There are only two things I've gleaned from tonight horrible Tigers loss at Tampa. First, I am starting to believe those who feel Troy Percival is more a gas can than a closer. How many late inning homers is this guy going to surrender?
The other thing I know is that tomorrow could be a beanbrawl. Friday night, Placido Polanco gets hit with the first pitch of the game. Nate Robertson throws one behind Carl Crawford, who lead of the D-Rays half of the first. The home plate ump, instead of issuing warnings all around, tosses Robertson instead. Thankfully, the Tigers held on to win last night.
Tonight, Jonny Gomes, yes, Jonny Gomes, admires his game winning shot for about a week before heading around the bases. Now, I'm not saying I would plunk him tomorrow, wait, yes, I am saying I would plunk him tomorrow. If he's not in the lineup, and I have doubts he will be, I'd have to hit somebody on the Rays. Not in the head, mind you, but I'd be sending a message.
Yes, this is old school thinking. Yes, I'm a Neanderthal. Yes, I'm promoting retaliation. Look, I'm not proud of myself, okay? However, this is only baseball, not a world conflict. In baseball, if you show up an opponent, you pay for it. I felt like Gomes showed up the Tigers.
Could it be I'm upset about losing? Of course. But, I'm also basing some of my thinking on history. We need to remember this is the same Tampa team that got into a beanbrawl war with the Red Sox early in the year. I watched a large part of that series and the D-Rays did the same sort of junk to the champs.
I don't know what's going on in Tampa, as they seem to love to showboat, but they are repeat offenders in my book. I expect the Tigers staff to plunk a Tampa hitter or two tomorrow.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
IOC Strikes Out Baseball
The International Olympic Committee finally lived up to their threats today and dropped baseball as an Olympic sport. This only confirms what I have always maintained. The IOC has only two motivations. First, to make the Olympics the championship event in every sport. Second, to make lots of money in the process.
Many are arguing that the IOC's decision to drop baseball and softball is anti-American. It is, of course. One look at soccer, which doesn't send it's best players either, but doesn't appear to be in jeopardy as an Olympic entity, tells you all you need to know.
But the IOC's decision is also a result of their incredulous attitude about Major League Baseball's refusal to stop their regular season to play in the Olympics. The IOC is appalled and shocked that a lowly sporting league, let alone an American based one, feels its season is more important than participating in their spectacle. For an organization that is accustomed to being pandered to, this is quite a let down.
Forget this nonsense about the IOC being upset about baseball's drug testing policy. That's merely a smoke screen. Honestly, that sentiment, in light of the Olympic's nearly continuous losing battle against illegal substances, is not only laughable, but irrelevant. Regardless of MLB's drug testing policies, if the IOC's testing methods are so accurate, wouldn't all the cheaters get caught before they participated? So, what's the problem if the cheaters don't play?
The problem is, of course, that MLB players aren't playing. If tomorrow morning MLB decided to send their players, which, by the way, is exactly what the IOC is hoping for, the drug testing issue would go bye-bye quickly. The high and mighty IOC would reinstate baseball (and probably softball, too) immediately and hold it's collective nose all the way to the bank to cash those checks while proclaiming to be the first true World Series.
Therein lies the core of the issue. The IOC wants to be sports ultimate governing body and the premier championship in every sport. Why? In part because of ego, in part because it makes lots of money. Think of the IOC as a James Bond villain bent on world-wide domination through sport. Only the IOC is real and much, much worse.
In issuing their referendum on baseball, the IOC was demanding MLB to genuflect to their superiority. IOC members, who I am trying to find polite derogatory comments to describe, basically want MLB to crawl back to the IOC begging for forgiveness and acceptance.
Dick Pound, a veteran IOC member, reflected that tone when he suggested "A lot of members were fed up with the attitude of Major League Baseball". The IOC is fed up with MLB's attitude? Pot? Kettle?
Is there any other organization on the face of the planet with as much attitude as the IOC? Again, the James Bond villain analogy fits. (Insert maniacal laugh here.) The IOC has come to view itself as sports' moral north and its' last true defender. Just like a Bond enemy, the IOC views itself as righteous while actually being the most evil force alive. (Note they have Olympic flag bearers wear white gloves, while the IOC has a history of having their hands open for bribes, phony baloney jobs and other benefits from host nations.)
Unfortunately for the IOC, they are not dealing with James Bond. No, they are dealing with Bud Selig. Crazy Uncle Bud may not be a genius, but his ignorance is bliss. Bud can't understand what the IOC can't understand about not stopping the MLB season. And, in turn, the IOC can't understand what Selig can't understand about the Olympics being so wonderful.
Amazingly, Uncle Bud is actually providing the IOC with some true insight. The insight of baseball fans. For all his cluelessness (is that a word?), old crazy Uncle Bud does reflect the average baseball fans' opinion about Olympic baseball. They don't care. They really don't. The average baseball fan has zero memories of Olympic baseball. They have zero connection with Olympic baseball.
The average fan views the Olympics as the championship for all those other sports we don't have championships for. That's a jigoistic concept, I concede, but it doesn't make it any less true. It also doesn't mean Americans, or baseball fans, don't like the Olympics. They do. They just don't think baseball when they hear that Olympic theme music begin. Nor do they care to.
Uncle Bud also has the IOC's shorts in a knot for another reason. See, Bud may be crazy, but we must remember he's an old used car salesman. That means Bud likes cashing checks. So, while stopping MLB's regular season to participate in the Olympics doesn't yield him a thing (in fact, it may cost teams money in cancelled gate revenue), running his own international tournament means MLB can make money on the idea. That's annoying the IOC, too.
This nutty old guy not only refuses to acknowledge the greatness of the Olympics, but has the audacity to start up his own international tournament while keeping the majority of the profits all to himself? What type of neophyte is the IOC dealing with? Oh, he's plenty crazy. Crazy like a fox.
Unbelievably, Selig's old fashioned, simple ways may have blindsided the IOC. Unable to get him to see their superior ideals and unable to reason with the guy, the IOC tossed his sport out on its ear. They figure baseball will eventually have to crawl back. Well, maybe. Maybe, not.
The IOC may feel baseball needs the Olympics, but history thus far proves them wrong. The sport, ignored for the better part of a century by the IOC, has done nothing but grow in world wide popularity. Take a look at any MLB roster. It's littered with players from all over the globe. In some of those nations, baseball is the sport. It's elevated itself past all others without a bit of help from the Olympics.
Contrary to what the IOC may believe, the Olympics are not the only thing in sport that matter. Even Bud Selig can figure that out.
Many are arguing that the IOC's decision to drop baseball and softball is anti-American. It is, of course. One look at soccer, which doesn't send it's best players either, but doesn't appear to be in jeopardy as an Olympic entity, tells you all you need to know.
But the IOC's decision is also a result of their incredulous attitude about Major League Baseball's refusal to stop their regular season to play in the Olympics. The IOC is appalled and shocked that a lowly sporting league, let alone an American based one, feels its season is more important than participating in their spectacle. For an organization that is accustomed to being pandered to, this is quite a let down.
Forget this nonsense about the IOC being upset about baseball's drug testing policy. That's merely a smoke screen. Honestly, that sentiment, in light of the Olympic's nearly continuous losing battle against illegal substances, is not only laughable, but irrelevant. Regardless of MLB's drug testing policies, if the IOC's testing methods are so accurate, wouldn't all the cheaters get caught before they participated? So, what's the problem if the cheaters don't play?
The problem is, of course, that MLB players aren't playing. If tomorrow morning MLB decided to send their players, which, by the way, is exactly what the IOC is hoping for, the drug testing issue would go bye-bye quickly. The high and mighty IOC would reinstate baseball (and probably softball, too) immediately and hold it's collective nose all the way to the bank to cash those checks while proclaiming to be the first true World Series.
Therein lies the core of the issue. The IOC wants to be sports ultimate governing body and the premier championship in every sport. Why? In part because of ego, in part because it makes lots of money. Think of the IOC as a James Bond villain bent on world-wide domination through sport. Only the IOC is real and much, much worse.
In issuing their referendum on baseball, the IOC was demanding MLB to genuflect to their superiority. IOC members, who I am trying to find polite derogatory comments to describe, basically want MLB to crawl back to the IOC begging for forgiveness and acceptance.
Dick Pound, a veteran IOC member, reflected that tone when he suggested "A lot of members were fed up with the attitude of Major League Baseball". The IOC is fed up with MLB's attitude? Pot? Kettle?
Is there any other organization on the face of the planet with as much attitude as the IOC? Again, the James Bond villain analogy fits. (Insert maniacal laugh here.) The IOC has come to view itself as sports' moral north and its' last true defender. Just like a Bond enemy, the IOC views itself as righteous while actually being the most evil force alive. (Note they have Olympic flag bearers wear white gloves, while the IOC has a history of having their hands open for bribes, phony baloney jobs and other benefits from host nations.)
Unfortunately for the IOC, they are not dealing with James Bond. No, they are dealing with Bud Selig. Crazy Uncle Bud may not be a genius, but his ignorance is bliss. Bud can't understand what the IOC can't understand about not stopping the MLB season. And, in turn, the IOC can't understand what Selig can't understand about the Olympics being so wonderful.
Amazingly, Uncle Bud is actually providing the IOC with some true insight. The insight of baseball fans. For all his cluelessness (is that a word?), old crazy Uncle Bud does reflect the average baseball fans' opinion about Olympic baseball. They don't care. They really don't. The average baseball fan has zero memories of Olympic baseball. They have zero connection with Olympic baseball.
The average fan views the Olympics as the championship for all those other sports we don't have championships for. That's a jigoistic concept, I concede, but it doesn't make it any less true. It also doesn't mean Americans, or baseball fans, don't like the Olympics. They do. They just don't think baseball when they hear that Olympic theme music begin. Nor do they care to.
Uncle Bud also has the IOC's shorts in a knot for another reason. See, Bud may be crazy, but we must remember he's an old used car salesman. That means Bud likes cashing checks. So, while stopping MLB's regular season to participate in the Olympics doesn't yield him a thing (in fact, it may cost teams money in cancelled gate revenue), running his own international tournament means MLB can make money on the idea. That's annoying the IOC, too.
This nutty old guy not only refuses to acknowledge the greatness of the Olympics, but has the audacity to start up his own international tournament while keeping the majority of the profits all to himself? What type of neophyte is the IOC dealing with? Oh, he's plenty crazy. Crazy like a fox.
Unbelievably, Selig's old fashioned, simple ways may have blindsided the IOC. Unable to get him to see their superior ideals and unable to reason with the guy, the IOC tossed his sport out on its ear. They figure baseball will eventually have to crawl back. Well, maybe. Maybe, not.
The IOC may feel baseball needs the Olympics, but history thus far proves them wrong. The sport, ignored for the better part of a century by the IOC, has done nothing but grow in world wide popularity. Take a look at any MLB roster. It's littered with players from all over the globe. In some of those nations, baseball is the sport. It's elevated itself past all others without a bit of help from the Olympics.
Contrary to what the IOC may believe, the Olympics are not the only thing in sport that matter. Even Bud Selig can figure that out.
Renovating Detroit
On the heels of my post about Tiger Stadium, Free Press reporter John Gallagher offers some suggestions for getting Detroit renovation underway.
Wings Boot Lewis
When I heard the Red Wings might not re-sign Dave Lewis, I figured the organization felt he might not be well suited to coach younger players. Turns out GM Ken Holland was more concerned about the vets tuning Lewis out. Here is Mitch Albom's story on Lewis' departure from Detroit.
I can't say that I know if a new coach will help, but in a league nearly completely rebuilt by a salary cap and probably numerous rule changes, is anything going to be certain?
I can't say that I know if a new coach will help, but in a league nearly completely rebuilt by a salary cap and probably numerous rule changes, is anything going to be certain?
Friday, July 08, 2005
Furry Friday Photo
I'm starting a new feature today. As the title indicates, I'm going to post a photo of a critter of some sort each Friday. What does this have to do with sports? The answer is obvious-nothing.
I don't know if today's subject has a name, but it lives at the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
My Field Of Dreams, Part I
For a while now I've been debating an Earth shattering question. If I had built a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield, what players would I most like to see play? What? You haven't been thinking the same thing? Well, maybe you should take a few minutes and ask yourself the same question.
I have found the answers to be both incredibly easy and horribly difficult. Sure, some names come immediately to mind-Ruth, Williams, Mays. That's the easy part. The hard part is figuring out where to draw the line as you can't take everyone, but the list of players gets very large, very fast.
Gazing upon a list so long that it would make Santa dizzy, I decided some action needed to be taken. The first decision I made was to divide my Field of Dreams into two groups. The first group is of all the players I never saw play. The second group is of all the players I have seen. It didn't matter if I could recall one at bat, one season or entire careers, if I remember them in uniform, they made the second squad.
As a point of reference for you, I've been watching baseball since the early 1970's. Those early years are filled mostly with the Oakland's World Series dominance, but even those memories are scattered. The year I went baseball nuts was 1975.
My teams are not entirely the best players. I have selected guys I would want to see again and again. They could have only significance to me. They could be flamboyant. They could have connections to each other or baseball history. In the end, don't be hurt or surprised if your favorite player or obvious legend doesn't make one of my lists. Again, it's my field of dreams and I encourage you to take up the same endeavor on your own.
You will quickly notice that there are probably more Tigers and Red Sox represented than any other team. (Dominating the century does put a number of Yankees on my rosters, too.) However, Detroit and Boston are my two favorite teams and I consider myself more of an American League fan.
I have also tried to keep the rosters to 35 players per team. Technically, that's seventy players per era. It's still too many, and I may yet cut the lists down, but my objective is to try and stay as close to 70 total as possible.
My rules also include a minimum of nine man pitching rotations and the ability to field a complete lineup-one 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, etc......
I'll begin with the players I never saw play. I've roughly divided them into two teams, but my list isn't quite carved in stone.
Team 1
Josh Gibson, C- Negro League Legend.
Yogi Berra, C/OF- Great post-game quotes and lots of World Series rings to boot.
Lou Gehrig, 1B-Need I elaborate?
Harmon Killebrew, 1B/3B- 500 homers, two positions.
Buck Leonard, 1B- A chance to compete with his contemporaries.
Rogers Hornsby, 2B- The greatest hitting secondbaseman ever.
Harvey Kuenn, 2B- Tiger infielder won batting title. More to follow.
Bobby Doerr, 2B- First of many Red Sox.
Honus Wagner, SS- The best at his position. Ever.
Johnny Pesky, SS- Fine player. Gets plenty of chances to forget '46 Series here.
Phil Rizzuto, SS- How can I not take a guy named "Scooter"?
Judy Johnson, 3B- Another African-American denied a chance to play in the Majors. I get to correct that here.
Ken Boyer, 3B- 1964 MVP.
Babe Ruth, OF/P- Oh, I'd let him pitch, too.
Stan Musial, OF/1B- Stan The Man was another no-brainer.
Willie Mays, OF- In between Ruth and Musial? Are you kidding me?
Joe DiMaggio, OF- Yankee Clipper makes the cut.
Mel Ott, OF- If not for Mays, the greatest Giant?
Rocky Colavito, OF- Homer hitting Tiger outfielder. Traded for Kuenn, now playing together.
Joe Medwick, OF- Ducky. Had to have a Gashouse Gang member.
Christy Mathewson, P- There's a reason he was one of the first five HOF inductees.
Smoky Joe Wood, P- Made film and my version of Dreams.
Lefty Grove, P- One of the top 10 ever at his position.
Warren Spahn, P- Seems like we forget how good Spahn was.
Joe McGinnity, P- Along with Mathewson led Giants to titles and made HOF.
Carl Hubbell, P- The Meal Ticket. His All-Star Game performance is legendary.
Dizzy Dean, P- Could pitch the first game and call the second. A great pitcher before injury.
Daffy Dean, P- Had some good seasons with brother, Dizzy, in STL.
Johnny Sain, P- Spahn and Sain and pray for rain. How could I not take him?
Cy Young, P- You may have heard of him. He could pitch both ends of doubleheader.
Team 2
Mickey Cochrane, C- Led Tigers to first championship. Could manage this club, as well.
Roy Campanella, C- Dodger legend. HOF member.
King Kelly, C- Dead ball era backstop.
Jimmie Foxx, 1B- Double X is one of my all-time favorites.
Hank Greenberg, 1B- Tiger legend, part of famous G-Men.
Charlie Gerhinger, 2B- My all-time favorite Tiger.
Jackie Robinson, 2B- Another simple choice.
Napoleon Lajoie, 2B- Nap was a great player.
Ernie Banks, SS/1B- A power hitting SS long before this era.
Luis Aparicio, SS- Motor for Go-Go (White) Sox.
Pee Wee Reese, SS- Rizzuto's NY counterpart. Robinson's keystone teammate.
Pie Traynor, 3B- Once considered the best ever 3B.
Eddie Mathews, 3B- 500 homers. Led Braves to titles. Member of 1968 Tigers, too.
Ty Cobb, OF- Greatest Tiger. Maybe greatest player. I've got rivals Hornsby and Wagner on the "other" team.
Ted Williams, OF- The Kid is another all-time favorite of mine.
Tris Speaker, OF- Lost in Cobb's shadow. A great player.
Mickey Mantle, OF- I put Joe D. on the other team this time.
