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Weekend Warrior - 9/22/06

2006-09-22T13:06:00.000-04:00

Sorry, the weekend warrior has been out sick all day so this is going to be the quickie version of the all knowing of know nothings, the all powerful, great and president of the tired of Drew Sharp and his unintelligent crap that he spews weekly, the weekend warrior!

Wisconsin at Michigan

Closer than we all want but coming off an emotional win for these kids it may be hard to get up for Wisconsin. However this is the first “real” team Wisconsin is going to play, the second of three “revenge” games in a row so I think the Wolverines when it is all said and done will be just fine.

UM 31, Wisconsin 17

Notre Dame at Michigan State

Yes, even I am going to be wearing a big block “S” this weekend in hopes that Sparty can knock the crap out of the “Ego” and “The Golden Boy”. It worked last week when I picked against them so I am going to do it again this week in hopes that it works again, I love reverse psychology!

ND 45, MSU 41

Packers at Lions

I am going to keep with my outline and I had this as a win so there you go.

Lions 27, Packers 17

That is all folks, enjoy the football and all the rain this weekend, football safely folks!

The sports dude.

Weekend Warrior - 09/15/06

2006-09-15T09:40:00.000-04:00

That’s right folks it is that time again for your weekly dose of the all knowing of the know nothings, the wacky, zany, off the wall laugh out loud hilarity and head salesmen for the new line of Drive Thru Attendant Eye Cleaner, the Weekend Warrior.

Cincinnati at Ohio State

After an extremely impressive win last week in Texas the Buckeyes get to take a week off and play an easy opponent in Cincy. The sweater vest himself can even be seen smiling not once but twice and with one of his buttons undone as well.

OSU 31, Cincy 10

Iowa State at Iowa

This interstate rivalry has gone to Iowa State more lately than not but I look for Iowa to rebound this week nicely. The Hawkeyes had a close scare last week against an unranked Syracuse team but expect QB Drew Tate back this week at full strength.

Iowa 24, Iowa State 17

Michigan State at Pittsburgh

After two extremely tough games against quality opponents in Idaho and Eastern Michigan John L. finally feels like his boys are ready for some football. Unfortunately for him his team forgets that it needs to play good to win, especially against a quality opponent on the road. Sorry Sparty and Sports Pig, MSU falls on this day.

Pitt 30, MSU 23

U of M at Notre Dame

Mr. Lord All Mighty and Super Brilliant Genius Sir (or you can just call him Coach Weis) and the Golden Boy of all things Golden (or you can just call him Brady Quinn) are all saying the right things this week, that it is just another game… BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!! The point is this is not just another game and if you don’t get excited for a match up like this than there ain’t no blood flowing in your veins! This is a game that puts the two most winningest programs in college football against each other and it is the highest the two have been ranked when playing in years. The sports dude will not make a prediction here, I don’t like to play jinx for my Wolverines when the stakes are high, but I will repeat what I said in my preview… this game is the key! If they win this game then I really think they have something special here but if they lose all bets are off and it could be a huge deflating experience for these guys. The game will be close much like last years, I truly expect that.

Charlie Weis 1, Tom Brady 0

Now for the feature of all features, the moment that you have all been waiting for, it’s the:

“MOM DO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME” game of the week:

Eastern Michigan at Northwestern

Well, Northwestern lost last week to the power house of college football, New Hampshire, and looks to rebound this week against my alma mater – Eastern. Problem is guys if you can’t handle a I-AA school like NH then how the hell are you gonna handle my Eagles there baby! That’s right, the sports dude is going with this green and white, which by the way is the only time you will here me root for the green and white openly.

Eastern 27, NW 24

UPSET SPECIALS OF THE WEEK:

Eastern over Northwestern, Pitt over MSU, LSU over Auburn, Louisville over Miami, and someone is going to win the ND-UM game I promise you that!

