DC Wins!

DC United, my favorite team in MLS, won the MLS Cup this afternoon. While I am thrilled to hear they captured their fourth MLS championship, I am annoyed at myself for forgetting when it was on television. I was busy with other things, and lamenting the stinking Lions loss, and forgot to flip over to watch the game. Stupid, stupid thing to do. These darn Lions have a way of really ruining a day.

Anyway, United won and that's all that matters. Alecko Eskandarain had two goals, one a dandy piece of work, and was named MVP. After several uninspiring campaigns, it was nice to see United peak at the right time and return to the top of the league.

Lions Diary

Well, it's time to start focusing on Draft Day. The Lions continue their steady descent into a high draft choice in 2005. Today's lackluster loss has me ready to face an unfortunate fact. Although I hope I am wrong, it appears Joey Harrington is never going to become the quarterback the Lions (and I) hoped for. I believe he is done in Detroit. It's just a matter of when the parting of ways occurs.

I know Harrington has spent much of his three years tossing the ball to guys who are no longer in pro football. I realize he has had to play this season without Charles Rogers and with Roy Williams operating at less than 100% for several weeks. Still, that doesn't explain throws that range from high and wide, to tosses way behind receivers, to balls bouncing before reaching their target. That's not poor receiving. That's terrible passing. It's year three and Joey is actually worse than he was his rookie season.

Some will argue for another season. Look what an extra year has done for Drew Brees. Point taken. However, Harrington was the third pick in the entire draft. You just can't hang around being ordinary forever. Honestly, the Lions could find someone else to be mediocre. They, and the fans, expect a star when you are drafted that high. I can no longer convince myself that day is just around the corner. Again, I hope Harrington proves me wrong and does have a Brees-like year in 2005, but I no longer believe.

Of course, being (more than) a bit of an Oklahoma football fan, I really wanted safety Roy Williams the year the Lions took Harrington. However, all the fans, media and scouts screamed that you can't take a safety with the third overall pick. That's just a waste. I thought Williams was a special DB, a sentiment I still believe, and felt the Lions needed help everywhere, so why not take the best player?

Not being as much of a football geek as when I was young, and also of the notion that great quarterback play can make your franchise a consistent power, I felt if the Lions' brass thought Harrington would be a Pro Bowl talent, I could be happy with Harrington over Williams. Every other football talking head seemed to agree, at least in not taking a safety third overall, so I deferred my own common sense. Bad idea.

Who, with half a brain in their head, wouldn't take Roy Williams over Joey Harrington right now? Anybody? So much for the geeks knowing what is best.

So the big question for the draft is: what do the Lions need more? A new quarterback or an offensive lineman? There are clearly other positions in need of assistance, but the only position more disgusting than Harrington's quarterback play is the O-line. This is an underachieving unit if there ever was one. Again, I'm no football snob, but everyone in town admits this group can't block. In particular, they don't run block worth a hoot.

This off-season the Lions must add two starting offensive lineman, minimum. I would draft one and sign a free agent to fill the other spot. Much like the Tigers improvement, I could care less how the job gets done, but Matt Millen had best find two capable offensive lineman before the start of the '05 campaign. The current group just can't get the job done. Period.

Onto a bright spot, kudos to the Lions best offensive player, Eddie Drummond. If Drummond wasn't returning punts and kicks, the Lions would never get good field position or score. He's one of the three Lions with Pro Bowl aspirations. Shaun Rogers and James Hall being the other two. Although, Hall needs to learn to stay onsides. J, don't move until after the ball is snapped. Please.

The Leos head to Minnesota to disappoint me next Sunday. Between now and then, I think I'll check to see how many teams will pick ahead of the Lions on Draft Day.

Percival To Visit Detroit

Ken Rosenthal, of The Sporting News, reports closer Troy Percival plans to talk with the Detroit Tigers. Clearly, Percival has some negatives, but I think most Tiger fans would feel better with a bullpen featuring both Ugueth Urbina and Percival. Ok, maybe that's just me.