Roberto Clemente, OF- Love those basket catches and whirling throws.
Harry Heilmann, OF- Another Tiger HOF member. A tremendous hitter.
Dom DiMaggio, OF- Slightly below HOF standards, but a good CF. Plays next to Williams and against brother, Joe, again.
Walter Johnson, P- Easy pick. Can pitch against Smoky Joe, again, in my field of dreams.
Sandy Koufax, P- At his peak, was anyone better?
Bob Gibson, P- Dominant righthander.
Bob Feller, P- Johnson, Koufax, Gibson and Feller? These guys throw hard. Real hard.
Bob Lemon, P- HOF member, Feller's Cleveland teammate.
Tim Keefe, P- Dead ball era hurler.
Satchel Paige, P- Let's see him in his prime take on the big leaguers.
Schoolboy Rowe, P- Another Tiger favorite of mine. A darn good pitcher, too.
Hal Newhouser, P- Back-to-back MVP winner.
Don Drysdale, P- Koufax running mate. HOF hurler.
Those of you with degrees in mathematics will note that these two teams have only thirty players per side. That's not bad. I can certainly include more names, I hate leaving the Waner brothers out, but I think I'll leave well enough alone for now. Although, as always, I reserve the right to alter the teams in any way I see fit. (Hey, I may have missed somebody. I didn't exactly do lots of research here.)
You probably noticed that I have a thing about "connections"- McGinnity and Mathewson, Koufax and Drysdale, Spahn and Sain, Dom and Joe DiMaggio, Dizzy and Daffy Dean, Lemon and Feller, Kuenn and Colavito, Johnson and Wood, Cobb and Wagner, Gerhinger, Greenberg and Cochrane, Williams, Doerr, Dom DiMaggio and Pesky. They were either teammates, brothers, traded for one another or noted rivals of one sort or another.
I'm still naive enough to believe baseball should be a sport about teammates, friends and family. That's why some players got extra credit in my selection process.
That concludes Part I of my Field of Dreams. Part II should posted before Monday. That list will include all the players I've seen play. That's been a much more challenging list to assemble.
I have found the answers to be both incredibly easy and horribly difficult. Sure, some names come immediately to mind-Ruth, Williams, Mays. That's the easy part. The hard part is figuring out where to draw the line as you can't take everyone, but the list of players gets very large, very fast.
Gazing upon a list so long that it would make Santa dizzy, I decided some action needed to be taken. The first decision I made was to divide my Field of Dreams into two groups. The first group is of all the players I never saw play. The second group is of all the players I have seen. It didn't matter if I could recall one at bat, one season or entire careers, if I remember them in uniform, they made the second squad.
As a point of reference for you, I've been watching baseball since the early 1970's. Those early years are filled mostly with the Oakland's World Series dominance, but even those memories are scattered. The year I went baseball nuts was 1975.
My teams are not entirely the best players. I have selected guys I would want to see again and again. They could have only significance to me. They could be flamboyant. They could have connections to each other or baseball history. In the end, don't be hurt or surprised if your favorite player or obvious legend doesn't make one of my lists. Again, it's my field of dreams and I encourage you to take up the same endeavor on your own.
You will quickly notice that there are probably more Tigers and Red Sox represented than any other team. (Dominating the century does put a number of Yankees on my rosters, too.) However, Detroit and Boston are my two favorite teams and I consider myself more of an American League fan.
I have also tried to keep the rosters to 35 players per team. Technically, that's seventy players per era. It's still too many, and I may yet cut the lists down, but my objective is to try and stay as close to 70 total as possible.
My rules also include a minimum of nine man pitching rotations and the ability to field a complete lineup-one 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, etc......
I'll begin with the players I never saw play. I've roughly divided them into two teams, but my list isn't quite carved in stone.
Team 1
Josh Gibson, C- Negro League Legend.
Yogi Berra, C/OF- Great post-game quotes and lots of World Series rings to boot.
Lou Gehrig, 1B-Need I elaborate?
Harmon Killebrew, 1B/3B- 500 homers, two positions.
Buck Leonard, 1B- A chance to compete with his contemporaries.
Rogers Hornsby, 2B- The greatest hitting secondbaseman ever.
Harvey Kuenn, 2B- Tiger infielder won batting title. More to follow.
Bobby Doerr, 2B- First of many Red Sox.
Honus Wagner, SS- The best at his position. Ever.
Johnny Pesky, SS- Fine player. Gets plenty of chances to forget '46 Series here.
Phil Rizzuto, SS- How can I not take a guy named "Scooter"?
Judy Johnson, 3B- Another African-American denied a chance to play in the Majors. I get to correct that here.
Ken Boyer, 3B- 1964 MVP.
Babe Ruth, OF/P- Oh, I'd let him pitch, too.
Stan Musial, OF/1B- Stan The Man was another no-brainer.
Willie Mays, OF- In between Ruth and Musial? Are you kidding me?
Joe DiMaggio, OF- Yankee Clipper makes the cut.
Mel Ott, OF- If not for Mays, the greatest Giant?
Rocky Colavito, OF- Homer hitting Tiger outfielder. Traded for Kuenn, now playing together.
Joe Medwick, OF- Ducky. Had to have a Gashouse Gang member.
Christy Mathewson, P- There's a reason he was one of the first five HOF inductees.
Smoky Joe Wood, P- Made film and my version of Dreams.
Lefty Grove, P- One of the top 10 ever at his position.
Warren Spahn, P- Seems like we forget how good Spahn was.
Joe McGinnity, P- Along with Mathewson led Giants to titles and made HOF.
Carl Hubbell, P- The Meal Ticket. His All-Star Game performance is legendary.
Dizzy Dean, P- Could pitch the first game and call the second. A great pitcher before injury.
Daffy Dean, P- Had some good seasons with brother, Dizzy, in STL.
Johnny Sain, P- Spahn and Sain and pray for rain. How could I not take him?
Cy Young, P- You may have heard of him. He could pitch both ends of doubleheader.
Team 2
Mickey Cochrane, C- Led Tigers to first championship. Could manage this club, as well.
Roy Campanella, C- Dodger legend. HOF member.
King Kelly, C- Dead ball era backstop.
Jimmie Foxx, 1B- Double X is one of my all-time favorites.
Hank Greenberg, 1B- Tiger legend, part of famous G-Men.
Charlie Gerhinger, 2B- My all-time favorite Tiger.
Jackie Robinson, 2B- Another simple choice.
Napoleon Lajoie, 2B- Nap was a great player.
Ernie Banks, SS/1B- A power hitting SS long before this era.
Luis Aparicio, SS- Motor for Go-Go (White) Sox.
Pee Wee Reese, SS- Rizzuto's NY counterpart. Robinson's keystone teammate.
Pie Traynor, 3B- Once considered the best ever 3B.
Eddie Mathews, 3B- 500 homers. Led Braves to titles. Member of 1968 Tigers, too.
Ty Cobb, OF- Greatest Tiger. Maybe greatest player. I've got rivals Hornsby and Wagner on the "other" team.
Ted Williams, OF- The Kid is another all-time favorite of mine.
Tris Speaker, OF- Lost in Cobb's shadow. A great player.
Mickey Mantle, OF- I put Joe D. on the other team this time.
Roberto Clemente, OF- Love those basket catches and whirling throws.
Harry Heilmann, OF- Another Tiger HOF member. A tremendous hitter.
Dom DiMaggio, OF- Slightly below HOF standards, but a good CF. Plays next to Williams and against brother, Joe, again.
Walter Johnson, P- Easy pick. Can pitch against Smoky Joe, again, in my field of dreams.
Sandy Koufax, P- At his peak, was anyone better?
Bob Gibson, P- Dominant righthander.
Bob Feller, P- Johnson, Koufax, Gibson and Feller? These guys throw hard. Real hard.
Bob Lemon, P- HOF member, Feller's Cleveland teammate.
Tim Keefe, P- Dead ball era hurler.
Satchel Paige, P- Let's see him in his prime take on the big leaguers.
Schoolboy Rowe, P- Another Tiger favorite of mine. A darn good pitcher, too.
Hal Newhouser, P- Back-to-back MVP winner.
Don Drysdale, P- Koufax running mate. HOF hurler.
Those of you with degrees in mathematics will note that these two teams have only thirty players per side. That's not bad. I can certainly include more names, I hate leaving the Waner brothers out, but I think I'll leave well enough alone for now. Although, as always, I reserve the right to alter the teams in any way I see fit. (Hey, I may have missed somebody. I didn't exactly do lots of research here.)
You probably noticed that I have a thing about "connections"- McGinnity and Mathewson, Koufax and Drysdale, Spahn and Sain, Dom and Joe DiMaggio, Dizzy and Daffy Dean, Lemon and Feller, Kuenn and Colavito, Johnson and Wood, Cobb and Wagner, Gerhinger, Greenberg and Cochrane, Williams, Doerr, Dom DiMaggio and Pesky. They were either teammates, brothers, traded for one another or noted rivals of one sort or another.
I'm still naive enough to believe baseball should be a sport about teammates, friends and family. That's why some players got extra credit in my selection process.
That concludes Part I of my Field of Dreams. Part II should posted before Monday. That list will include all the players I've seen play. That's been a much more challenging list to assemble.
It's Joey Season
Rabbit season? Duck season? Nope, it's Joey Harrington season. ESPN's John Clayton takes aim at the Detroit Lions signal caller.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Tuesday Night Moanin'
A week before the All-Stars arrive in Motown, here are some of the things that I've taken note of.
I'm sure most of Tigertown has seen the ads the team is running entitled "Who's Your Tiger?". In light of their early July swoon, and the trade deadline waiting at month's end, I wonder if we should start asking "Who's Your Ex-Tiger?". If the team maintains anything close to its current pace, you have to believe they will be willing trade participants.
Maybe a more uplifting promo would be "Who's Your New Tiger?". Names being floated around town to fill that category are Aubrey Huff, A.J. Burnett and Lyle Overbay. All three sound good to me.
I like hot dogs. However, eating forty-nine of the buggers in a month is ridiculous. Eating forty-nine in twelve minutes is crazy. Yet pounding down that many franks does get you plenty of media attention. I'm just not sure why, though.
In a lifetime that saw him inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, win a Super Bowl and provide commentary on both television and radio, the thing I remember most about the late Hank Stram was the NFL Films piece during his Super Bowl triumph with Kansas City.
Stram's performance, for lack of a better word, was the type of thing that made NFL Films what it is today. The coach was a one man show. The film was funny and enlightening because Coach Stram was. I consider the film part of Football 101. It's simply a classic.
Long-time Sports Illustrated football guru, Dr. Z., offers this recollection of Stram.
Larry Brown's future as coach of the Pistons remains in doubt. Anyone else not surprised? I actually feel bad for Brown, as I can appreciate medical set-backs, but this thing does appear to be dragging on. Much of the sarcasm about Brown's non-decision, mine included, is simply a result of Brown's history (and his in-season flirtation with the Knicks). Any other coach facing a medical problem would probably be given a pass from fans and the media.
Oh, no. I agree with the Free Press columnist Drew Sharp. I may get banned from blogging if others find out.
If Tigers phenom Justin Verlander makes his big league debut and no one in Detroit sees it, did it really happen?
I'm sure most of Tigertown has seen the ads the team is running entitled "Who's Your Tiger?". In light of their early July swoon, and the trade deadline waiting at month's end, I wonder if we should start asking "Who's Your Ex-Tiger?". If the team maintains anything close to its current pace, you have to believe they will be willing trade participants.
Maybe a more uplifting promo would be "Who's Your New Tiger?". Names being floated around town to fill that category are Aubrey Huff, A.J. Burnett and Lyle Overbay. All three sound good to me.
I like hot dogs. However, eating forty-nine of the buggers in a month is ridiculous. Eating forty-nine in twelve minutes is crazy. Yet pounding down that many franks does get you plenty of media attention. I'm just not sure why, though.
In a lifetime that saw him inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, win a Super Bowl and provide commentary on both television and radio, the thing I remember most about the late Hank Stram was the NFL Films piece during his Super Bowl triumph with Kansas City.
Stram's performance, for lack of a better word, was the type of thing that made NFL Films what it is today. The coach was a one man show. The film was funny and enlightening because Coach Stram was. I consider the film part of Football 101. It's simply a classic.
Long-time Sports Illustrated football guru, Dr. Z., offers this recollection of Stram.
Larry Brown's future as coach of the Pistons remains in doubt. Anyone else not surprised? I actually feel bad for Brown, as I can appreciate medical set-backs, but this thing does appear to be dragging on. Much of the sarcasm about Brown's non-decision, mine included, is simply a result of Brown's history (and his in-season flirtation with the Knicks). Any other coach facing a medical problem would probably be given a pass from fans and the media.
Oh, no. I agree with the Free Press columnist Drew Sharp. I may get banned from blogging if others find out.
If Tigers phenom Justin Verlander makes his big league debut and no one in Detroit sees it, did it really happen?
Monday, July 04, 2005
Saving The Old Yard
I have an idea. Hey, don't be so surprised. I was at Greenfield Village this weekend and I was wondering why the Detroit community doesn't consider donating Tiger Stadium to the Village? While space would be an issue at Greenfield Village's Dearborn home, I'm sure there is a way those who run the Village could incorporate the historic site into their layout.
Even if there was simply no way the folks at Greenfield Village could house Tiger Stadium on their grounds, why couldn't they maintain it where it is and keep it as part of their attractions? The Henry Ford, as the joint operation of the Village and Henry Ford Museum are now called, could run shuttle buses down right down Michigan Avenue to The Corner. They already operate buses to their tour of the Ford Rouge Plant. Wouldn't running another set of buses downtown just be a natural extension?
Seriously, I know we live in the Motor City, but what would you rather visit-an old auto production facility or the ground Ty Cobb played his home games? If you were a tourist, which do think you would prefer? I'm not advocating keeping one over the other, both should be maintained from an historic perspective, but I'd like to think that just as many people would be interesting in touring the old ballpark as the old assembly plant.
I'd also like to think that a fair number of people would pay to get into Tiger Stadium, thus adding to The Henry Ford's revenue streams. How could that be a bad thing?
The Henry Ford could take over Tiger Stadium, build a baseball museum and library inside, play their old time baseball games at The Corner and allow fans to get onto the field Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gerhinger and Al Kaline called home.
My idea is simple, yet seems like a perfect solution for everyone. The Henry Ford gains a new attraction and, presumably, added revenue. The city gets someone to maintain the old place (assuming the stadium cannot be moved to Dearborn) and keep a part of it's history alive. Fans from around the world get a chance to visit the place where not only Cobb applied his trade, but where Lou Gerhig's career ended and where Reggie Jackson hit the light tower.
Yes, I know. The devil is in the details. I'm sure I am missing an obvious stumbling block to my plan. The city, the Tigers, the Henry Ford or someone else would probably oppose this idea for one reason or another. However, isn't it worth looking into? I'd rather see Tiger Stadium moved to Greenfield Village then get hit with a wrecking ball. Wouldn't you?
Even if there was simply no way the folks at Greenfield Village could house Tiger Stadium on their grounds, why couldn't they maintain it where it is and keep it as part of their attractions? The Henry Ford, as the joint operation of the Village and Henry Ford Museum are now called, could run shuttle buses down right down Michigan Avenue to The Corner. They already operate buses to their tour of the Ford Rouge Plant. Wouldn't running another set of buses downtown just be a natural extension?
Seriously, I know we live in the Motor City, but what would you rather visit-an old auto production facility or the ground Ty Cobb played his home games? If you were a tourist, which do think you would prefer? I'm not advocating keeping one over the other, both should be maintained from an historic perspective, but I'd like to think that just as many people would be interesting in touring the old ballpark as the old assembly plant.
I'd also like to think that a fair number of people would pay to get into Tiger Stadium, thus adding to The Henry Ford's revenue streams. How could that be a bad thing?
The Henry Ford could take over Tiger Stadium, build a baseball museum and library inside, play their old time baseball games at The Corner and allow fans to get onto the field Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gerhinger and Al Kaline called home.
My idea is simple, yet seems like a perfect solution for everyone. The Henry Ford gains a new attraction and, presumably, added revenue. The city gets someone to maintain the old place (assuming the stadium cannot be moved to Dearborn) and keep a part of it's history alive. Fans from around the world get a chance to visit the place where not only Cobb applied his trade, but where Lou Gerhig's career ended and where Reggie Jackson hit the light tower.
Yes, I know. The devil is in the details. I'm sure I am missing an obvious stumbling block to my plan. The city, the Tigers, the Henry Ford or someone else would probably oppose this idea for one reason or another. However, isn't it worth looking into? I'd rather see Tiger Stadium moved to Greenfield Village then get hit with a wrecking ball. Wouldn't you?
Sunday, July 03, 2005
All-Star Rosters
MLB revealed the All-Star Game rosters earlier this evening. Pudge Rodriguez is the Detroit Tigers lone representative. I'm a bit disappointed that Jeremy Bonderman didn't get named to the A.L. squad, but one thing I've learned watching baseball over the last thirty or so years is that the All-Star rosters announced are rarely identical to those that take the field on game day.