PRO PICK:

Lions at Chicago

After reading the newest best seller on the New York Times list, “Guaran-Sheeding For Dummies” Roy Williams now feels like he himself is a master and says that the Lions will win this weekend. When asked about the bulletin board material Bears LB Brian Urlacher quickly punches out the reporter who asks it and then says “next question”. Guess it didn’t really bother him too much did it? I had this as a win/loss in my preview, what is the sports dude going to do now that he is on the spot and has to pick the win or the loss? I am going for it…

Detroit 17, Chicago 14

That is it folks, have a safe weekend footballing, tail gating and always remember to football responsibly, we don’t need any pulled hamstrings from getting off the coach too quickly! Later – the sports dude.

Tiger Talk

2006-09-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

When the Tigers and the Yankees played a while back Big Al and I both thought the same thing about Craig Monroe’s winning HR in the ninth that night… could that be the hit that propels them to the Division Title? Unfortunately as we have seen since that time it was clearly not the impact maker we or many of the rest of us, thought or even hoped it would be. Now the question arises once again as we witnessed last night could it be this time Guillen’s HR is the one that lifts them the rest of the way this season? Only time will tell but I think in every Tiger fans heart and stomach we are hoping that this time this HR will be the one.

As this season winds down I think it is clear that the Tigers not only miss “small ball” Polanco at the top of the order but the Tigers need a big bat, a true big bat, in that #4 spot to do what a #4 hitter is supposed to do… clean things up on the base path. Maggs was suppose to be that guy but it is clear that he has not only hit the wall in this, his first full season in two years, but his knee may be healthy enough to play but not healthy enough to help him generate power with the bat the way he once did. But imagine with me if you will next year a line up that has a #3 in Guillen followed by a #4 that Illitch either buys or Dombroski trades for followed by Maggs at #5 where I think he is better suited. Shoot, you could even put Monroe at #3 and place Guillen at #6 and to me that would be a killer stretch for any pitcher to get through. I think it is clear that Mr. Illitch will spend now because he clearly believes (FINALLY) in this organization and I think with the pitching depth the Tigers have that one Jeremy Bonderman would be great trade bait this off season to get a strong clean up hitter away from someone.

Think about it, the Tigers have Rogers for another year and unless some strange drop off occurs it looks like Verlander is finally the Jack Morris the Tigers farm system has long needed. Couple that with a healthy Maroth and a steady Robertson (seriously, has there ever been a more unlucky guy than Nate) and the Tigers still have a great 1-4 rotation intact. The #5 guy could come from anywhere in the organization, either Ledezma or maybe another shot for Zach Miner or maybe even another free agent acquisition this off season. The point is I think Bonderman would be great trade bait for the Tigers to use and get that big #4 bat that they clearly lack and need.

I know it may be premature to look too far ahead but the organization is finally bringing up everyday players from the farm system and finally has enough depth to make trades like this and not be hurt. The future finally looks bright for the Tigers and I for one and very damn happy to be able to type that. Later – the sports dude.

Monday Morning QB - Tuesday Edition

2006-09-12T15:03:00.000-04:00

The sports dude goes to the Big House for the first time in two years and how does Mother Nature welcome me? With the first rain delay in Big House history that’s how! Thanks Mother Nature, gotta love ya! All kidding aside the sports dude stuck it out, got a little wet but still had a helluva good time watching the game, watching the sky and just taking in all the things that are Big House Football.

Just a few quick thoughts on the game and that is about it for today I suppose, I apologize for the one day delay but I just did not feel up to blogging yesterday as my post states. The burning question in everyone’s mind has been the vanilla offense and the lack of a passing attack but again I ask you why are you even asking those questions? For how long have people been bitching that Carr has continually lost the road openers in seasons or bitching that he can not win big games against ranked opponents? Hello people, whom are the Wolverines playing next week? #2 Notre Dame on the road, which to me falls into the category of road opener and big game against a ranked opponent all in the same package. Do you really expect anything but vanilla against Vanderbilt and Central Michigan University? Come on people, I know damn well if Carr and Debord would have opened that play book even a little you same idiots would be screaming at him saying “Oh great, way to show your cards to Notre Dame there Lloyd!” What the hell do you people want? Carr did just enough in these first two games to keep Henne healthy and from falling asleep and that is all he should have done, nothing more and nothing less. I have no problem with the lack of an air attack and if you are a true U of M fan deep down then you should feel the same way as I do; if not you are nothing more than a hypocrite.