Of course, the possibility of trading Urbina increases should the ex-Anaheim closer arrive in Tigertown. I wouldn't object, if the Tigers truly upgrade by unloading Urbina, but the thought of one as a set-up guy, the other as closer really sounds good. Maybe I just got way too tired of the Tigers bullpen woes this year.

Thanks, Vets

A sincere thank you to all the veterans of the United States armed services and to those who currently serve. A special salute to the Doughboys who fought until the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Most of them have passed on, but this citizen has not forgotten.

Shopping With The Tigers

Free agent season begins in baseball tomorrow and the Detroit Tigers need to fill several holes. Of course, with the general managers' meetings continuing in Florida a trade is possible before Christmas, as well. Regardless, of how the new guys arrive, the Tigers could use a couple of arms in the bullpen, a thirdbaseman, a starter or two, one starting outfielder and maybe, just maybe, a closer. (Some around town have argued they could stand a new firstbaseman, as well. If they can find a way to trade for Todd Helton, then I would put firstbase very high on the list, too.)

Here is what Detroit News' beat writer Tom Gage thinks of the Tigers would-be free agent shopping list. I still can't help but cringe when the word "affordable" is mentioned in discussion about the Tigers and free agency. Force of habit, I guess. I realize the Tigs probably cannot afford Carlos Beltran. While that does disappoint me just a tad, I do get a bit more squirrely when the affordable options are named Corey Koskie. Not that Koskie is a bad player. He's not. He's also not Magglio Ordonez.

Koskie would bring a decent bat and good glove to the Tigers' thirdbase problem. (It appears the Tigers prefer Brandon Inge continuing his Tony Phillips-like super-utility role.) If Koskie is only a piece of the Tigers off-season re-tooling, then I would probably embrace the move more warmly. However, if they trot Koskie out as the big addition this winter, that ain't going to sell many seats in 2005. Nor will I be overly enthused about the likelihood of getting over .500.

Dave Dombrowski needs to repeat, to an extent, what he did last year. The Tigers do need a fairly big name arrival plus a couple of other notable additions to give this team a legitimate shot at finishing above .500 next season. (They could also sell more tickets with another inspiring off-season.) There are countless options I would be thrilled with, but I fear the Tigers may retreat to their pre-2003 shell.

Only the horror of the worst baseball season in American League history forced the Tigers into free agency a year ago. Only luck and a dash of courage yielded Ivan Rodriguez. Now, we get to find out if last winter was an anomaly or if the Tigers are going to be players in free agency. We also get to see if Pudge Rodriguez can lure any other quality players to Comerica Park, which was part of the rationale for obtaining the All-Star backstop.

The Tigers, in theory, should have some long-term money available, as well. Bobby Higginson, Rondell White, Fernando Vina (remember him?), Jason Johnson and Ugueth Urbina are all free agents when 2005 concludes. Even a significant increase in payroll (Helton, Carl Pavano, Ordonez) would only be for one season with the other deals falling off the books this time next year.

Honestly, if the Tigers feel uncomfortable about this free agent class, that's fine with me. As I said at the start, I don't care how the newcomers arrive. Trades, free agency, whatever. I do think, however, with as many needs as the Tigers have, including building on this past season's revival and selling tickets, the Tigers had best be very active this winter.

I readily admit making good decisions on player acquisition will be hard. Doing nothing this winter, or making poor decisions, could be disasterous for a team that still lacks high level quality prospects. Some things around Tigertown never seem to change.

Parity Problems

Drew Sharp of the Free Press offers this piece on NFL parity. It's a sentiment I tend to agree with.

Early NBA Thoughts

A week of free NBA League Pass has given me a chance to watch a bit more pro hoops this week. Here are some of my thoughts after a week of NBA play.