Injuries, no-shows and a variety of factors means that a few guys named today won't be in the Motor City a week from Tuesday. What I believe Bonderman fans have to hope for is that Kenny Rogers pulls himself from the Mid-Summer Classic. Frankly, Rogers has no right whatsoever playing when he should be suspended. Because the MLBPA has the league over a barrel on appealing suspensions, Rogers gets to be included.
(As an extended aside, Rogers should not only not be playing, he should not be appealing his suspension. His suspension should be about a month longer, minimum. Rogers should thank Bud Selig for not giving him the Ron Artest treatment, which is honestly what Rogers merits. Rogers should also be thanking his employer, the Texas Rangers, for not firing him on the spot.)
Considering the current climate, Rogers should graciously decline the invitation to Detroit ASAP. Do something right, Kenny. Step aside. If Rogers can muster that, and I have doubts, Bonderman should get his spot. Replace the angry poster child athlete of the hour with the hometown kid. Sounds like a good P.R. move to me.
Sure, some other pitchers deserve the next open spot as much as Bonderman, but it's not like Bonderman would be getting the nod solely because he's a Tiger. The guy does have ten wins and is fifth in the junior circuit in strikeouts. It's just a win-win situation. Rogers does the noble thing, Bonderman gets his first All-Star appearance in his own park and MLB gets a P.R. upgrade. Why am I not commissioner, again?
Even if Rogers decides to visit Detroit a week from now, and if his contract calls for an All-Star Game bonus you have to think he's going to cash that check, another hurler named to the team today could have to pull out before next Tuesday. That means Bonderman still has a shot to be in uniform on July 12. Obviously, I hope that happens.
I can't say that I am surprised that Pudge got another All-Star berth. He is still an elite level catcher, a certain Hall of Famer and the face of the Tigers to everyone beyond Tigertown. He hasn't been nearly as dominant offensively this year, but his average does still float around .300 and his production is far from awful. It just hasn't been incredible as in years past. I'm happy Pudge got selected. I hope he gets a great ovation from the Detroit citizens in attendance. I also hope he gets to play with at least one more Detroit teammate.
I was surprised to see the Blue Jays' Shea Hillenbrand named to the A.L. team. Hillenbrand is having a nice season, but with Roy Halladay getting the mandatory Toronto selection and with both Paul Konerko and Mike Sweeney playing back-up firstbase to Mark Teixeira, Hillenbrand's selection is curious.
Instead of Hillenbrand, I probably would have gone with Oakland 3B Eric Chavez, who has been hot lately, as the A's nominee and left Justin Duchscherer off the team. Sorry, Justin. What would I have done with the roster spot? Hmmmm? Maybe name another pitcher. Maybe a Tigers' pitcher?
Speaking of pitchers, how on Earth can Roy Oswalt not be an All-Star? I admit that I am a big fan of the Houston righty, but Oswalt is one of the best in the game. I also admit I wouldn't remove a single N.L. starter named to the team to put Oswalt on. However, if I was going to have to face any of those guys in one game and you gave me Oswalt to counter, I'd like my chances.
I'll probably have more All-Star observations later. Remember, just because someone wasn't named today doesn't mean they won't end up All-Stars in a week. Patience remains a virtue.
Injuries, no-shows and a variety of factors means that a few guys named today won't be in the Motor City a week from Tuesday. What I believe Bonderman fans have to hope for is that Kenny Rogers pulls himself from the Mid-Summer Classic. Frankly, Rogers has no right whatsoever playing when he should be suspended. Because the MLBPA has the league over a barrel on appealing suspensions, Rogers gets to be included.
(As an extended aside, Rogers should not only not be playing, he should not be appealing his suspension. His suspension should be about a month longer, minimum. Rogers should thank Bud Selig for not giving him the Ron Artest treatment, which is honestly what Rogers merits. Rogers should also be thanking his employer, the Texas Rangers, for not firing him on the spot.)
Considering the current climate, Rogers should graciously decline the invitation to Detroit ASAP. Do something right, Kenny. Step aside. If Rogers can muster that, and I have doubts, Bonderman should get his spot. Replace the angry poster child athlete of the hour with the hometown kid. Sounds like a good P.R. move to me.
Sure, some other pitchers deserve the next open spot as much as Bonderman, but it's not like Bonderman would be getting the nod solely because he's a Tiger. The guy does have ten wins and is fifth in the junior circuit in strikeouts. It's just a win-win situation. Rogers does the noble thing, Bonderman gets his first All-Star appearance in his own park and MLB gets a P.R. upgrade. Why am I not commissioner, again?
Even if Rogers decides to visit Detroit a week from now, and if his contract calls for an All-Star Game bonus you have to think he's going to cash that check, another hurler named to the team today could have to pull out before next Tuesday. That means Bonderman still has a shot to be in uniform on July 12. Obviously, I hope that happens.
I can't say that I am surprised that Pudge got another All-Star berth. He is still an elite level catcher, a certain Hall of Famer and the face of the Tigers to everyone beyond Tigertown. He hasn't been nearly as dominant offensively this year, but his average does still float around .300 and his production is far from awful. It just hasn't been incredible as in years past. I'm happy Pudge got selected. I hope he gets a great ovation from the Detroit citizens in attendance. I also hope he gets to play with at least one more Detroit teammate.
I was surprised to see the Blue Jays' Shea Hillenbrand named to the A.L. team. Hillenbrand is having a nice season, but with Roy Halladay getting the mandatory Toronto selection and with both Paul Konerko and Mike Sweeney playing back-up firstbase to Mark Teixeira, Hillenbrand's selection is curious.
Instead of Hillenbrand, I probably would have gone with Oakland 3B Eric Chavez, who has been hot lately, as the A's nominee and left Justin Duchscherer off the team. Sorry, Justin. What would I have done with the roster spot? Hmmmm? Maybe name another pitcher. Maybe a Tigers' pitcher?
Speaking of pitchers, how on Earth can Roy Oswalt not be an All-Star? I admit that I am a big fan of the Houston righty, but Oswalt is one of the best in the game. I also admit I wouldn't remove a single N.L. starter named to the team to put Oswalt on. However, if I was going to have to face any of those guys in one game and you gave me Oswalt to counter, I'd like my chances.
I'll probably have more All-Star observations later. Remember, just because someone wasn't named today doesn't mean they won't end up All-Stars in a week. Patience remains a virtue.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Nine Innings Later....
Before last night's game, even some diehard fans had to wonder if the Detroit Tigers were in a total free fall. In the wake of the club's latest losing spell, which included a painful sweep by division leading Chicago, the club announced that hitting coach Bruce Fields and bench coach Kirk Gibson were going to swap positions. The Tigers also announced that Magglio Ordonez was being recalled from his Toledo rehab assignment and put in Friday night's starting lineup. Finally, as if the previous two announcements didn't raise enough eyebrows, the Tigers announced that prized prospect Justin Verlander was going to start the second game of Monday's doubleheader with Cleveland.
Any one of those moves, in light of the losing skid, could have been seen as a panic decision. However, bundled together, they looked like something George Steinbrenner might pull off when he didn't get enough sleep the night before.
The citizens of Tigertown had to wonder what the motivation was to rush Maggs back into the lineup (he wasn't exactly tearing up AAA nor was he down there long) and bring Verlander north so quickly? (How many Double A starts did Verlander have under his belt? Three?) Of course, I pondered what real benefit the Fields/Gibson title change would bring and if it was indicative of a bigger issue, as well.
Couple all of these changes with the fact that the Yankees were Friday night's opponent, Randy Johnson was starting for N.Y. and Jeremy Bonderman, the Tigers starter, was coming off his worst outing of the year and I think it's safe to say that a few of us who watch this team regularly were concerned about where this ballclub was headed.
That all changed nine innings later. The Tigers pounded Big Unit and the Bronx Bombers, 10-2. Ordonez returned to bat clean-up and hit a two-run homer. Placido Polanco homered and drove in five runs. Chris Shelton hit a bomb, too. Oh, and Bonderman? He pitched a compete game allowing only eight hits while fanning five.
Remember all the pre-game paranoia? Gone. Clearly, Maggs wasn't rushed back. Bonderman was back in form. Shelton was starting to look like the all-star caliber hitter the Tigers hoped he would become. Polanco just keeps paying dividends. The Tigers looked like a playoff team and the guys from NY looked like, well, like the Tigers usually do.
What if Verlander can come up and pitch well? The Tigers could be a playoff contender! How could more quality pitching do anything less?. An eight run triumph over New York makes everyone an optimist. For a while, anyway.
Then along came another nine innings Saturday night. Tonight's tilt was a Tiger lovefest early, with Ordonez doubling to drive in a run and Dmitri Young homering to spot the Tigers a three run cushion, only to see the Yankees beat up the Tigers' bullpen and win 8-4.
Kyle Farnsworth pitching an ugly eighth (although escaping without allowing a run) and Troy Percival pitched a terrible, terrible ninth.
The supposedly good Tigers bullpen looked really bad tonight. Even with Ordonez back, the Tigers couldn't muster any offense after their one big inning. They blew a pretty darn good start from Sean Douglass, to boot.
Saturday's Tigers performance more closely resembled their early week losses against the White Sox than Friday's feel good story. The question is which team is the real Tigers? The answer seems to be-both. As the Tigers appear to be a .500 team. However, I am going to reserve judgment for at least nine more innings.
Any one of those moves, in light of the losing skid, could have been seen as a panic decision. However, bundled together, they looked like something George Steinbrenner might pull off when he didn't get enough sleep the night before.
The citizens of Tigertown had to wonder what the motivation was to rush Maggs back into the lineup (he wasn't exactly tearing up AAA nor was he down there long) and bring Verlander north so quickly? (How many Double A starts did Verlander have under his belt? Three?) Of course, I pondered what real benefit the Fields/Gibson title change would bring and if it was indicative of a bigger issue, as well.
Couple all of these changes with the fact that the Yankees were Friday night's opponent, Randy Johnson was starting for N.Y. and Jeremy Bonderman, the Tigers starter, was coming off his worst outing of the year and I think it's safe to say that a few of us who watch this team regularly were concerned about where this ballclub was headed.
That all changed nine innings later. The Tigers pounded Big Unit and the Bronx Bombers, 10-2. Ordonez returned to bat clean-up and hit a two-run homer. Placido Polanco homered and drove in five runs. Chris Shelton hit a bomb, too. Oh, and Bonderman? He pitched a compete game allowing only eight hits while fanning five.
Remember all the pre-game paranoia? Gone. Clearly, Maggs wasn't rushed back. Bonderman was back in form. Shelton was starting to look like the all-star caliber hitter the Tigers hoped he would become. Polanco just keeps paying dividends. The Tigers looked like a playoff team and the guys from NY looked like, well, like the Tigers usually do.
What if Verlander can come up and pitch well? The Tigers could be a playoff contender! How could more quality pitching do anything less?. An eight run triumph over New York makes everyone an optimist. For a while, anyway.
Then along came another nine innings Saturday night. Tonight's tilt was a Tiger lovefest early, with Ordonez doubling to drive in a run and Dmitri Young homering to spot the Tigers a three run cushion, only to see the Yankees beat up the Tigers' bullpen and win 8-4.
Kyle Farnsworth pitching an ugly eighth (although escaping without allowing a run) and Troy Percival pitched a terrible, terrible ninth.
The supposedly good Tigers bullpen looked really bad tonight. Even with Ordonez back, the Tigers couldn't muster any offense after their one big inning. They blew a pretty darn good start from Sean Douglass, to boot.
Saturday's Tigers performance more closely resembled their early week losses against the White Sox than Friday's feel good story. The question is which team is the real Tigers? The answer seems to be-both. As the Tigers appear to be a .500 team. However, I am going to reserve judgment for at least nine more innings.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
College Scheduling
No, No, No
This shouldn't happen. Somebody, anybody, stop Tommy Hearns. I appreciate his desire for the competition and for the cash, but he runs far too great a risk of getting hurt.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Is It That Time Already?
I got caught a bit off-guard by this one. Did I miss the off-season completely?
Not Humbled (Yet) League
We've all heard Jeremy Roenick's comments about fans who feel NHL players are greedy. J.R. thinks any fan who feels that NHL players are greedy can smooch his backside. Oh, and they can stop watching hockey altogether. There is the problem, Jeremy. No one was watching in the first place.
Roenick's sentiments reveal what the NHLPA has gotten wrong from Day One. The players and their union viewed themselves, and their league, on an equal plane to other sports, mostly notably, the NFL, NBA and MLB. There's the rub. The National Hockey League is closer to being compared to Major League Soccer than the Big Three.
That comment isn't going to make my fellow Detroit fans too happy, but it's painfully true. The NHL is simply not a big time sport. We here in the U.S., and especially in self proclaimed Hockeytown, consider the NHL one of the "Big Four" along with Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. However, nothing could be further from reality.
We've been down this list before, but just as a refresher for Mr. Roenick, hockey falls behind the NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA Tour, NASCAR, NCAA football and NCAA basketball. In terms of television ratings, you can add poker, bowling, fishing and probably rodeo. That puts pro hockey pretty far down the list of must-see sporting events in North America.
The NHL may have had games aired on the same television networks as other sports, but they never had the ratings, fan base or revenue streams that other sports enjoyed. Yet, the NHLPA stubbornly refused to back down during this labor impasse because they had the perspective of being equally as big, both in popularity and revenue, as professional baseball, football and basketball. The players acted like big fish in a little pond, only to find out they are barely little fish in a very big pond.
The players were never able to see the forest for the trees and Roenick's comments reveal they still can't. J.R. can take some solace, however. I don't think the players are greedy at all. Nope. I think they are naive. Naive to the point, well, to the point of absurdity. That, and they are arrogant. But I don't think the NHLPA is greedy.
Does that mean I can get your approval to watch, J.R.?
Roenick's sentiments reveal what the NHLPA has gotten wrong from Day One. The players and their union viewed themselves, and their league, on an equal plane to other sports, mostly notably, the NFL, NBA and MLB. There's the rub. The National Hockey League is closer to being compared to Major League Soccer than the Big Three.
That comment isn't going to make my fellow Detroit fans too happy, but it's painfully true. The NHL is simply not a big time sport. We here in the U.S., and especially in self proclaimed Hockeytown, consider the NHL one of the "Big Four" along with Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. However, nothing could be further from reality.
We've been down this list before, but just as a refresher for Mr. Roenick, hockey falls behind the NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA Tour, NASCAR, NCAA football and NCAA basketball. In terms of television ratings, you can add poker, bowling, fishing and probably rodeo. That puts pro hockey pretty far down the list of must-see sporting events in North America.
The NHL may have had games aired on the same television networks as other sports, but they never had the ratings, fan base or revenue streams that other sports enjoyed. Yet, the NHLPA stubbornly refused to back down during this labor impasse because they had the perspective of being equally as big, both in popularity and revenue, as professional baseball, football and basketball. The players acted like big fish in a little pond, only to find out they are barely little fish in a very big pond.
The players were never able to see the forest for the trees and Roenick's comments reveal they still can't. J.R. can take some solace, however. I don't think the players are greedy at all. Nope. I think they are naive. Naive to the point, well, to the point of absurdity. That, and they are arrogant. But I don't think the NHLPA is greedy.
Does that mean I can get your approval to watch, J.R.?
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Photo Test
Finals Thoughts
Before I return to yardwork and the barbecue on this 90 plus degree day, here are just some wild thoughts on the NBA Finals.
It's hard to be mad at losing the Finals. Sure, the Pistons could have won, but forcing a Game Seven one year after winning their third title is not exactly a bad thing. I'm disappointed, but not terribly disappointed.
I thought the Pistons allowed far too much dribble penetration in each of their losses. They could not allow the Spurs backcourt to drive right to the basket. In their defeats, that's exactly what they did.
Rasheed Wallace was too inconsistent, but Tayshaun Prince was invisible. The Pistons are barely seven deep (the starting five plus Antonio McDyess and, in The Finals, Lindsey Hunter), they simply couldn't afford to have Prince disappear for long stretches. If Prince had played even half the series the way he played in the regular season, or the previous two post-seasons, the Pistons may still be champs.
I laugh everytime I hear someone call into a sports-talk radio show and lament 'Sheed's lack of post-up play. That's been a knock on Wallace forever. He simply can't or won't dominate in the low post consistently. That's, in large part, why he's not an all-star type player.
Regardless of where Larry Brown lands, Darko Milicic has to play next year. Having a number two pick overall not even be able to provide you with a few decent minutes in The Finals hurt the Pistons, too.
Did anyone else think that Game 7 was horribly officiated? Okay, let me try that again. Did anyone else not associated with the Pistons think that it was a horribly officiated game? I thought both teams got some terrible calls against them. Stuff that was no more than incidental contact in any other game, at any other level, got whistles. I thought the refs took both teams out of their games, especially in the first half.
In the end, the Spurs were the better team. As the seven games indicated, they were better, just not by much.
Thanks to the Pistons for another quality season.
It's hard to be mad at losing the Finals. Sure, the Pistons could have won, but forcing a Game Seven one year after winning their third title is not exactly a bad thing. I'm disappointed, but not terribly disappointed.
I thought the Pistons allowed far too much dribble penetration in each of their losses. They could not allow the Spurs backcourt to drive right to the basket. In their defeats, that's exactly what they did.