As far as the game goes the greatest play, especially live, was kicker Ross Ryan’s punishing hit on Central’s kick returner in the second half. I am telling you Ryan should ask Carr to line up at linebacker sometime if they ever need an extra body because he flat out put a licking on the dude and it was awesome. The replay even got the fans going a little but and Ryan quite frankly saved maybe not a TD but at least another 10-15 yards on the return. The other thing that I liked was the 1997 National Championship staple play on offense returned twice, maybe three, times and that was the naked bootleg to the TE. That play was the bread and butter of the 1997 teams run and it worked again against CMU and I expect it to work again this week in South Bend. With the way teams play U of M for the run that play is successful more often than not and with the return of Debord my dad (whom is responsible for the maize and blue side of me) and I were wondering if he were smart enough to use it again… thank goodness he was! The defense was still quick and aggressive and even though the secondary gave up some questionable TD passes they were not the main guys playing defense when it happened. All in all I like the way U of M is looking, both defensively and yes offensively going into the game at Notre Dame. Does that mean the sports dude is predicting a victory this Saturday in South Bend? Hell no I am not jinxing that game, all I will say is what I said before, IF (yes, I purposely put IF in all caps) the Wolverines win this game then I truly feel this is a special team and there is a chance for a very special season.

MSU looked like MSU, thanks for killing my EMU football team guys and the Lions looked great on defense but confused on offense. So far the sports dude is right on with his Lions prediction, I did say they would lose to the Seahawks didn’t I? Well I guess that really is not cause to brag but I just felt like typing it anyway!

Well there you have it, the sports dude finally has classes underway so I will keep you all up to date on all things “hot chick” related but no news yet, there have been no sightings! Later – the sports dude.

The flags at half mast

2006-09-11T10:04:00.000-04:00

The sports dude does not feel like being funny today, he is going to take the day off to respectively mourn and remember the sad and horrific events of fives years ago this morning. The Monday Morning QB will return tomorrow but he is going to stay silent today and instead share my story of this morning from five years past.

I had yet to discover sports talk radio and was still a dedicated listener of 89X and their morning show. I still remember that particular morning quite clear because, although they were typically a goofy bunch, this particular morning they were acting even more off the wall than usual. At the moment the first plane hit they made a small remark about a plane hitting the tower but mentioned there was no news of serious damage, just some small commuter plane. The jokes continued as the DJ's and even myself just thought it was something minor. A couple minutes later another update breaks in again mentioning the "small plane" and then suddenly the update DJ goes silent... Breaking news, the second tower has just been hit and we have just been told that they were commercial planes in both cases and not small commuter planes. Suddenly it is clear to not only the DJ but to all of us that this is no accident this is an attack on the American lifestyle and beliefs. I stand up from my desk in cubicle land and look towards the lunchroom where there is a small TV - I have a clear shot from where I am standing - and see the smoke from the towers. I look at my buddy and tell him this is serious and real, he too had only heard the "minor" reports like I got. From that moment on my eyes are glued to the TV and to AM radio to get more informative reporting than that which I would get from 89X and... Well, you all know how the rest of the day unfolded. I called my wife to wake her up (she had just finished a midnight shift and was at first pissed because I woke her up) and told her that she needed to turn on the TV that we were under attack and she was missing horrific history unfolding. I asked how our son was, he was the only sport dude-ling born at the time, and she said he was okay, he was to young to understand and more upset that mom wouldn't let him watch cartoons. I later talked to my father and he said this will be the day you always remember, just like he still remembers where he was and what he was doing when JFK was shot and now five years later I see what he means.