If everyone stays healthy, my surprise team in the Eastern Conference is Orlando. The trade with Houston gave the Magic 3/5 of a starting lineup. Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato all start and will upgrade the Magic at three spots. Francis is a legit star, Mobley can score and Cato only needs to rebound and block an occasional shot. Three starters for one disgruntled superstar? I think the Magic may have made a good trade.

First rounder Dwight Howard might not score consistently, but he will probably rebound most nights. I don't think averaging a double-double is entirely out of the question, either. Grant Hill's return provides some scoring, some passing and the always popular veteran leadership. In Hedo Turkoglu and Pat Garrity, the Magic have some three point shooters coming off the bench. They also have some inside help on the pine with veteran Tony Battie.

Orlando won't win the East, but they look much better than a year ago. Out west, it's hard not to notice Phoenix. The Suns made two big additions. Quentin Richardson and Steve Nash. Richardson gives the Suns yet another scorer, but it's Nash that's the difference.

Sure, Nash can rain three pointers, too, but it's his point guard skills that may elevate the Suns. Nash can dribble, penetrate and, most importantly, pass. Nash's ability to control the flow of a game, direct traffic and hit the Suns athletic, slashing scorers in the open floor (or even in a half court set) may make the Suns the new Dallas Mavericks of the Western Conference. A team that can score at will, but play questionable D.

If all stay healthy, I would expect career years from Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. Nash will be steady and Richardson will get his shots, too, courtesy of the Suns new point guard. I've never been much of a Nash fan, but it's clear what his presence brings the Suns. Phoenix should be much improved and lots more fun to watch.

Other random observations:

Atlanta is very, very bad. This team could mail it in before Christmas. Poor, Mike Woodson.

New Orleans' yellow alternate jersey can go bye-bye.

The Pistons are still trying to get into the groove of playing again. A combination of post-championship hangover and several new faces are giving the champs some early problems.

I'm probably crazy, but the Lakers aren't as bad as most think. Of course, they would be contenders with Shaq, but I like Caron Butler and Lamar Odom. They look like a playoff team to me. Again, I could just be nuts.

Speaking of the big guy, Shaq has made the Miami better as everyone thought he would. Dwayne Wade is awesome on his own, though.

NBA League Pass is very cool, but I can't bring myself to cough up the cash. (Now, MLB Extra Innings is another story.)

Not that you care, but I've got two (yes, two) Yahoo! fantasy NBA teams. Both are playing reasonably well, thank you.

Edmonds A Hall of Famer?

Just before the playoffs began, I was chatting with a friend about Jim Edmonds' chances at the Hall of Fame. It's not something I had given much thought too, but I read someone else assert that Edmonds had a legitimate chance at 500 homers and that got me thinking about it. Even with slightly less than 500 dingers, Edmonds has been posting some strong numbers besides being one of the best defensive centerfielders ever. That would certainly make him HOF material, in my opinion, anyway.

Rich Lederer, at Rich's Weekend Baseball Beat, provides us with more evidence that Edmonds is indeed in rare company. Rich believes Edmonds may be the eighth best centerfielder of the 20th century. Looking at his numbers, that's difficult to argue.

Lions Diary

It's midterm report card time in the NFL. Here is how the Honolulu Blue and Silver grades out according to the beat writers.

Here is the Freep's Curt Sylvester's version after eight games.

The News' Mike O'Hara rates the Leos this way.

Where's Braylon?

ESPN.com is tracking the Heisman vote and it appears some voters aren't watching enough football. In their latest poll, Michigan's Braylon Edwards isn't even amongst the top nine candidates. The Michigan wide receiver couldn't even garner a single fifth place nod. That's ridiculous.

Edwards is the best wideout in the land, yet can't get one fifth place vote? I'm sorry, but Edwards is more Heisman worthy than Stefan LeFors, Aaron Rodgers, Jason Campbell and probably Matt Leinart. A week ago, Edwards finally cracked ESPN.com's weekly Heisman survey. Then, Michigan doesn't play this week and he falls completely out of contention? Again, that's ridiculous.