Rasheed Wallace was too inconsistent, but Tayshaun Prince was invisible. The Pistons are barely seven deep (the starting five plus Antonio McDyess and, in The Finals, Lindsey Hunter), they simply couldn't afford to have Prince disappear for long stretches. If Prince had played even half the series the way he played in the regular season, or the previous two post-seasons, the Pistons may still be champs.
I laugh everytime I hear someone call into a sports-talk radio show and lament 'Sheed's lack of post-up play. That's been a knock on Wallace forever. He simply can't or won't dominate in the low post consistently. That's, in large part, why he's not an all-star type player.
Regardless of where Larry Brown lands, Darko Milicic has to play next year. Having a number two pick overall not even be able to provide you with a few decent minutes in The Finals hurt the Pistons, too.
Did anyone else think that Game 7 was horribly officiated? Okay, let me try that again. Did anyone else not associated with the Pistons think that it was a horribly officiated game? I thought both teams got some terrible calls against them. Stuff that was no more than incidental contact in any other game, at any other level, got whistles. I thought the refs took both teams out of their games, especially in the first half.
In the end, the Spurs were the better team. As the seven games indicated, they were better, just not by much.
Thanks to the Pistons for another quality season.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Thursday Night Moanin'
What do you suspect we would have to pay ESPN to stop talking about Terrell Owens? It's not football season. He's not without a contract. He's not even holding out from camp. Well, he's not holding out, yet, anyway. However, it's seems like you don't go more than about twenty-four hours without someone affiliated with the network talking about him.
Monday night with the NBA Finals underway, baseball in full swing, Annika winning another major and a number of other more noteworthy sports topics to choose from, ESPN.com has T.O.'s contract situation as it's lead story?
Is Owens' agent paying ESPN to get coverage? Are we all that desperate to hear everything out of T.O.'s mouth? I'm just amazed at the T.O. watch the media seems to be on. Call me in late July when he doesn't show for training camp. (Yes, I do see the irony and stupidity of discussing Owens' here. I'm only adding to the problem, but I had to complain.)
Another athlete who should be relegated to obscurity is Mike Tyson. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Locals have probably heard about this already, but the Detroit Zoo got into trouble with some Michigan fans this week. The zoo has two baby wolverines. The zoo also has a Michigan State grad, with a sense of humor, as a vet. The caregiver named the newborns, Sparty and Bucky. This sent some Michigan fans, and Zoo patrons, into a lather.
Naming a wolverine after the mascots of Michigan State and Wisconsin? Not on their watch. These supposedly educated individuals threatened to pull their financial support from the zoo unless a name change occurred.
Let me see if I understand this. Some well heeled folks are incensed over the naming of two wolverines, neither on scholarship as far as I know, after other Big Ten mascots and they are going to stop supporting an institution already hurting for money? They are going to cut off their funding of one of the city primary attractions because two critters are named Bucky and Sparty? They are going to abandon their support of all of the inhabitants of the zoo because their school has been indirectly insulted?
They sure sound like well educated, deeply thoughtful, animal lovers to me.
I read where dolphins were found using sponges as tools. Some scientists have suggested that this is proof of evolution. In other news, these same scientists were forced to dismiss evolution as nothing more than theory after seeing the results of The Discovery Channel/AOL survey of The Greatest American.
After breezing through the list of the 100 Greatest Americans ever you have to wonder if we shouldn't have let the dolphins vote instead.
Less than an hour before tip-off, but I still don't buy the fact the Pistons are "back in the series". Win tonight, then, yes, they are temporarily back in. Why only temporarily? Because the Pistons absolutely have to win all three games here in order to have any real chance of repeating as champions.
Being "back" means having a chance to win the championship in my mind. If the Pistons fold tonight, and I don't think they will, the Game Three win will look very, very small. Thinking the Pistons can win three straight, with the last two in San Antonio, is almost unimaginable. Sure, it would be mathematically possible, but only those with the most red, white and blue colored glasses would believe repeating is still possible.
Right now, however, the dream lives on. My guess: Pistons 89-Spurs 86.
Don't look now, but the Tigers are nearing .500, again. Come on, fellas. Get over the break even mark and stay above water for a while.
By the way, who will be the Tigers' all-star representative? Carlos Guillen, Jeremy Bonderman and Brandon Inge seem like the most likely candidates. Pudge Rodriguez may get the nod, but as he won't start (he can't catch Jason Varitek), his numbers might not be worthy of a back-up slot. Why do I get the feeling Inge will be the only Tigers' rep?
You probably didn't notice, and I hope for your sake you didn't because that would make you as lame as me, but Davis Love III was wearing a trucker style Titleist cap at the U.S. Open today. (Sorry, the link is not to a picture.) It was your traditional baseball cap with a mesh back and the Titleist logo on front. I know it's a very popular retro style. For some reason, a trucker cap looked horribly out of place at the U.S. Open. Go figure.
Other fashion statements at Pinehurst #2 (Yes, these are photo links): Sergio Garcia, Charles Howell III, Tiger Woods and finally the always stylish Ian Poulter. Those are some pants.
I've got to go watch some basketball now. Go Pistons!
Monday night with the NBA Finals underway, baseball in full swing, Annika winning another major and a number of other more noteworthy sports topics to choose from, ESPN.com has T.O.'s contract situation as it's lead story?
Is Owens' agent paying ESPN to get coverage? Are we all that desperate to hear everything out of T.O.'s mouth? I'm just amazed at the T.O. watch the media seems to be on. Call me in late July when he doesn't show for training camp. (Yes, I do see the irony and stupidity of discussing Owens' here. I'm only adding to the problem, but I had to complain.)
Another athlete who should be relegated to obscurity is Mike Tyson. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Locals have probably heard about this already, but the Detroit Zoo got into trouble with some Michigan fans this week. The zoo has two baby wolverines. The zoo also has a Michigan State grad, with a sense of humor, as a vet. The caregiver named the newborns, Sparty and Bucky. This sent some Michigan fans, and Zoo patrons, into a lather.
Naming a wolverine after the mascots of Michigan State and Wisconsin? Not on their watch. These supposedly educated individuals threatened to pull their financial support from the zoo unless a name change occurred.
Let me see if I understand this. Some well heeled folks are incensed over the naming of two wolverines, neither on scholarship as far as I know, after other Big Ten mascots and they are going to stop supporting an institution already hurting for money? They are going to cut off their funding of one of the city primary attractions because two critters are named Bucky and Sparty? They are going to abandon their support of all of the inhabitants of the zoo because their school has been indirectly insulted?
They sure sound like well educated, deeply thoughtful, animal lovers to me.
I read where dolphins were found using sponges as tools. Some scientists have suggested that this is proof of evolution. In other news, these same scientists were forced to dismiss evolution as nothing more than theory after seeing the results of The Discovery Channel/AOL survey of The Greatest American.
After breezing through the list of the 100 Greatest Americans ever you have to wonder if we shouldn't have let the dolphins vote instead.
Less than an hour before tip-off, but I still don't buy the fact the Pistons are "back in the series". Win tonight, then, yes, they are temporarily back in. Why only temporarily? Because the Pistons absolutely have to win all three games here in order to have any real chance of repeating as champions.
Being "back" means having a chance to win the championship in my mind. If the Pistons fold tonight, and I don't think they will, the Game Three win will look very, very small. Thinking the Pistons can win three straight, with the last two in San Antonio, is almost unimaginable. Sure, it would be mathematically possible, but only those with the most red, white and blue colored glasses would believe repeating is still possible.
Right now, however, the dream lives on. My guess: Pistons 89-Spurs 86.
Don't look now, but the Tigers are nearing .500, again. Come on, fellas. Get over the break even mark and stay above water for a while.
By the way, who will be the Tigers' all-star representative? Carlos Guillen, Jeremy Bonderman and Brandon Inge seem like the most likely candidates. Pudge Rodriguez may get the nod, but as he won't start (he can't catch Jason Varitek), his numbers might not be worthy of a back-up slot. Why do I get the feeling Inge will be the only Tigers' rep?
You probably didn't notice, and I hope for your sake you didn't because that would make you as lame as me, but Davis Love III was wearing a trucker style Titleist cap at the U.S. Open today. (Sorry, the link is not to a picture.) It was your traditional baseball cap with a mesh back and the Titleist logo on front. I know it's a very popular retro style. For some reason, a trucker cap looked horribly out of place at the U.S. Open. Go figure.
Other fashion statements at Pinehurst #2 (Yes, these are photo links): Sergio Garcia, Charles Howell III, Tiger Woods and finally the always stylish Ian Poulter. Those are some pants.
I've got to go watch some basketball now. Go Pistons!
Monday, June 13, 2005
College World Series Field Set
I only managed to correctly guess three of the eight teams to make the trip to Omaha. I got Texas, Tulane and Nebraska right. Baylor, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona State and Oregon State round out the CWS field and make me look silly, as usual. (In my defense, I did get 12 of the 16 teams from the opening rounds correctly.)
I'm happily wrong about Oregon State, as I tend to root for schools in the north. I'm really annoyed about ASU because when I initially reviewed the brackets, I liked the Sun Devils chances. However, the big media boys filled my tiny brain with all the pro-Fullerton talk and basically talked me out of picking ASU entirely. AZ State didn't even get a mention in my tournament preview post. I'm glad Arizona State is headed for Nebraska, but I wish I would have picked them. Further proof that I am not very smart.
(A note to Detroit Tigers fans: Arizona State's CWS appearance means we can all get a look at draft choice Jeff Larish. The Sun Devils firstbaseman will probably be in the Tigers farm system when ASU's run is over.)
I'm still predicting a Tulane triumph, but I'm rooting for Oregon State to do well.
For information regarding the CWS use these links:
NCAA Baseball
CWS Omaha.com
I'm happily wrong about Oregon State, as I tend to root for schools in the north. I'm really annoyed about ASU because when I initially reviewed the brackets, I liked the Sun Devils chances. However, the big media boys filled my tiny brain with all the pro-Fullerton talk and basically talked me out of picking ASU entirely. AZ State didn't even get a mention in my tournament preview post. I'm glad Arizona State is headed for Nebraska, but I wish I would have picked them. Further proof that I am not very smart.
(A note to Detroit Tigers fans: Arizona State's CWS appearance means we can all get a look at draft choice Jeff Larish. The Sun Devils firstbaseman will probably be in the Tigers farm system when ASU's run is over.)
I'm still predicting a Tulane triumph, but I'm rooting for Oregon State to do well.
For information regarding the CWS use these links:
NCAA Baseball
CWS Omaha.com
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Michigan Football Preview
College Football News' writer Pete Fiutak preview's the 2005 Michigan football team. Click here for a look.
No, Spartan faitful, I'm not trying to play favorites here. I just don't see a link to the MSU preview to provide you with.
No, Spartan faitful, I'm not trying to play favorites here. I just don't see a link to the MSU preview to provide you with.
Prince Must Shine
You can get overwhelmed with analysis of the NBA Finals. I'll keep my preview of tonight's tilt simple. Here is the one thing I am looking for: Tayshaun Prince's ability to score, especially in while posting up Manu Ginobili.
Prince, who one could argue was Detroit's MVP of the regular season, has had a sub-par playoff. Contrary to his previous two post-seasons, Prince has not sparked the Pistons at either end of the floor.
It looks to me like Prince can abuse Ginobili on the block, but he has to be able to hit those baby hook shots and finger-rolls that he has missed thus far. Prince also looks like he can beat several of the Spurs off the dribble, but has been unable to finish those, either. That absolutely has to change.
Prince must become a true threat to score, especially over Ginobili. Once Prince has established that, he can fall back some and hit the occasional three. Getting Ginobili to work harder defensively would also be a welcome sight.
Prince has seemed timid offensively since the playoffs began. That must change. The Pistons need him to become a force. They need him tonight.
Prince, who one could argue was Detroit's MVP of the regular season, has had a sub-par playoff. Contrary to his previous two post-seasons, Prince has not sparked the Pistons at either end of the floor.
It looks to me like Prince can abuse Ginobili on the block, but he has to be able to hit those baby hook shots and finger-rolls that he has missed thus far. Prince also looks like he can beat several of the Spurs off the dribble, but has been unable to finish those, either. That absolutely has to change.
Prince must become a true threat to score, especially over Ginobili. Once Prince has established that, he can fall back some and hit the occasional three. Getting Ginobili to work harder defensively would also be a welcome sight.
Prince has seemed timid offensively since the playoffs began. That must change. The Pistons need him to become a force. They need him tonight.
Year One
Today marks the first anniversary of my blog. Who said it wouldn't last? Oh, that's right. That was me. Well, fortunately for both of my loyal readers, I was wrong. (Yes, again.)
I thank those who have stopped by, those of you that have taken the time to email me and those bloggers who have added Beyond Boxscores to their links.
Feel free to raise a glass of your favorite beverage in honor of this momentous day.
I thank those who have stopped by, those of you that have taken the time to email me and those bloggers who have added Beyond Boxscores to their links.
Feel free to raise a glass of your favorite beverage in honor of this momentous day.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Polanco-Urbina Deal
"What?". That was my first reaction when I heard about the Detroit Tigers dealing Ugie Urbina (and Ramon Martinez) to Philadelphia for infielder Placido Polanco. My gut reaction was this was a bad deal. Not because Polanco is a bad player. He is, in fact, a fine upgrade at secondbase. No, the reason I didn't like the trade is because I just don't quite see the logic in the move. Billfer at the Detroit Tigers Weblog did a good job of summing up my sentiments.
Basically, this deal seems to just create as many questions as it answers. There's no reason not to embrace Polanco's arrival, but I have to wonder if it's really what is best for the organization?
Basically, this deal seems to just create as many questions as it answers. There's no reason not to embrace Polanco's arrival, but I have to wonder if it's really what is best for the organization?
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Draft Day Thoughts And Tigers Links
The Tigers ended up going with high schooler Cameron Maybin with the tenth overall selection in the draft. This is a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that many, including the staff at Baseball America, thought Maybin was a top five pick. In theory, the Tigers got a minor steal. In theory.
My problem with the pick is that Maybin is probably further from contributing to the success of the big league club than I would like. That's not unusual, most high school kids fall into that category, thus my preference for college players. However, I still believe the Tigers are in need of some more immediate assistance.
However, I can't fault the Tigers for taking a player with Maybin's upside. Obviously, I will be a member of the Cameron Maybin Fan Club until given a reason not to be.
Their second round choice was kind of puzzling. Chris Robinson, catcher, from Illinois. I think most teams thought he would go much later in the draft. I know I did. I like the kid, I'm a Big Ten baseball fan, so I embraced his selection. I was just caught off guard by how early he went. Happy to have him wearing the Old English D. Or that nifty Sea Wolf.
Can't say I know one stinking thing about third rounder Kevin Whelan. What I've read so far indicates he is projected to be a closer. I'm guessing he throws hard, as Dave Dombrowski isn't a fan of the soft tossers. As I stated earlier, I prefer the college kids, and Whelan was the first of three straight NCAA players the Tigers grabbed.
I like fourth rounder Jeff Larish of Arizona State. He hits for power and gets a fairly healthy amount of free passes. I would think he would start at Lakeland, but wouldn't be there very long. AA Erie isn't out of the question, in my mind, though, as the Pac-10 provides a fairly high level of competition.
Fifth rounder Michael "Clete" Thomas appears to have decent wheels and a good bat. (I'm assuming Clete and Michael are one and the same. There is only one other Thomas on Auburn's roster he is a freshman, thus ineligible for the draft.) Both Thomas and Maybin are centerfielders by trade. I wonder if Maybin's career will begin at Lakeland and Thomas at Erie? I love the nickname, Clete. Cannot recall one in baseball since Clete Boyer.
After Thomas, the Tigers selected five pitchers in a row. Again, I don't know anything about the remaining choices on Day 1. We will all have to wait to hear about their long-term potential over the next several days.
In an interesting note for the Maize and Blue fans out there, Zach Putnam didn't get drafted until very late. I thought I heard the 8th round. The Ann Arbor native was projected at the beginning of the year to go in the top ten picks overall. I suspect that his lower than expected draft selection increases the odds he joins the Michigan baseball squad next year. I hope so, anyway.
Here are some Tiger links for your reading pleasure. Billfer at the Detroit Tigers Weblog keeps up with the draft here.
Jeff at TigerBlog wonders about what to do with Urbina ? To trade or not to trade? That is the question. (As always, my answer is "What are the Tigers getting in return?")
With a post getting all kinds of links throughout Tigertown, Blue Cats and Red Sox makes me want to quit blogging immediately with her fine poetry on the Tigers/O's contest. You just can't compete with that kind of stuff. Well, I can't anyway.
Correction: I was wrong. Apparently, Zach Putnam did not get drafted at all on the first day. I hope to see Putnam in Big Ten play next spring.
My problem with the pick is that Maybin is probably further from contributing to the success of the big league club than I would like. That's not unusual, most high school kids fall into that category, thus my preference for college players. However, I still believe the Tigers are in need of some more immediate assistance.
However, I can't fault the Tigers for taking a player with Maybin's upside. Obviously, I will be a member of the Cameron Maybin Fan Club until given a reason not to be.
Their second round choice was kind of puzzling. Chris Robinson, catcher, from Illinois. I think most teams thought he would go much later in the draft. I know I did. I like the kid, I'm a Big Ten baseball fan, so I embraced his selection. I was just caught off guard by how early he went. Happy to have him wearing the Old English D. Or that nifty Sea Wolf.
