, 23-20 - 53%)

Dave's Picks:
Buffalo over San Diego
Chicago over Minnesota
Pittsburgh over Cincy
Tennessee over Kansas City
Dallas over St. Louis
Baltimore over Miami
NYG over San Fran
New Orleans over Carolina
Houston over Detroit
Indi over GB
NYJ over Oakland
Cleveland over Washington
TB over Seattle
Denver over NE

Elliot's Picks:
Bills over Chargers

Bears over Vikings

Steelers over Bengals

Titans over Chiefs

Saints over Panthers

Cowboys over Rams

Dolphins over Ravens

Lions over Texans

Giants over 49ers

Raiders over Jets

Redskins over Browns

Colts over Packers

Bucs over Seahawks

Broncos over Patriots

Brian's Picks:

Buffalo over San Diego

Chicago over Minnesota

Pittsburgh over Cincinnati

Tennessee over Kansas City

Dallas over St. Louis

Miami over Baltimore

NY Giants over San Francisco

New Orleans over Carolina

Detroit over Houston

NY Jets over Oakland

Green Bay over Indianapolis

Washington over Cleveland

Tampa Bay over Seattle

Denver over New England

Nate's Picks:

San Diego over Buffalo

Chicago over Minnesota

Pittsburgh over Cincinnati

Tennessee over Kansas City

Dallas over St. Louis

Miami over Baltimore

NY Giants over San Francisco

New Orleans over Carolina

Houston over Detroit

NY Jets over Oakland

Green Bay over Indianapolis

Cleveland over Washington

Tampa Bay over Seattle

Denver over New England

Michigan Football and Fandom

2008-10-16T20:23:00.001-04:00

Welcome readers, today’s post is brought to you by that guy who takes a poop in the men’s room while you are in there and leaves without washing his hands. It’s because of people like you that normal self- respecting people might be self conscious about shaking your hand.

Onto what may be the most disappointing Michigan game since that opener last year. So much for being undefeated against current MAC teams and so much for our diminishing bowl hopes huh? Aside from pages and pages of expletives that I would like to use to describe my real feelings about the game, I would like to respond to a few other opinions I have heard about the game. Many people have voiced their displeasure with RR not simply lining up and running off tackle with Grady or Minor, simply saying that because we are Michigan we should just be able to out tough Toledo and get out with a win. This is a load of crap for a few reasons. First, our offensive line is absolutely terrible, they can’t block for a zone read stretch play any better than they can for the spread zone read. Second, Grady and Minor both love to fumble the football and have yet to prove that either are a reliable ball carrier. I am certain that if either of them displayed better ball security that RR would go to this far more often than he does.

I also have heard things such as losing to Toledo is “unacceptable” or “not tolerated at Michigan.” My response to those people is…What is acceptable? Lloyd lost to a 1-AA team for cryin’ out loud! I am in no means trying to justify this joke of a game Michigan played, but this team is young and inexperienced and they are all trying to learn an offensive system that maybe 20% of them have ever played before. In addition to that, many of them flat out are just not that talented. This may sound ridiculous but it is evident by just how many different people have played different positions; WR, RB, QB, OL and kick returner have all seen countless different players just to find out who is least likely to screw up. Its sad to say but it is mildly obvious that Lloyd’s recruiting had gone downhill in his last years. This is most evident with the lack of depth in the DE, OL and LB positions. I really dare you to look at the depth chart of those positions and not want to vomit.

Rich has been dealt a more difficult hand than he or any one of us could ever imagine, but he is doing the right thing. He is recruiting well and filling needs all over the field. He also is trying to install his offense and get as many kids as possible as familiar with it as they can. This is very important for next years team. Rebuilding like this is going to take a while and unfortunately we probably can’t expect the world out of this team until probably 2010, just in time for the expansion to be finished!!!

This leads me into a huge annoyance I have with many Michigan fans. As much as I hate to say it, there are a ton of terrible Michigan fans. Many people sit in the bleachers and curse the name of Rich Rod because M isn’t undefeated this year or they boo a team whose average age is probably 19. Seriously guys give them a break. I am one of the biggest Michigan fans around and I can honestly say that when I heard boo’s at the Illinois game I personally was disgusted. This team is young and our coach is new and they both need our support. I am not saying to cheer wildly every time someone fumbles or misses a tackle or Stevie Brown blows countless amounts of downfield coverage’s, but just to be respectful. Save your boos and your poor opinions of whats currently happening for 2010 when this team has had a chance to mature and develop. I never thought this year would be this bad, but I know for a fact that I don’t need to make it any worse. I guess after 40 years of winning seasons we all can be in for a little dose of humility. I strongly suggest for everyone to take theirs like a winner and put faith in our team, our coach and our progam.