As I said in my latest top 13 poll, I would have Edwards second (or no worse than third) on my Heisman ballot. Of course, there is still plenty of football left, so Edwards can still make himself a factor in the Heisman race. Apparently, Edwards is going to have to play extremely well, as he is off just about everyone else's radar screen. Which, as you know, is ridiculous.

Lions Diary

Yesterday's Lions' game was brought to you by the letter P. P as in pitiful. Yeah, P as in pathetic and putrid, too. I could rant on about just how awful a loss it was, how terrible the offense performed (although even using the word perform implies more activity than the Lions were capable of), or just how annoyed I am by this stinking exhibition. Instead, I'll let the local scribes have it.

Here's Steve Pate, of The Daily Oakland Press, game's story.

Keith Langlois, of the same Oakland Press, offers this review.

The Detroit News' Bob Wojnowski provides this column.

Here's the Free Press Notebook feature.

Finally, the Freep's Curt Sylvester's game story is here.

If these are, indeed, the same old Lions, the Leos will find a way to win one (or both) of their next two games. They are both road contests, so why wouldn't the Lions win? It would be typical. Losing both, we can safely return to our annual question. When is draft day?

In-State Thriller, Part II

A week after Michigan and Michigan State played a classic three overtime tilt, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan managed to go one extra frame. The Eagles and Chippewas went 4 O.T.'s Saturday, with EMU grabbing a 61-58 triumph.

Yes, that score is right, 61-58. No, it wasn't a basketball game, it was a MAC football contest at Ford Field in Detroit. Here is the Detroit News story.

Shopping List

Looking to get your favorite baseball team a gift this holiday season? Here is the list of free agents, courtesy of AP and Fox Sports.com, for your review.

Pre-Season Rankings

Ken Rosenthal, of The Sporting News, offers his baseball power rankings for 2005. Yes, that's next season. It's never too early to think spring.

Pistons Get Some Love

Phil Taylor of SI.com thinks Detroit's NBA franchise deserves the magazine's Sportsmen of the Year Award. Who am I to disagree?

B.B. Baker's Dozen

The big boys sure did get a scare Saturday. However, they managed to win and there is very little movement in my top 13. One change I predicted a week ago, as Boise State has managed to make my poll. Sure, if they played Miami or Florida State they would probably lose, but I just couldn't bring myself to rank either the 'Canes or 'Noles again.

1. Southern Cal- No rain, no snow, no fog stops the Trojans.
2. Oklahoma- A&M almost got the revenge they seeked. Almost.
3. Utah- Smith put this game away early.
4. Auburn- Georgia is next on the schedule.
5. Georgia- Tuned up for Auburn with UK drubbing.
6. Texas- Another scare, but UT rallied to smush Oklahoma State.
7. California- Bears had their hands full, but won.
8. Wisconsin- Still look Rose Bowl bound.
9. Michigan- Bye week before Northwestern.
10. Louisville- Memphis couldn't do it, again.
11. West Virginia- Temple? Well, it still counts.
12. Viriginia- The return of the Cavs.
13. Boise State- Why not?

As an aside- My Heisman ballot would look like this today: 1) Peterson, Oklahoma. 2) Edwards, Michigan. 3) White, Oklahoma. 4) Smith, Utah. 5) TBD. Probably Leinart, USC.

Lions Diary

You've got to admire Kelvin Pritchett. He takes voting very seriously.

Urbina Update

Here is the latest about Ugueth Urbina's mother. The kidnapping story remains clear as mud.

Pistons Jump Tonight

The defending NBA Champion Detroit Pistons open up the 2004-05 campaign this evening. Here are some links (first, second, third) to get you warmed up for another year of Pistons' hoops.

Pudge Grabs Gold, Again

Seems our resident All-Star catcher, Ivan Rodriguez, won his record 11th Gold Glove. Here is the Yahoo! story.