Can't say I know one stinking thing about third rounder Kevin Whelan. What I've read so far indicates he is projected to be a closer. I'm guessing he throws hard, as Dave Dombrowski isn't a fan of the soft tossers. As I stated earlier, I prefer the college kids, and Whelan was the first of three straight NCAA players the Tigers grabbed.
I like fourth rounder Jeff Larish of Arizona State. He hits for power and gets a fairly healthy amount of free passes. I would think he would start at Lakeland, but wouldn't be there very long. AA Erie isn't out of the question, in my mind, though, as the Pac-10 provides a fairly high level of competition.
Fifth rounder Michael "Clete" Thomas appears to have decent wheels and a good bat. (I'm assuming Clete and Michael are one and the same. There is only one other Thomas on Auburn's roster he is a freshman, thus ineligible for the draft.) Both Thomas and Maybin are centerfielders by trade. I wonder if Maybin's career will begin at Lakeland and Thomas at Erie? I love the nickname, Clete. Cannot recall one in baseball since Clete Boyer.
After Thomas, the Tigers selected five pitchers in a row. Again, I don't know anything about the remaining choices on Day 1. We will all have to wait to hear about their long-term potential over the next several days.
In an interesting note for the Maize and Blue fans out there, Zach Putnam didn't get drafted until very late. I thought I heard the 8th round. The Ann Arbor native was projected at the beginning of the year to go in the top ten picks overall. I suspect that his lower than expected draft selection increases the odds he joins the Michigan baseball squad next year. I hope so, anyway.
Here are some Tiger links for your reading pleasure. Billfer at the Detroit Tigers Weblog keeps up with the draft here.
Jeff at TigerBlog wonders about what to do with Urbina ? To trade or not to trade? That is the question. (As always, my answer is "What are the Tigers getting in return?")
With a post getting all kinds of links throughout Tigertown, Blue Cats and Red Sox makes me want to quit blogging immediately with her fine poetry on the Tigers/O's contest. You just can't compete with that kind of stuff. Well, I can't anyway.
Correction: I was wrong. Apparently, Zach Putnam did not get drafted at all on the first day. I hope to see Putnam in Big Ten play next spring.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
No Tickets For You
I failed to mention that I did not win MLB.com's All-Star Game ticket lottery. Yeah, I'm shocked, too. I mean how could I not win? Although, I did win the right to have my email box filled with other news (see spam) from MLB.com. Woo-hoo!
I'm trying to accept the fact that I may not be attending the game. Note the tone of that sentence. I haven't given up, but it sure doesn't look good.
I'm trying to accept the fact that I may not be attending the game. Note the tone of that sentence. I haven't given up, but it sure doesn't look good.
NCAA Baseball Links
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Deford Slams U.S. Sports Fans
When I first read this, I pretty much ignored it. The longer I mulled it over, though, the more angry I became. I like Frank Deford, but his view on our jingoism is off-base. I am proof of it.
Deford opines that we Americans only like sporting events with Americans in it. Well, Mr. Deford, let me introduce myself. I'm an American sports fan living in metropolitan Detroit, right smack in the middle of cow country, as one of my fellow American internet friends out east called it. I've been known to root for the Red, White and Blue, as well. I'm suspecting I may well be the stereotype of the jingoist you have outlined.
Unfortunately, I've got some bad news. I love the Tour de France. I've watched it for years. Like fifteen or twenty years. Not just since Lance Armstrong appeared. Do I get extra credit for being able to spit out Miguel Indurain's name?
I attempt to follow European soccer. I've developed an attachment to Premier League club, Everton. (Yes, I know. My readers are tired of hearing this. I talking to Mr. Deford, right now, okay?) My favorite Everton player is Tim Cahill. He's Australian, by the way.
I'm all geeked up about Germany 2006. When the World Cup came here, I went. I saw Brazil take on Holland. Not a single American on the pitch.
Wimbledon is one of my favorite sporting events. The French Open is pretty cool, too. Given my choice, I'll take open wheel racing over the stock car boys. I try to follow the Canadian Football League, but, of course, Americans do have the audacity to play there. (To make you feel better, Mr. Deford, they do have import rules, though. It's got to be a NAFTA thing.)
I enjoy watching golf overseas either late at night or early in the morning. The events from Australia, the ANZ Tour, I believe, are particularly fun. I'm usually plowing snow out of my drive and come in to see golfers struggling in ninety degree heat Down Under. Only an occasional fellow countryman appears, yet somehow I manage to watch.
Roland Garros is clay court. The courts at the All England Club are grass. I've got no idea what they play the Australian Open on, but I think it's safe to assume that it isn't something found in nature.
I know the difference between Boris Becker and Franz Beckenbauer. Michael Schumacher's brother is Ralf. I know what the R & A is. Not bad for one of those jingoistic Americans, huh? Imagine how much more I would know if the internet existed when I was young?
I'm sure Mr. Deford would counter that I am the exception to the rule. That may indeed be the case, but why are only Americans jingoistic for following their teams and their sports?
For instance, I know that Real Madrid has David Beckham, Michael Owen and Zinedine Zidane on their roster. I wonder how many on the streets of Madrid know three of my Detroit Lions? Hey, I know three of their footballers, shouldn't they be required to recognize three of mine?
Since Real Madrid may be international football's most noteworthy club, I'll forgive the citizens of Madrid for not knowing any of my historically crummy Lions. But, I'll bet they cannot name three New England Patriots, either. Doesn't that make them jingoistic, too?
Nope, what it makes them are products of their sports environment. We grew up in the U.S.A. with an entirely different set of sports at the forefront. I don't believe that Americans are any more or less jingoistic than the rest of the world simply because a majority of us aren't passionate about Formula One.
I believe that the overwhelming majority of sports fans worldwide root for their nation and their nation's athletes first. They know more about their local pro team than the team on the other end of the country or the other end of the world. That may be jingoism, but it's hardly an American phenomenon.
Instead of attempting to elevate the stature of some of the world's top sports stars with Americans, Mr. Deford chose to take the opportunity to ridicule the sophistication and intelligence of his reading audience. It makes Mr. Deford's commentary look elitist, at best. Anti-American, at worst.
After nearly 230 years as an independent nation, Americans still find themselves having to explain their interests, or lack their of, to the Old World. Or, at least, to old sports writers.
Deford opines that we Americans only like sporting events with Americans in it. Well, Mr. Deford, let me introduce myself. I'm an American sports fan living in metropolitan Detroit, right smack in the middle of cow country, as one of my fellow American internet friends out east called it. I've been known to root for the Red, White and Blue, as well. I'm suspecting I may well be the stereotype of the jingoist you have outlined.
Unfortunately, I've got some bad news. I love the Tour de France. I've watched it for years. Like fifteen or twenty years. Not just since Lance Armstrong appeared. Do I get extra credit for being able to spit out Miguel Indurain's name?
I attempt to follow European soccer. I've developed an attachment to Premier League club, Everton. (Yes, I know. My readers are tired of hearing this. I talking to Mr. Deford, right now, okay?) My favorite Everton player is Tim Cahill. He's Australian, by the way.
I'm all geeked up about Germany 2006. When the World Cup came here, I went. I saw Brazil take on Holland. Not a single American on the pitch.
Wimbledon is one of my favorite sporting events. The French Open is pretty cool, too. Given my choice, I'll take open wheel racing over the stock car boys. I try to follow the Canadian Football League, but, of course, Americans do have the audacity to play there. (To make you feel better, Mr. Deford, they do have import rules, though. It's got to be a NAFTA thing.)
I enjoy watching golf overseas either late at night or early in the morning. The events from Australia, the ANZ Tour, I believe, are particularly fun. I'm usually plowing snow out of my drive and come in to see golfers struggling in ninety degree heat Down Under. Only an occasional fellow countryman appears, yet somehow I manage to watch.
Roland Garros is clay court. The courts at the All England Club are grass. I've got no idea what they play the Australian Open on, but I think it's safe to assume that it isn't something found in nature.
I know the difference between Boris Becker and Franz Beckenbauer. Michael Schumacher's brother is Ralf. I know what the R & A is. Not bad for one of those jingoistic Americans, huh? Imagine how much more I would know if the internet existed when I was young?
I'm sure Mr. Deford would counter that I am the exception to the rule. That may indeed be the case, but why are only Americans jingoistic for following their teams and their sports?
For instance, I know that Real Madrid has David Beckham, Michael Owen and Zinedine Zidane on their roster. I wonder how many on the streets of Madrid know three of my Detroit Lions? Hey, I know three of their footballers, shouldn't they be required to recognize three of mine?
Since Real Madrid may be international football's most noteworthy club, I'll forgive the citizens of Madrid for not knowing any of my historically crummy Lions. But, I'll bet they cannot name three New England Patriots, either. Doesn't that make them jingoistic, too?
Nope, what it makes them are products of their sports environment. We grew up in the U.S.A. with an entirely different set of sports at the forefront. I don't believe that Americans are any more or less jingoistic than the rest of the world simply because a majority of us aren't passionate about Formula One.
I believe that the overwhelming majority of sports fans worldwide root for their nation and their nation's athletes first. They know more about their local pro team than the team on the other end of the country or the other end of the world. That may be jingoism, but it's hardly an American phenomenon.
Instead of attempting to elevate the stature of some of the world's top sports stars with Americans, Mr. Deford chose to take the opportunity to ridicule the sophistication and intelligence of his reading audience. It makes Mr. Deford's commentary look elitist, at best. Anti-American, at worst.
After nearly 230 years as an independent nation, Americans still find themselves having to explain their interests, or lack their of, to the Old World. Or, at least, to old sports writers.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Lambeau Field Gets Extra Game
Following in the footsteps of Michigan/Michigan State contest, Lambeau Field will host an outdoors college hockey game in February 2006. Wisconsin will play host to Ohio State. Here is the Yahoo! link.
College World Series Predictions
Yes, it's the post you all have been waiting for. It's time for me to make my College World Series predications. Remember, boys and girls, this is for entertainment purposes only. Put those nasty old bracket sheets and that money away.
I'll spare you the game by game, region by region analysis and skip to the Elite Eight. The eight teams I predict to play in Omaha are: Tulane, Long Beach State, Texas, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Fullerton and Nebraska.
Yeah, it's a pretty standard group. Nothing really screams underdog. At least, not to me anyway. Some college baseball experts might disagree, but these are all either elite baseball powers or schools from power conferences or both.
Let me say that of the eight, two I really couldn't decide on. I'm less sold on Clemson and Georgia Tech than my other six choices. At some point during my thought process, I had both TCU and Baylor beating Clemson.
As for Tech, well, there is this school from Ann Arbor in their region that I sort of hope wins. Michigan can win the region, but getting past a Super Regional series in light of the up and down year the Wolverines have had is simply asking for too much.
As usual, I'm rooting for the Northern schools to do well. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami (OH), Maine and St. John's join Michigan in the NCAA's. Oregon State might even qualify for this group, but they are still from a power conference, so not quite the baseball underdog as the midwest and northeast institutions.
The finals should pit Tulane against.....against.....against Florida State. There I said it. FSU makes the finals. No, I have no foundation for that pick. I didn't have a clue about the other selections, either, but I didn't let that stop me.
*Note-The tournament started earlier today, but I have not yet seen a single result. I am confident that most of these schools have lost since I selected them to do otherwise.
I'll spare you the game by game, region by region analysis and skip to the Elite Eight. The eight teams I predict to play in Omaha are: Tulane, Long Beach State, Texas, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Fullerton and Nebraska.
Yeah, it's a pretty standard group. Nothing really screams underdog. At least, not to me anyway. Some college baseball experts might disagree, but these are all either elite baseball powers or schools from power conferences or both.
Let me say that of the eight, two I really couldn't decide on. I'm less sold on Clemson and Georgia Tech than my other six choices. At some point during my thought process, I had both TCU and Baylor beating Clemson.
As for Tech, well, there is this school from Ann Arbor in their region that I sort of hope wins. Michigan can win the region, but getting past a Super Regional series in light of the up and down year the Wolverines have had is simply asking for too much.
As usual, I'm rooting for the Northern schools to do well. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami (OH), Maine and St. John's join Michigan in the NCAA's. Oregon State might even qualify for this group, but they are still from a power conference, so not quite the baseball underdog as the midwest and northeast institutions.
The finals should pit Tulane against.....against.....against Florida State. There I said it. FSU makes the finals. No, I have no foundation for that pick. I didn't have a clue about the other selections, either, but I didn't let that stop me.
*Note-The tournament started earlier today, but I have not yet seen a single result. I am confident that most of these schools have lost since I selected them to do otherwise.
Warming Up To Shaq
I've never been a Shaquille O'Neal fan. Not in college, where I thought his team underachieved. Not in the pros, where his game was more one of might than of skill, in my less than fuzzy opinion of his skills. Then there was his infamous "I have won at every level" statement issued at a time before he had won anything on any level. I was not on the Big Guy's bandwagon.
As the years have passed, O'Neal and I have matured. I've learned to respect his power game, even if not overly enamored with it. I have grown to enjoy his sense of humor. I like his banter with the media. He even seems like a pretty decent guy in spite of the millions. Yesterday, Shaq revealed that side by offering to pay for the funeral of basketball legend, George Mikan.
Like O'Neal, Mikan was the dominant big man of his era. Also, like Shaq, Mikan was an ex-Laker center. Apparently, some type of admiration developed between the two men and when O'Neal heard Mikan's family was having financial problems, he offered to pay for Mikan's funeral.
It was a class move. I stand impressed. Even if it was done in part for public relations, no one else made such a public offer to the family of pro basketball's original superstar. O'Neal may never be my all-time favorite player, but he certainly has changed my opinion about him.
As the years have passed, O'Neal and I have matured. I've learned to respect his power game, even if not overly enamored with it. I have grown to enjoy his sense of humor. I like his banter with the media. He even seems like a pretty decent guy in spite of the millions. Yesterday, Shaq revealed that side by offering to pay for the funeral of basketball legend, George Mikan.
Like O'Neal, Mikan was the dominant big man of his era. Also, like Shaq, Mikan was an ex-Laker center. Apparently, some type of admiration developed between the two men and when O'Neal heard Mikan's family was having financial problems, he offered to pay for Mikan's funeral.
It was a class move. I stand impressed. Even if it was done in part for public relations, no one else made such a public offer to the family of pro basketball's original superstar. O'Neal may never be my all-time favorite player, but he certainly has changed my opinion about him.
Saving Historic Detroit
Cruising the web the other day, I read this piece at CNN.com about Ernest Hemingway's home in Cuba. It seems that the National Trust has placed the author's home abroad on it's list of eleven most endangered places. I know. Big deal, right? Well, we can debate the merits of restoring Hemingway's home some other time, but what really caught my attention was the fact that Downtown Detroit's historical buildings made the list as well.
Now, as the "Historic Buildings of Downtown Detroit" title implies, the organization feels that a large number of buildings in our major urban area deserve to be restored, not just one or two. As a former history major, I can appreciate the desire of people to renovate these wonderful structures. Like all fragments of history, once they are gone, you simply cannot get them back.
I love the architecture of these old places. I love the link to the past. I love the thought of a city reborn with some of its history intact. I suspect no other major U.S. city would even allow these type of structures to fall into such a state of disrepair in the first place.
However, I also realize that the vast majority of these places have no renovation plan at all and even if they did, their owners' probably would be without the financial resources necessary to make renovation an option. (Of course, there's the notion that the owners of these buildings do have the money to renovate, but they just don't give a rodent's behind about the structures, but that's a subject for another day.)
Generally, I'm in the group of folks who believe the city is in desperate need of a bulldozing party in any numbers of parts of town. These buildings, once the heart of a thriving city, have turned into a part of the city's overall problem. They are nothing more today than part of the city's blight and safety hazards.
Only two things can turn that around- renovation or demolition. Unfortunately, renovation appears unlikely. Or, at least, unwanted by the powers-that-be.
That leaves demolition, but having watched Tiger Stadium make the transition from tourist attraction and fan favorite to neglected historical site, I'm in no mood to just randomly knock down everything in town.
The city unquestionably needs to start cleaning up, which has to include the destruction of some of these old sites, but I hope all parties are a bit more cautious before tossing history out the window. Hopefully, our old ballpark will serve as a reminder of opportunity wasted.
Now, as the "Historic Buildings of Downtown Detroit" title implies, the organization feels that a large number of buildings in our major urban area deserve to be restored, not just one or two. As a former history major, I can appreciate the desire of people to renovate these wonderful structures. Like all fragments of history, once they are gone, you simply cannot get them back.
I love the architecture of these old places. I love the link to the past. I love the thought of a city reborn with some of its history intact. I suspect no other major U.S. city would even allow these type of structures to fall into such a state of disrepair in the first place.
However, I also realize that the vast majority of these places have no renovation plan at all and even if they did, their owners' probably would be without the financial resources necessary to make renovation an option. (Of course, there's the notion that the owners of these buildings do have the money to renovate, but they just don't give a rodent's behind about the structures, but that's a subject for another day.)
Generally, I'm in the group of folks who believe the city is in desperate need of a bulldozing party in any numbers of parts of town. These buildings, once the heart of a thriving city, have turned into a part of the city's overall problem. They are nothing more today than part of the city's blight and safety hazards.