As always, GO BLUE!

Tigers Offseason - Position Players

2008-10-15T22:55:00.004-04:00

Its amazing to think that just 6 months ago the Tigers were the World Series favorite and yet they ended the year under .500, and in last place in the American League Central. So, was last year a fluke, or do the Tigers have serious offseason needs that have to be addressed in order for them to reach the playoffs yet again?

I am going to go through the three main departments of the Tigers team (starters, bullpen, and position players) and analyze the options and likely moves by the Tigers this off-season. In addition I will state what I think the Tigers need in order to make a serious run at the playoffs next year.

Here is the current status of our positional players:

1B - Miguel Cabrera
2B - Placido Polonco
3B - Brandon Inge
SS - Ramon Santiago
CF - Curtis Granderson
RF - Magglio Ordonez
LF - Carlos Guillen
C - Dusty Ryan
DH - Gary Sheffield

Reserves:
Ryan Raburn or Matt Hollimon
Matt Joyce
Marcus Thames
Vance Wilson or FA????

Well, on its face, the Tigers lineup certainly does not lack power. This is certainly a lineup that can still score runs. What it lacks is speed and a reliable catcher.

First of all, for some ridiculous reason, this organization believes in Gary Sheffield. He has played well for 3 weeks as a Tiger in 2007, and about 4 games in 2008. I have to believe his career as a feared hitter is over. However, he is here to stay and cannot be moved.

A player who could be moved, however, is Magglio. A fan favorite and has been nothing but consistent. I think the Tigers would really miss his production if they were to trade him. I know he makes a lot of money, but he is one of the few Tigers with large contracts that are actually justifying the amount of zeros on their checks.

Bottom Line: I am only trading Ordonez for a LEFT HANDED, bat with some speed. That basically narrows it down to Nick Markakis, Michael Bourn, Adam Ethier, and Josh Anderson. None of these guys are really that likely to be traded for Magglio. Maybe Ethier could be added if the Dodgers are desperate to replace Manny with another RBI guy. This trade is not likely, and really Ethier doesn't have that great of speed. But again, I am only willing to trade Magglio for a talented, left handed outfielder with some speed who is MLB ready. Those guys are not in great supply, so their asking price will be high. But, if the deal is right, I would be okay with trading Magglio.

As for the catching position, Gregg Zaun is an option through free agency. However, I personally think Zaun is awful. I would only sign him if it was for a very minimal price. 38 year old catchers scare me. Miguel Olivo is another option if the Marlins don't pick up his option. But, I dont really think either of these guys is better than Dusty Ryan (and thats saying something). The Tigers are not a young pitching staff anymore, and a veteran catcher is probably overrated at this point. I would rather see Brandon continue to catch on an occasional basis, allowing the Tigers more flexibility.

As for the Shortstop position, we can throw out names like Furcal, but that simply wont happen. Santiago deserves that spot after his solid 2008. Plus he provides far better defense in the 6 hole than either Guillen or Rentaria did. Defense is important and something the 2008 Tigers seriously lacked. Our Infield will be very solid defensively with Inge, Santiago, Polanco and Cabrera. Cabrera should be a lot better after having a year under his belt at first.

Personally, I wouldnt change this at all. I mean I would love to add Carl Crawford for speed, but then where do you put Guillen? In addition, Crawford will cost a lot of money, something the Tigers are trying to avoid.

My Lineup:

Granderson
Polanco
Cabrera
Ordonez
Guillen
Sheffield
Santiago
Inge
Ryan

The only real shocker in that lineup is moving Cabrera to 3. Seems like a logical move though because his bat is something I want up as many times as possible.

If I were GM, I wouldn't change a thing. Make Inge my backup catcher, make Guillen my backup 3rd baseman, and make Joyce my backup outfielder. If Inge simply will not comply with catching any longer, then go out and sign a CHEAP free agent catcher. That's it.

The Tigers will score runs again. Miguel Cabrera is a superstar and can carry this team offensively, but some contributions from Sheffield would really be nice. I really wish I could add some speed and plug that hypothetical, fast player 9th in the lineup. But, really the only way that happens is if you trade Ordonez.

So you might as well stand pat and hope for better 2 out hitting than last year. Combat you lack of speed with hit and runs and sacrifice flies.

Despite a terrible year by Sheffield and Rentaria, the Tigers were 5th in the Major Leagues in runs scored and 6th in average. The offense isn't what needs fixing, so the money and offseason time should not be spent fixing the offense. The focus is pitching and bullpen. So I say stand pat unless you get a great offer that fits my criteria for Magglio.