Only two things can turn that around- renovation or demolition. Unfortunately, renovation appears unlikely. Or, at least, unwanted by the powers-that-be.
That leaves demolition, but having watched Tiger Stadium make the transition from tourist attraction and fan favorite to neglected historical site, I'm in no mood to just randomly knock down everything in town.
The city unquestionably needs to start cleaning up, which has to include the destruction of some of these old sites, but I hope all parties are a bit more cautious before tossing history out the window. Hopefully, our old ballpark will serve as a reminder of opportunity wasted.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Doing My Work For Me
I was going to write about the most recent rumors surrounding Larry Brown, but I didn't have to. Rob at bleacherguy.com said everything I felt like saying. Thanks, Rob.
Then the Tigers demoted Carlos Pena and promoted Chris Shelton. That was followed by their demotion of Jason Smith and unexpected promotion of Tony Giarratano. This time Billfer at detroittigersweblog.com provided my work for me. Thanks, Billfer.
I guess everyone now knows how I got through high school.
Then the Tigers demoted Carlos Pena and promoted Chris Shelton. That was followed by their demotion of Jason Smith and unexpected promotion of Tony Giarratano. This time Billfer at detroittigersweblog.com provided my work for me. Thanks, Billfer.
I guess everyone now knows how I got through high school.
Draft Day Approaches
Less than a week until the draft that only true geeks pay attention to, the MLB Draft. The reasons why baseball's draft is far less popular are fairly obvious-high school and college players get drafted (that's a ton of kids), no one really follows baseball on the amateur level (this year had more college baseball on national tv than the previous ten years combined), draft picks are far less certain to be successful (it seems like it anyway) and the darn thing isn't even on cable television. It's a simple case of lots kids with almost no exposure in an event no one can watch. I cannot imagine why it's not popular?
As a public service, and because I am one of the aforementioned geeks, I thought I would take a peek at what my fellow baseball draftniks are saying about the Tigers would-be top choice. Well, boys and girls, the Tigers are drafting tenth in the first round. A bit lower than normal, thanks to Pudge, Guillen and the '04 Tigers, but still high enough to get an impact player. Well, in theory anyway.
Let's be honest. Very, very few teams have so utterly failed the draft process more than our beloved Tigers. I refuse to list all of their draft day disasters here, however know this. It's a long list of really bad players chosen over an extended period of time. That's how you lose 119 games in a season.
As to this year's choice, the name floating around is Wichita State pitcher Mike Pelfrey. As this may be the first or second time you have ever heard the young man's name, I figured I would do a little research for you.
A chat with Pelfrey in 2004 at The Hardball Times.
Brewerfan.net provides this profile.
A look at Pelfrey, including a Team USA photo, courtesy of Baseball Digest Daily. The site is one of those new MLBlogs.
A Baseball America review of Pelfrey's ability.
What else do you need to know? It seems Mr. Pelfrey is generally considered no worse than the second best pitcher in the draft. Many think he is the best pitcher in the draft and a top five pick. So, you are now asking yourself, how can the Tigers get Pelfrey with the tenth overall pick if he's arguably the top pitcher in the whole draft? I'm glad you asked.
Guess who the young hurler's agent is? That's right, Scott Boras. Yes, him, again. Sounds like Mr. Boras has done his usual good job of scaring the you-know-what out of the teams picking ahead of the Tigers. So, based on Boras' recent history with our Bengals, many are assuming that Pelfrey will fall all the way down to number ten.
I'm not going to ponder this much. Quite a bit can happen between now and when the Tigers get to make their first pick. Let's just consider this an introduction to a potential future Tiger. If Pelfrey ends up with the Tigers, you can impress all of the casual fans in your neighborhood with your vast knowledge about the WSU righthander.
If Pelfrey lands elsewhere on draft day, all you've done is wasted a few moments reading this. Oh, and you've learned how a baseball geek spends some of his evening-researching college players you have never heard of.
As a public service, and because I am one of the aforementioned geeks, I thought I would take a peek at what my fellow baseball draftniks are saying about the Tigers would-be top choice. Well, boys and girls, the Tigers are drafting tenth in the first round. A bit lower than normal, thanks to Pudge, Guillen and the '04 Tigers, but still high enough to get an impact player. Well, in theory anyway.
Let's be honest. Very, very few teams have so utterly failed the draft process more than our beloved Tigers. I refuse to list all of their draft day disasters here, however know this. It's a long list of really bad players chosen over an extended period of time. That's how you lose 119 games in a season.
As to this year's choice, the name floating around is Wichita State pitcher Mike Pelfrey. As this may be the first or second time you have ever heard the young man's name, I figured I would do a little research for you.
A chat with Pelfrey in 2004 at The Hardball Times.
Brewerfan.net provides this profile.
A look at Pelfrey, including a Team USA photo, courtesy of Baseball Digest Daily. The site is one of those new MLBlogs.
A Baseball America review of Pelfrey's ability.
What else do you need to know? It seems Mr. Pelfrey is generally considered no worse than the second best pitcher in the draft. Many think he is the best pitcher in the draft and a top five pick. So, you are now asking yourself, how can the Tigers get Pelfrey with the tenth overall pick if he's arguably the top pitcher in the whole draft? I'm glad you asked.
Guess who the young hurler's agent is? That's right, Scott Boras. Yes, him, again. Sounds like Mr. Boras has done his usual good job of scaring the you-know-what out of the teams picking ahead of the Tigers. So, based on Boras' recent history with our Bengals, many are assuming that Pelfrey will fall all the way down to number ten.
I'm not going to ponder this much. Quite a bit can happen between now and when the Tigers get to make their first pick. Let's just consider this an introduction to a potential future Tiger. If Pelfrey ends up with the Tigers, you can impress all of the casual fans in your neighborhood with your vast knowledge about the WSU righthander.
If Pelfrey lands elsewhere on draft day, all you've done is wasted a few moments reading this. Oh, and you've learned how a baseball geek spends some of his evening-researching college players you have never heard of.
Monday, May 30, 2005
113?
All we need to know about last night's Pistons-Heat Eastern Conference Final game was revealed in Miami's point total-113. The Pistons odds of success do not improve as an opponent, any opponent, tops the one hundred point mark against them. Dwayne Wade or Shaquille O'Neal can go off for fifty, but if the Heat only score around 85 total, the Pistons chances at being winners increases.
The Pistons are at their best when they are playing championship level defense. Last night, they didn't come close to that. Again, one look at that 113 points tells the whole story.
If you are a Pistons fan, you should be worried. The Heat have won two out of three games without Shaq at his best. Wade also had one terrible game. Yet, the Heat have the lead and homecourt advantage.
I'm thoroughly perplexed. I guess I just have never seen this Miami team as much more than the Big Guy and D-Wade. Maybe I am wrong for the billionth time. Maybe I am right and the Pistons aren't playing at a championship level. I just can't figure out where the Heat are getting points from.
Oh, I see their players scoring, but I'm baffled as to how the Pistons D cannot stop such non-descript players from contributing. They can shut down Kobe Bryant, but not Rasaul Butler? It makes no sense. Yet, it's happening.
It's nitpicking, but maybe some of the Pistons perceived weaknesses are being revealed? The lack of a true point guard. The lack of depth. The lack of a true superstar. The latter may be the one thing I think is hurting the Pistons the most right now.
Even at their best, the Pistons can go into prolonged offensive funks. A superstar doesn't allow that to happen. If the team hits a bump in the road offensively, the star steps up and carries the load. Sometimes that can be for a quarter (remember Isiah Thomas vs. the Lakers?). Sometimes it's for an entire game (refer to Wade's Game Two performance). Sometimes it's for a series (see Jordan, Michael). Stars carry clubs when they go astray.
The Pistons lack that one player. However, they have always managed to make up for that singular presence by playing tough team defense and hitting big shots. However, in two of the last three contests, the defense and big shots never arrived. It's time for those things to re-emerge or the Pistons will be heading back to South Florida well in the hole.
The Pistons are at their best when they are playing championship level defense. Last night, they didn't come close to that. Again, one look at that 113 points tells the whole story.
If you are a Pistons fan, you should be worried. The Heat have won two out of three games without Shaq at his best. Wade also had one terrible game. Yet, the Heat have the lead and homecourt advantage.
I'm thoroughly perplexed. I guess I just have never seen this Miami team as much more than the Big Guy and D-Wade. Maybe I am wrong for the billionth time. Maybe I am right and the Pistons aren't playing at a championship level. I just can't figure out where the Heat are getting points from.
Oh, I see their players scoring, but I'm baffled as to how the Pistons D cannot stop such non-descript players from contributing. They can shut down Kobe Bryant, but not Rasaul Butler? It makes no sense. Yet, it's happening.
It's nitpicking, but maybe some of the Pistons perceived weaknesses are being revealed? The lack of a true point guard. The lack of depth. The lack of a true superstar. The latter may be the one thing I think is hurting the Pistons the most right now.
Even at their best, the Pistons can go into prolonged offensive funks. A superstar doesn't allow that to happen. If the team hits a bump in the road offensively, the star steps up and carries the load. Sometimes that can be for a quarter (remember Isiah Thomas vs. the Lakers?). Sometimes it's for an entire game (refer to Wade's Game Two performance). Sometimes it's for a series (see Jordan, Michael). Stars carry clubs when they go astray.
The Pistons lack that one player. However, they have always managed to make up for that singular presence by playing tough team defense and hitting big shots. However, in two of the last three contests, the defense and big shots never arrived. It's time for those things to re-emerge or the Pistons will be heading back to South Florida well in the hole.
Two More Days
Have you been checking out the prices for All-Star Game Tickets? Well, I have. It ain't pretty. I expected to pay a premium, but over $1,000 per ticket? Sorry, but as much as I want to go, that isn't going to happen.
In light of this, I did put my name into Major League Baseball's raffle for tickets. No, the odds of winning such a lottery are not good. However, I am rather optimistic about winning. I have no specific reason for such naive thinking, I just feel like I've got a good chance.
MLB's raffle offers the "winners" an opportunity to purchase a strip of tickets. Each strip contains a ticket to the Fan Fest, All-Star Sunday (featuring the prospects game and the celebrity softball contest), Workout Day featuring the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game itself.
There were only two ticket prices. One around $280, the other closer to $390. I'm sure the $280 version are the Uecker seats. And in Comerica Park, the Uecker seats may actually be closer to Uecker's Milwaukee than Detroit. The nearly four hundred dollar package is much closer, I'm sure. They may even be in Wayne County.
However, as my options appeared to be (not) paying $1,000 to see just the All-Star Game or (possibly) paying four hundred or less to get to go all the events, it wasn't that difficult a decision to sign-up for the raffle.
Now, if you are still reading this, you are probably wondering what about this "Two More Days" stuff? The lottery winners will be contacted Wednesday. If I win (and why wouldn't I?), I will know in two more days. Then, I have until Friday to purchase whichever ticket MLB has chosen for me.
What if the unexpected happens and I fail to win? I'll start searching for Plan B in two more days.
In light of this, I did put my name into Major League Baseball's raffle for tickets. No, the odds of winning such a lottery are not good. However, I am rather optimistic about winning. I have no specific reason for such naive thinking, I just feel like I've got a good chance.
MLB's raffle offers the "winners" an opportunity to purchase a strip of tickets. Each strip contains a ticket to the Fan Fest, All-Star Sunday (featuring the prospects game and the celebrity softball contest), Workout Day featuring the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game itself.
There were only two ticket prices. One around $280, the other closer to $390. I'm sure the $280 version are the Uecker seats. And in Comerica Park, the Uecker seats may actually be closer to Uecker's Milwaukee than Detroit. The nearly four hundred dollar package is much closer, I'm sure. They may even be in Wayne County.
However, as my options appeared to be (not) paying $1,000 to see just the All-Star Game or (possibly) paying four hundred or less to get to go all the events, it wasn't that difficult a decision to sign-up for the raffle.
Now, if you are still reading this, you are probably wondering what about this "Two More Days" stuff? The lottery winners will be contacted Wednesday. If I win (and why wouldn't I?), I will know in two more days. Then, I have until Friday to purchase whichever ticket MLB has chosen for me.
What if the unexpected happens and I fail to win? I'll start searching for Plan B in two more days.
Michigan Gets In
The University of Michigan's baseball team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament today. The Wolverines had a forty win season, 41-17 to be exact, including victories over then top ten programs North Carolina and Georgia. That's usually more than good enough for any school to make the field of sixty-four.
However, Michigan's conference record was only 17-12. A fourth place regular season Big Ten finish combined with a rather early ouster from the conference tournament left coach Rich Maloney's team at the whim of the selection committee.
The strength of their non-conference record plus their late season surge probably got Michigan in. Of course, the conference leading forty-one wins didn't hurt, either. Illinois, the regular season Big Ten champs, got the slight from the selection committee, instead. Ohio State earned an automatic berth by capturing the conference tournament in Champaign.
Now, it's off to Atlanta, where the Wolverines will be in a regional with host Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Furman. The Gamecocks are Michigan's first opponent. If the Wolverines can play like they did very early in the season (when the victories over UNC and UGA occurred) or late in regular season play (where Michigan jumped from last to fourth), Michigan can win this regional.
Don't misinterpret that statement, though. Michigan is not the favorite by any means. Nor should they be. The Wolverines, however, are a very good team. They have a talented pitching staff and more than enough offense to compete. In many ways, this season has been a disappointment in my mind for Michigan.
They didn't fair well in conference play. They got bounced from the Big Ten tournament far too soon, as well. The NCAA tournament is their third chance to live up to the pre-season expectations. We will see if three is indeed a charm.
However, Michigan's conference record was only 17-12. A fourth place regular season Big Ten finish combined with a rather early ouster from the conference tournament left coach Rich Maloney's team at the whim of the selection committee.
The strength of their non-conference record plus their late season surge probably got Michigan in. Of course, the conference leading forty-one wins didn't hurt, either. Illinois, the regular season Big Ten champs, got the slight from the selection committee, instead. Ohio State earned an automatic berth by capturing the conference tournament in Champaign.
Now, it's off to Atlanta, where the Wolverines will be in a regional with host Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Furman. The Gamecocks are Michigan's first opponent. If the Wolverines can play like they did very early in the season (when the victories over UNC and UGA occurred) or late in regular season play (where Michigan jumped from last to fourth), Michigan can win this regional.
Don't misinterpret that statement, though. Michigan is not the favorite by any means. Nor should they be. The Wolverines, however, are a very good team. They have a talented pitching staff and more than enough offense to compete. In many ways, this season has been a disappointment in my mind for Michigan.
They didn't fair well in conference play. They got bounced from the Big Ten tournament far too soon, as well. The NCAA tournament is their third chance to live up to the pre-season expectations. We will see if three is indeed a charm.
Friday, May 27, 2005
My Foul Ball Story
Note: I tell this story periodically, but I don't believe I have shared it here. If I have, I apologize for being redundant. I'm getting old, so I expect that to happen more often as the years pass by.
Like nearly every baseball fan, I had always wanted to catch a foul ball. Who am I kidding? Catching one would have been great, but just tracking down one after rolling to a complete stop would have been sufficient. I had a few baseball head in my general vicinity over the years, but not one so close that I lamented a misplay on my part. However, one day my little dream came true.
Now, my foul ball story is a bit different than everyone else's. I did not make a tremendous catch. The ball I snagged had no historical significance. Not only did my retrieval not get any television coverage, it didn't even happen inside the park.
The Tigers were playing the Chicago White Sox as I recall. (Yeah, I know. When are they not playing someone in the A.L. Central?) I believe it was a Saturday afternoon. At the time, my friend, Kim, and I had the twenty game season ticket package.
On that day, Kim had to attend a wedding, so we got up and headed for the gate around the fifth or sixth inning. We left via the famous Michigan and Trumbull exit and headed west. We were discussing nothing in particular as we drew near the street named after Tiger legend Mickey Cochrane.
We were pondering when to cross Michigan Avenue when-BAM!- something drops from the sky right in front of us. The object hit the sidewalk and headed towards the heavens. This is where my instincts kicked in. See the ball, catch the ball. I looked into the sunny afternoon sky to find a baseball veering to my left. Without hesitation, I pursued the baseball.
Now, for those of you without a sense of the area, for me to starting heading to my left while walking west bound on Michigan Avenue meant I was heading onto one of the busiest streets in Detroit. This was never more true than on a Tigers game day. The visiting team always entered/exited Tiger Stadium on the Michigan Avenue side of the park. Buses, cabs, limos, city officials all zipped in and out of the parking areas near the curb. However, that never even entered my mind.
After a lifetime of chasing baseballs, I never gave a second of thought to potential danger. I did as I had always done. I went after the ball. Pavlov would have been proud. (My family not so much. They seem to worry about adults who chase baseballs into busy streets in major cities.)
Anyway, I tracked the ball and as gravity took charge, it descended right into my hands. I stood about a car length from the sidewalk. Kim was still checking for traffic on Michigan Avenue before venturing out. I was checking out my souvenir.
A Detroit police officer stood at the Cochrane/Michigan exit had told me two things. First, he had that shift for years and never came close to a ball. Second, he told me that the ball was courtesy of Cecil Fielder fouling one back out of play.
My play didn't get on SportsCenter. Ernie Harwell didn't reveal my hometown to those listening on radio. Of course, I didn't get run-over by a Detroit cabbie or the White Sox team bus, either. My loved ones are most happy about the latter of those things. Me, too.
I had never caught a Major League baseball before and have not since. While crossing off one of those little things on every baseball fan's checklist didn't occur as most would have dreamed of, I treasure the baseball just the same. I treasure the story just as much.
Like nearly every baseball fan, I had always wanted to catch a foul ball. Who am I kidding? Catching one would have been great, but just tracking down one after rolling to a complete stop would have been sufficient. I had a few baseball head in my general vicinity over the years, but not one so close that I lamented a misplay on my part. However, one day my little dream came true.
Now, my foul ball story is a bit different than everyone else's. I did not make a tremendous catch. The ball I snagged had no historical significance. Not only did my retrieval not get any television coverage, it didn't even happen inside the park.
The Tigers were playing the Chicago White Sox as I recall. (Yeah, I know. When are they not playing someone in the A.L. Central?) I believe it was a Saturday afternoon. At the time, my friend, Kim, and I had the twenty game season ticket package.
On that day, Kim had to attend a wedding, so we got up and headed for the gate around the fifth or sixth inning. We left via the famous Michigan and Trumbull exit and headed west. We were discussing nothing in particular as we drew near the street named after Tiger legend Mickey Cochrane.
We were pondering when to cross Michigan Avenue when-BAM!- something drops from the sky right in front of us. The object hit the sidewalk and headed towards the heavens. This is where my instincts kicked in. See the ball, catch the ball. I looked into the sunny afternoon sky to find a baseball veering to my left. Without hesitation, I pursued the baseball.
Now, for those of you without a sense of the area, for me to starting heading to my left while walking west bound on Michigan Avenue meant I was heading onto one of the busiest streets in Detroit. This was never more true than on a Tigers game day. The visiting team always entered/exited Tiger Stadium on the Michigan Avenue side of the park. Buses, cabs, limos, city officials all zipped in and out of the parking areas near the curb. However, that never even entered my mind.
After a lifetime of chasing baseballs, I never gave a second of thought to potential danger. I did as I had always done. I went after the ball. Pavlov would have been proud. (My family not so much. They seem to worry about adults who chase baseballs into busy streets in major cities.)
Anyway, I tracked the ball and as gravity took charge, it descended right into my hands. I stood about a car length from the sidewalk. Kim was still checking for traffic on Michigan Avenue before venturing out. I was checking out my souvenir.
A Detroit police officer stood at the Cochrane/Michigan exit had told me two things. First, he had that shift for years and never came close to a ball. Second, he told me that the ball was courtesy of Cecil Fielder fouling one back out of play.
My play didn't get on SportsCenter. Ernie Harwell didn't reveal my hometown to those listening on radio. Of course, I didn't get run-over by a Detroit cabbie or the White Sox team bus, either. My loved ones are most happy about the latter of those things. Me, too.
I had never caught a Major League baseball before and have not since. While crossing off one of those little things on every baseball fan's checklist didn't occur as most would have dreamed of, I treasure the baseball just the same. I treasure the story just as much.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
MLB Power Rankings
Dayn Perry at Fox Sports.com offers his MLB power rankings and Dan George at SI.com does the same.
You Know It's A Big Game When.....
Liverpool beat AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League final today. This draws a collective yawn from 99% of the nation's sports fans, but it turned out to be such a classic match that ESPN actually skipped a broadcast of the World Series of Poker to re-broadcast the contest. Now, you know it had to be big-time to bump poker.
As I appear headed to become an Everton fan, thus not liking Liverpool, I'm appropriately aghast at Liverpool's triumph. I also tip my cap to the lads as Milan had them down 3-0. Liverpool tied the match in the second half and won on penalty kicks.
I'm not sure which is more surprising: That Liverpool prevailed or ESPN canned poker for the night?
As I appear headed to become an Everton fan, thus not liking Liverpool, I'm appropriately aghast at Liverpool's triumph. I also tip my cap to the lads as Milan had them down 3-0. Liverpool tied the match in the second half and won on penalty kicks.
I'm not sure which is more surprising: That Liverpool prevailed or ESPN canned poker for the night?
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Pasquarelli Reviews NFC North
ESPN.com's Len Paquarelli discusses the off-season focus on defensive backs in the NFC North and how the teams' off-season has gone.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
A Little Preakness
Afleet Alex's spectacular triumph at The Preakness yesterday has led me to a simple conclusion. The Kentucky Derby just has too many darn horses in the field. If Afleet Alex had gotten a better trip at Churchill Downs, which translated means there were too many horses in too little an area, we might be looking at a Triple Crown winner.
The problem arises as every owner with enough cash and a horse with enough eligibility points is going to write a check to live out his/her dream to run for the roses. Never mind if their three year old has zero shot at winning. To run in the Derby allows every one that second of hope. In fact, Giacomo' stunning win will only further encourage every owner with a decent horse and a big enough checking account to participate.
The nice folks at Churchill Downs are in the racing business. It's not their job to turn down easy money. Nor is it their job to deny horse owners their shot at history. So, we get fields that are far too large, thus creating a situation far more like a rugby scrum than a horse race.
Now critics of this overly simple idea would argue that we've had a number of horses win the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Derby and Preakness. It's the Belmont that's the deal breaker. True, but I wonder just as much about how many good, but unlucky horses, get caught up in what has become part horse race, part shoving match the first Saturday each May and never rebound, as I do about the those that have won the first two races.
You could also argue that greatness overcomes those crowded fields. Horses like Silver Charm were dominant horses, just not Triple Crown winners. I cannot argue that point. I also cannot disagree with that theory because I believe horse racing will get a legitimate Triple Crown winner when a great horse does emerge.
However, when most in the sport complain about the length of The Belmont as being the hindrance to finding a great horse, I wish someone would realize that the first race in the Triple Crown counts as much as the last.
The problem arises as every owner with enough cash and a horse with enough eligibility points is going to write a check to live out his/her dream to run for the roses. Never mind if their three year old has zero shot at winning. To run in the Derby allows every one that second of hope. In fact, Giacomo' stunning win will only further encourage every owner with a decent horse and a big enough checking account to participate.
The nice folks at Churchill Downs are in the racing business. It's not their job to turn down easy money. Nor is it their job to deny horse owners their shot at history. So, we get fields that are far too large, thus creating a situation far more like a rugby scrum than a horse race.
Now critics of this overly simple idea would argue that we've had a number of horses win the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Derby and Preakness. It's the Belmont that's the deal breaker. True, but I wonder just as much about how many good, but unlucky horses, get caught up in what has become part horse race, part shoving match the first Saturday each May and never rebound, as I do about the those that have won the first two races.
You could also argue that greatness overcomes those crowded fields. Horses like Silver Charm were dominant horses, just not Triple Crown winners. I cannot argue that point. I also cannot disagree with that theory because I believe horse racing will get a legitimate Triple Crown winner when a great horse does emerge.
However, when most in the sport complain about the length of The Belmont as being the hindrance to finding a great horse, I wish someone would realize that the first race in the Triple Crown counts as much as the last.
No More Walton, Please
Add me to the list of people annoyed by Bill Walton. After listening to the former UCLA star in back-to-back nights, I was beginning to wonder if Walton watched the NBA regularly? It started with his "analysis" at the halftime of Game Six of the Pistons-Pacers series. Walton would have had you believe the Pistons were playing the worst basketball in the history of the league and the Pacers were only matched by Red Auerbach's Celtics.
Walton went on and on and on about just how putrid the defending champs were playing. You might start to take the Hall of Famer seriously, unless, of course, you happened to know what the score was. The Pacers were crushing the Pistons, 46-39. Maybe I am just too pro-Pistons, but since when is a seven point defecit on the road, against a rival, a team that must win to stay alive, while you are playing lousy ball such a horrible situation? Honestly, I thought the Pistons were in great shape at the half.
Now, I really just passed off Walton's in-studio analysis to over-reaction on both our parts. Bill grossly over-hyped the matter and, I presumed, I just was wearing my Pistons cap too tightly and jumped on his perspective too quickly. That was until the next night.
Walton, Mike Tirico and Steve Jones moved from the studio to announcing Game Six of the Suns-Mavericks. Walton picked up right where he left off the night before. Walton had the Suns dead and buried before halftime. Jason Terry and Josh Howard were just too much for the Suns. The Suns looked tired. They played no defense. They didn't make good decisions. Their bench wasn't helping. Nash was off his game. Blah, blah, blah.
I assumed Walton just didn't understand the Suns. They are not a deep team. They don't play D. Well, the certainly don't play much. They attempt to outscore you. Along the way, they make bad decisions. They also hoist a few shots that make you cringe. They can also drop forty points (and sometimes more) in a quarter. That's the nature of up-tempo hoops. Bill didn't know that?
I admit to rooting for Phoenix. I also admit that Dallas was playing wonderfully. However, just as an in-game sound bite from coach Mike D'Antoni indicated, the Suns figured the Mavs couldn't keep up their level of play. Walton did grab hold of that concept, but that's the problem with Walton's analysis. He grabs hold of everything.
Whatever the moment provides, Walton presumes will extend to the entire contest. Pacers go on a 12-0 spurt, it's the Pacers night. Jason Terry hits back-to-back threes and the Suns look tired tonight. However, when the Pistons come from behind to win in Indy, they played like champions. And when Nash zips past Terry to drain a game tying three, Nash appears to be on his game and the Suns are posting one of the greatest comebacks Walton has ever seen.
Even partner Steve Jones laughed about Walton's flip-flop analysis. It was particularly funny when Walton compared the Suns' Nash to Lance Armstrong early in the game. Walton said Nash may be the world's second best trained athlete behind the Tour de France champ. Then, as Nash missed a few shots later on, Walton suggested the league's MVP looked "tired". Jones quickly wondered aloud what happened to the world's second best conditioned athlete?
As the game progressed, and Nash's shots started to fall, Walton praised Nash's endurance, again. Jones jumped on that too, wondering if Nash was the Armstrong-like figure of early in the game or the tired player Walton suggested Nash had become a bit later?
This "what have you done for me lately" analysis makes Walton seem like he knows less about basketball than I do. Which simply cannot be correct. How can someone who played for John Wooden, won two NBA crowns and a league MVP award say such short-sighted things? You begin to think Bill might not watch any of his NBA League Pass package that he does commercials for.
Of course, by perpetually praising whomever is leading, Walton does cover himself in the end. But along the way, he sure sounds ridiculous.
Walton went on and on and on about just how putrid the defending champs were playing. You might start to take the Hall of Famer seriously, unless, of course, you happened to know what the score was. The Pacers were crushing the Pistons, 46-39. Maybe I am just too pro-Pistons, but since when is a seven point defecit on the road, against a rival, a team that must win to stay alive, while you are playing lousy ball such a horrible situation? Honestly, I thought the Pistons were in great shape at the half.
Now, I really just passed off Walton's in-studio analysis to over-reaction on both our parts. Bill grossly over-hyped the matter and, I presumed, I just was wearing my Pistons cap too tightly and jumped on his perspective too quickly. That was until the next night.
Walton, Mike Tirico and Steve Jones moved from the studio to announcing Game Six of the Suns-Mavericks. Walton picked up right where he left off the night before. Walton had the Suns dead and buried before halftime. Jason Terry and Josh Howard were just too much for the Suns. The Suns looked tired. They played no defense. They didn't make good decisions. Their bench wasn't helping. Nash was off his game. Blah, blah, blah.
I assumed Walton just didn't understand the Suns. They are not a deep team. They don't play D. Well, the certainly don't play much. They attempt to outscore you. Along the way, they make bad decisions. They also hoist a few shots that make you cringe. They can also drop forty points (and sometimes more) in a quarter. That's the nature of up-tempo hoops. Bill didn't know that?
I admit to rooting for Phoenix. I also admit that Dallas was playing wonderfully. However, just as an in-game sound bite from coach Mike D'Antoni indicated, the Suns figured the Mavs couldn't keep up their level of play. Walton did grab hold of that concept, but that's the problem with Walton's analysis. He grabs hold of everything.
Whatever the moment provides, Walton presumes will extend to the entire contest. Pacers go on a 12-0 spurt, it's the Pacers night. Jason Terry hits back-to-back threes and the Suns look tired tonight. However, when the Pistons come from behind to win in Indy, they played like champions. And when Nash zips past Terry to drain a game tying three, Nash appears to be on his game and the Suns are posting one of the greatest comebacks Walton has ever seen.
Even partner Steve Jones laughed about Walton's flip-flop analysis. It was particularly funny when Walton compared the Suns' Nash to Lance Armstrong early in the game. Walton said Nash may be the world's second best trained athlete behind the Tour de France champ. Then, as Nash missed a few shots later on, Walton suggested the league's MVP looked "tired". Jones quickly wondered aloud what happened to the world's second best conditioned athlete?
As the game progressed, and Nash's shots started to fall, Walton praised Nash's endurance, again. Jones jumped on that too, wondering if Nash was the Armstrong-like figure of early in the game or the tired player Walton suggested Nash had become a bit later?
This "what have you done for me lately" analysis makes Walton seem like he knows less about basketball than I do. Which simply cannot be correct. How can someone who played for John Wooden, won two NBA crowns and a league MVP award say such short-sighted things? You begin to think Bill might not watch any of his NBA League Pass package that he does commercials for.
Of course, by perpetually praising whomever is leading, Walton does cover himself in the end. But along the way, he sure sounds ridiculous.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Below .500
What is it about playing .500 baseball that the Detroit Tigers just cannot seem to get a handle on? With this afternoon's loss to Tampa Bay, the Motown Kitties have fallen below the break even mark once again. This .500 mark has been a bugaboo since the Justin Thompson/Bobby Higginson/Tony Clark days. No matter what collection of players wear the Old English D, none of them have been able to sustain a level at or, dare I wish, above .500.
I realize the largest part of the problem is that our local team just hasn't had enough talent to maintain a mark better than .500. Which leads me to an even more troublesome question. Is this current group of Tigers closer to being a playoff contender or, I hate to say it, closer to rebuilding?
Why would I pose such an impolite inquiry? Because, well, because I am beginning to wonder. This group of Detroit baseball players isn't exactly a youth movement. Pudge Rodriguez, Rondell White, Ugueth Urbina, Troy Percival, Jason Johnson, Ramon Martinez, Vance Wilson, Doug Creek, Jamie Walker, Bobby Higginson, Dmitri Young and Magglio Ordonez are all over thirty. Carlos Guillen will be thirty in August.
Kyle Farsnworth is twenty-nine. Brandon Inge, Marcus Thames, Mike Maroth, Jason Smith, Nate Robertson, Chris Spurling, Matt Ginter and Craig Monroe are all twenty-eight. Carlos Pena is twenty-seven.
That means on the twenty-five man active roster, twenty-one Tigers are 27 years old or older. That doesn't include the three Tigers on the DL (Higgy, Maggs and Percival) that I've listed above. That's not a young team.
Sure, Jeremy Bonderman is young and appears headed in the right direction. It's too soon to guess on Nook Logan's career path and Omar Infante is just too inconsistent thus far to get a handle on. Both could join Bonderman as potential Tigers All-Stars of the future, but that's being really optimistic. It's certainly not a core to build upon. At least, not yet.
Now, the Tigers are going to lose a number of older players this off-season. At minimum, Urbina, White, Higginson, Johnson and Fernando Vina's contract will all be let go in October. That opens up some roster spots for some of the Tigers farmhands. Great. The '06 squad will be younger. However, does adding three or four rookies to the roster bring the Tigers closer to the top of the division or will it be a step back?
What if Mike Ilitch pursues another big name free agent or two? If, as I suspect they will, the Tigers do add some more high priced talent in the winter of 2005-06, then more of the kids stay on the farm and the Tigers will continue to go to battle with a slightly older roster. Can adding a new group of veterans next season propel the Tigers above .500? If so, will it be enough to contend? If not, why not go with the kids?
As you can probably tell by this rambling, I'm dazed and confused by the Tigers current situation. I'm just baffled trying to figure out where they are and where they are going. Playing below .500 for a prolonged time apparently is confusing for certain members of the fanbase.
I realize the largest part of the problem is that our local team just hasn't had enough talent to maintain a mark better than .500. Which leads me to an even more troublesome question. Is this current group of Tigers closer to being a playoff contender or, I hate to say it, closer to rebuilding?
Why would I pose such an impolite inquiry? Because, well, because I am beginning to wonder. This group of Detroit baseball players isn't exactly a youth movement. Pudge Rodriguez, Rondell White, Ugueth Urbina, Troy Percival, Jason Johnson, Ramon Martinez, Vance Wilson, Doug Creek, Jamie Walker, Bobby Higginson, Dmitri Young and Magglio Ordonez are all over thirty. Carlos Guillen will be thirty in August.
Kyle Farsnworth is twenty-nine. Brandon Inge, Marcus Thames, Mike Maroth, Jason Smith, Nate Robertson, Chris Spurling, Matt Ginter and Craig Monroe are all twenty-eight. Carlos Pena is twenty-seven.
That means on the twenty-five man active roster, twenty-one Tigers are 27 years old or older. That doesn't include the three Tigers on the DL (Higgy, Maggs and Percival) that I've listed above. That's not a young team.
Sure, Jeremy Bonderman is young and appears headed in the right direction. It's too soon to guess on Nook Logan's career path and Omar Infante is just too inconsistent thus far to get a handle on. Both could join Bonderman as potential Tigers All-Stars of the future, but that's being really optimistic. It's certainly not a core to build upon. At least, not yet.
Now, the Tigers are going to lose a number of older players this off-season. At minimum, Urbina, White, Higginson, Johnson and Fernando Vina's contract will all be let go in October. That opens up some roster spots for some of the Tigers farmhands. Great. The '06 squad will be younger. However, does adding three or four rookies to the roster bring the Tigers closer to the top of the division or will it be a step back?
What if Mike Ilitch pursues another big name free agent or two? If, as I suspect they will, the Tigers do add some more high priced talent in the winter of 2005-06, then more of the kids stay on the farm and the Tigers will continue to go to battle with a slightly older roster. Can adding a new group of veterans next season propel the Tigers above .500? If so, will it be enough to contend? If not, why not go with the kids?
As you can probably tell by this rambling, I'm dazed and confused by the Tigers current situation. I'm just baffled trying to figure out where they are and where they are going. Playing below .500 for a prolonged time apparently is confusing for certain members of the fanbase.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
It's Coming
Here is a little something for you football fans out there. This one for the MSU and Michigan supporters, this one for the Lions fans. Those of you who support other college or professionals squads, I am confident you will be able to navigate your way around those links to find something that suits your taste.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Monday Night Moanin'
In a little tribute to former Detroit Free Press columnist Bob Talbert, I've entitled this vast array of unconnected observations after his famous "Out Of My Monday-Moanin' Mind'" columns. It also has kind of a sports ring to it with the slightly more obvious connection to Monday Night Football (and Baseball).
Not all of it will be moanin'. Most of it will be sports related, but I'll warn you that I may toss in a few non-sports topics, too. After a tip of the cap to Mr. Talbert, we're off.
Why do I get the feeling watching the U.S. Open this year will be like watching tennis on Boise State's football field? Seems the USTA thinks we cannot follow the ball very well, so they've opted to paint the courts blue. Yes, blue. This will help the ball stand out for fans and players alike. I'm having a Fox glow puck flashback.
I'm not sure why exactly, but I'm siding with Manchester United fans on this one. I just have bad vibes about Malcolm Glazer's takeover of the Premier League club.
Can anyone tell me why red peppers (and yellow and orange, for that matter) are $4.99/lb? It seems even more odd when compared to green peppers that are less than half that cost. I'm sure the answer is simple, but there does not appear to be a short supply of peppers in any color.
The review of Mitch Albom's work at the Free Press is complete. The summary of their review is equal parts explanation and Albom love fest. I'm not sure why they spent so much time discussing Albom's history at the paper and his far-reaching endeavors today?
Albom's is one of paper's drawing cards, I know that. Albom is a busy guy. I knew that, too. Albom is a talented fellow. I kind of picked up on that. However, how does any of this fit into the context of the investigation?
The final analysis of the situation comes across as Albom is a busy, productive, respected, although widely disliked by his colleagues, member of the media. If he makes a tiny error, one many at the Freep and other publications have done, we need to be understanding as long as the story is right.
Hey, I've got no problem with that theory. I just hope the Free Press hierarchy understands that their journalism can now be perceived as stories "based" on actual events. Kind of like made-for-tv-movies.
One of my co-workers has been worried about the possible Eastern Conference Final match-up between the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat since the regular season began. My friend at the office has been lauding the Heat all season. I, conversely, dismissed the Heat all season long. If the Pistons could beat the Lakers with Shaq O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the certainly can beat Shaq and Dwayne Wade, right?
Well, for the first time all season, I'm concerned about a Pistons-Heat meeting. If the Heat can pound on Washington without the Big Fella, that's not a good sign for Detroit basketball fans. Yeah, Indiana is better than the Wizards, but I'm starting to believe in the Heat' bench. That's not something I could say even a week ago.
Of course, the Pistons still need to find a way to dispose of the Pacers. Tell me Rick Carlisle isn't a good coach.
I knew this was a bad idea (scroll way down) right from the moment I read it. Too bad Marquette's administration doesn't have a grasp of the obvious.
Are there even two roads in the Metro Detroit area not under construction at some juncture?
Have you ever seen those construction warning signs suggesting you choose an alternate route as delays are possible on the path you have chosen? Well, I wonder how congestion free the alternate routes are going to be if everyone opts to take them instead? Wouldn't you advise us to avoid the alternates as delays are possible there, too?
In what may be the worst baseball uniforms at any level, the University ofMiami has trotted out orange tops with gray pants. I think the pants are pinstriped green, too. I can't find a great photo, but you get a small taste here. They are even worse on television. Terrible.
Bud tosses Donald under the bus, part II.
Tonight's "I Know You Don't Care" post: Ricky Ray re-joins the Edmonton Eskimos. Yes, I am happy about this. Yes, I am a geek. I thought having a blog implied that?
Yesterday, the sun came up. And Annika Sorenstam won.
That's all for tonight. Hopefully, I didn't embarass myself or the late Mr. Talbert too much. Thanks for stopping in.
Not all of it will be moanin'. Most of it will be sports related, but I'll warn you that I may toss in a few non-sports topics, too. After a tip of the cap to Mr. Talbert, we're off.
Why do I get the feeling watching the U.S. Open this year will be like watching tennis on Boise State's football field? Seems the USTA thinks we cannot follow the ball very well, so they've opted to paint the courts blue. Yes, blue. This will help the ball stand out for fans and players alike. I'm having a Fox glow puck flashback.
I'm not sure why exactly, but I'm siding with Manchester United fans on this one. I just have bad vibes about Malcolm Glazer's takeover of the Premier League club.
Can anyone tell me why red peppers (and yellow and orange, for that matter) are $4.99/lb? It seems even more odd when compared to green peppers that are less than half that cost. I'm sure the answer is simple, but there does not appear to be a short supply of peppers in any color.
The review of Mitch Albom's work at the Free Press is complete. The summary of their review is equal parts explanation and Albom love fest. I'm not sure why they spent so much time discussing Albom's history at the paper and his far-reaching endeavors today?
Albom's is one of paper's drawing cards, I know that. Albom is a busy guy. I knew that, too. Albom is a talented fellow. I kind of picked up on that. However, how does any of this fit into the context of the investigation?
The final analysis of the situation comes across as Albom is a busy, productive, respected, although widely disliked by his colleagues, member of the media. If he makes a tiny error, one many at the Freep and other publications have done, we need to be understanding as long as the story is right.
Hey, I've got no problem with that theory. I just hope the Free Press hierarchy understands that their journalism can now be perceived as stories "based" on actual events. Kind of like made-for-tv-movies.
One of my co-workers has been worried about the possible Eastern Conference Final match-up between the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat since the regular season began. My friend at the office has been lauding the Heat all season. I, conversely, dismissed the Heat all season long. If the Pistons could beat the Lakers with Shaq O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the certainly can beat Shaq and Dwayne Wade, right?
Well, for the first time all season, I'm concerned about a Pistons-Heat meeting. If the Heat can pound on Washington without the Big Fella, that's not a good sign for Detroit basketball fans. Yeah, Indiana is better than the Wizards, but I'm starting to believe in the Heat' bench. That's not something I could say even a week ago.
Of course, the Pistons still need to find a way to dispose of the Pacers. Tell me Rick Carlisle isn't a good coach.
I knew this was a bad idea (scroll way down) right from the moment I read it. Too bad Marquette's administration doesn't have a grasp of the obvious.
Are there even two roads in the Metro Detroit area not under construction at some juncture?
Have you ever seen those construction warning signs suggesting you choose an alternate route as delays are possible on the path you have chosen? Well, I wonder how congestion free the alternate routes are going to be if everyone opts to take them instead? Wouldn't you advise us to avoid the alternates as delays are possible there, too?
In what may be the worst baseball uniforms at any level, the University ofMiami has trotted out orange tops with gray pants. I think the pants are pinstriped green, too. I can't find a great photo, but you get a small taste here. They are even worse on television. Terrible.
Bud tosses Donald under the bus, part II.
Tonight's "I Know You Don't Care" post: Ricky Ray re-joins the Edmonton Eskimos. Yes, I am happy about this. Yes, I am a geek. I thought having a blog implied that?
Yesterday, the sun came up. And Annika Sorenstam won.
That's all for tonight. Hopefully, I didn't embarass myself or the late Mr. Talbert too much. Thanks for stopping in.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Tigers Lose Game, Pudge & Young
Wonderful. The Tigers get hammered by the Angels, 9-3 and watch both Ivan Rodriguez and Dmitri Young leave the game with injuries. Pudge got hit on the toe by a foul-tip, while D.Y. hurt a knee running to firstbase. With Troy Percival and Magglio Ordonez already on the shelf, Carlos Guillen still needing an occasional day off to rest his ailing knee, the last thing the Tigers need is to lose Pudge and Dmitri for anything more than twenty-four hours.
It's the middle of May and I'm starting to get the feeling this edition of the Tigers isn't really much better than last year's model. I do think Jeremy Bonderman is better this year, but Nate Robertson looks worse than in '04. Guillen is about the same as last season, but Pudge is worse. Neither Percival or Magglio have been active long enough to matter. That's makes the Tigers about even to last year's club and that's exactly what they appear to be.
I hate to mention this, because I really like the guy, but I've seen enough of Carlos Pena. It's time for Alan Trammell to sit him. If Young is healthy, let him play first all the time. Yes, it will hurt some defensively, but Pena just doesn't produce enough to leave him in the lineup daily. I wish I was wrong, but my hopes for Pena are all but gone.
It's the middle of May and I'm starting to get the feeling this edition of the Tigers isn't really much better than last year's model. I do think Jeremy Bonderman is better this year, but Nate Robertson looks worse than in '04. Guillen is about the same as last season, but Pudge is worse. Neither Percival or Magglio have been active long enough to matter. That's makes the Tigers about even to last year's club and that's exactly what they appear to be.
I hate to mention this, because I really like the guy, but I've seen enough of Carlos Pena. It's time for Alan Trammell to sit him. If Young is healthy, let him play first all the time. Yes, it will hurt some defensively, but Pena just doesn't produce enough to leave him in the lineup daily. I wish I was wrong, but my hopes for Pena are all but gone.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Hamburgers In The Detroit River?
Remember what the Colonists did to all that English tea? What will those living in Detroit do if this idea gets approved?
You Don't Care, But.....
Everton secured a spot in the Champions League next year. Very, very cool. Sometime between now and then, I'll try to capture just how amazing this season has been. I won't be able to do it justice. However, this might do.
I now return you to sports that you care much more about.
I now return you to sports that you care much more about.
Pistons Lose And The MVP Race
Okay, the Pistons lost. They beat the Pacers senseless in Game One, got up big early in Game Two and mailed the rest of the game in. It's not the end of the world. I defer to ESPN's Chris Berman for this nugget of wisdom. Once is an accident, twice is a trend, three times is a problem. Well, boys and girls, the Pacers have one win. I'm not ready to go into panic mode quite yet.
If Indiana wins Game Three, thus giving them two wins, that qualifies as a trend and then I would start to wonder. However, until Game Three is over, I still think the Pistons will advance.
There was some controversy about the NBA MVP Award. Most of it caused by Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard's left-handed assertion that race "may" have played a factor in Steve Nash capturing the award over Shaquille O'Neal. The easy comeback is to assume that being a homer played a part in LeBatard's opinion-where was he all the other years Shaq came up empty while in L.A.? Unfortunately, by bringing race into the matter, all LeBatard accomplished (besides getting himself more attention) was diminish Nash's remarkable season.
Nash was just as valuable to Phoenix as O'Neal was to Miami this year. Last year, the Suns couldn't even dream playoffs. This year, they are the best in the West. When Nash missed some time due to injury the Suns stumbled.
While Miami dominated the East in 2004-05, the Heat did manage to get to the playoffs last year while the Big Guy was still playing and fighting with Kobe Bryant. O'Neal elevated the Heat, but they weren't crummy without him. Phoenix, however, was terrible a year ago and is a completely different animal with Nash in the fold.
Shaq was indeed worthy of the MVP award. So was Nash. Why some just cannot accept that is puzzling.
If Indiana wins Game Three, thus giving them two wins, that qualifies as a trend and then I would start to wonder. However, until Game Three is over, I still think the Pistons will advance.
There was some controversy about the NBA MVP Award. Most of it caused by Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard's left-handed assertion that race "may" have played a factor in Steve Nash capturing the award over Shaquille O'Neal. The easy comeback is to assume that being a homer played a part in LeBatard's opinion-where was he all the other years Shaq came up empty while in L.A.? Unfortunately, by bringing race into the matter, all LeBatard accomplished (besides getting himself more attention) was diminish Nash's remarkable season.
Nash was just as valuable to Phoenix as O'Neal was to Miami this year. Last year, the Suns couldn't even dream playoffs. This year, they are the best in the West. When Nash missed some time due to injury the Suns stumbled.
While Miami dominated the East in 2004-05, the Heat did manage to get to the playoffs last year while the Big Guy was still playing and fighting with Kobe Bryant. O'Neal elevated the Heat, but they weren't crummy without him. Phoenix, however, was terrible a year ago and is a completely different animal with Nash in the fold.
Shaq was indeed worthy of the MVP award. So was Nash. Why some just cannot accept that is puzzling.
It's Called On The Job Training
Before the Tigers headed out for their latest road trip (and returned with a very nice 4-2 mark), Alan Trammell's managing was coming under heavy criticism around town. I, for one, have absolutely no qualms about Tram's managing. It's not great. However, I expect that. Why? Because the guy is learning on the job.
When Trammell was handed the reigns of the Tigers he had no previous managerial experience. Anywhere. I don't even think he managed Little League. While many assumed that meant Tram's hiring was strictly a public relations move, I viewed it more as an opportunity for the ex-Tiger great to easy into a role he truly desired. The pressure would be off as nearly all of us in Tigertown knew the ballclub wasn't good. We also knew that Dave Dombrowski was going to turn the team over to younger players the first chance he got.
That meant Tram could grow as his young team did and, as the theory went, he and the team would be ready to compete around the same time. A time that would still be years away. Well, something happened to blow that theory up-119 losses.
In the two years since falling to the depths of the sport, the Tigers have added veterans Rondell White, Jason Johnson, Ivan Rodriguez, Ugueth Urbina, Troy Percival, Magglio Ordonez, Vance Wilson and Kyle Farnsworth. Trammell no longer has the luxury of growing up with his young team because his team isn't all that young.
Sure, the Tigers still have youth in the form of Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Nook Logan, Omar Infante and a few others, but the additions of highly paid veteran players have moved expectations levels up a notch or two. Or maybe three. Trammell's on-the-job training is now viewed, even by supporters, as a hindrance to the team's chances at competing for the American League Central crown.
That part about being legitimate contenders is debatable. What is not is that the Tigers short-term direction changed paths unexpectedly and it has increased the criticism of Tram's decisions. It also has many wondering if Trammell should remain as manager.
The questions are fair, although premature. It's a bit unrealistic to think Trammell is going to be a great manager this soon. Trammell is in only his third year and, unless he was some kind of managerial prodigy, he was bound to make the mistakes young managers make. It's just most of those managers make the majority of their errors in AA ball, not The Show.
Trammell may not be ready to guide the Tigers to the pennant, but it's not his fault. He's still learning his craft daily.
When Trammell was handed the reigns of the Tigers he had no previous managerial experience. Anywhere. I don't even think he managed Little League. While many assumed that meant Tram's hiring was strictly a public relations move, I viewed it more as an opportunity for the ex-Tiger great to easy into a role he truly desired. The pressure would be off as nearly all of us in Tigertown knew the ballclub wasn't good. We also knew that Dave Dombrowski was going to turn the team over to younger players the first chance he got.
That meant Tram could grow as his young team did and, as the theory went, he and the team would be ready to compete around the same time. A time that would still be years away. Well, something happened to blow that theory up-119 losses.
In the two years since falling to the depths of the sport, the Tigers have added veterans Rondell White, Jason Johnson, Ivan Rodriguez, Ugueth Urbina, Troy Percival, Magglio Ordonez, Vance Wilson and Kyle Farnsworth. Trammell no longer has the luxury of growing up with his young team because his team isn't all that young.
Sure, the Tigers still have youth in the form of Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Nook Logan, Omar Infante and a few others, but the additions of highly paid veteran players have moved expectations levels up a notch or two. Or maybe three. Trammell's on-the-job training is now viewed, even by supporters, as a hindrance to the team's chances at competing for the American League Central crown.
That part about being legitimate contenders is debatable. What is not is that the Tigers short-term direction changed paths unexpectedly and it has increased the criticism of Tram's decisions. It also has many wondering if Trammell should remain as manager.
The questions are fair, although premature. It's a bit unrealistic to think Trammell is going to be a great manager this soon. Trammell is in only his third year and, unless he was some kind of managerial prodigy, he was bound to make the mistakes young managers make. It's just most of those managers make the majority of their errors in AA ball, not The Show.
Trammell may not be ready to guide the Tigers to the pennant, but it's not his fault. He's still learning his craft daily.
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