I went home that night and built a small vigil in my backyard, I live on a corner lot so you can see, and for the next two weeks I kept an oil lamp burning next to some American Flags. To this day it still sticks with me and I know that someday I will be able to share the story with my children when they are old enough to understand or with my future students (I am majoring in education at EMU for history) and tell them first hand what it was like and how it felt. It is our duty as Americans to live our lives to the fullest and to never forget so that those that died did not do so in vain. God Bless, God Speed, the sports dude hopes that your souls are resting somewhere in peace.

Weekend Warrior

2006-09-08T08:49:00.000-04:00

Here it is folks, the weekly post that you all have been waiting for, the all knowing of the know nothings, the former bartender for both Dmitri Young and Joe Cullen, the Weekend Warrior.

Western Illinois at Wisconsin

Camp Randall is jumping as Wisconsin returns home victorious from Bowling Green for their season opener. After barely winning against the national power house that is Bowling Green, 35-14, in its opener the Badgers are glad that even though Coach Alvarez is no longer on the sidelines his powder puff schedule still remains. It doesn’t get any easier next week as another power house, San Diego State, looms on the schedule. Man, I love ripping Alvarez and he isn’t even the coach anymore.

Wisconsin 31, Western Illinois 13

Syracuse at Iowa

Well, I-AA Montana was not much of a “sweat breaker” last week for Drew Tate and the boys and this game seems to be even less of an opportunity for a challenge. This is not the Syracuse of old which featured Donovan McNabb and the Orangemen face little chance of winning here this weekend. This one is for you Ian, Iowa wins handily.

Iowa 38, Syracuse 10

Eastern Michigan University at Michigan State University

Let the instate rivalries begin! After a so-so effort last week against Idaho John L. tries to fire up his troops by reminding them that if you look at a map of Michigan that Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor are right next to each other hoping they would get fired up as if they were playing the Wolverines. The problem for John L. is not only can most of the Spartans not spell Ypsilanti they have no idea what Michigan even looks like on a map let alone how to read one.

MSU 37, EMU 21

Central Michigan University at The Big House

In honor of the sports dude being in attendance Lloyd Carr makes up for last weeks snoozer by actually allowing a couple of the “top secret” Notre Dame game plays to be used this week by the Wolverines. Something tells me this game will be over by half time which means the sports dude should have plenty of time to get home and laugh at the Spartans from my own couch.

U of M 48, CMU 20

THE TWO REALLY GOOD GAMES OF THE WEEK:

Penn State at Notre Dame

After forgetting that he even has a game on Saturday JoPa barely gets to the field in time for kickoff. Everybody’s golden team with the golden helmets and the golden boy QB with the golden boy coach are in for a rude awakening this week as Penn State rolls into town and knocks Notre Dame off of its own Touchdown Jesus Rocker. That’s right folks the sports dude is picking the upset because something tells me Notre Dame is not ready for this game, plus historically speaking Notre Dame very rarely has two good seasons in a row. Somewhere in Washington Tyrone Willingham is laughing!

Penn State 31, Notre Dame 27

Ohio State University at Texas

Does the sweater vest get his sweet revenge from last years stunning loss at home to Texas? Or do the Longhorns hold serve and defend their home field? Anyone else think that there was a pollster conspiracy last week to move Texas up to #2 so that this was a 1 versus 2 showdown? Yeah, I think so too! Well, unfortunately for the vest his teams’ overrated spot at #1 will be exposed and Texas will take it to the Buckeyes in Texas.

Texas 37, OSU 20

Now, for the moment you all have been waiting for, the one, the only:

“MOM DO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME” game of the week:

Duke at Wake Forest

Now if this were a basketball game somewhere in the middle of March Madness it might actually be an intriguing match up. Unfortunately for us this is neither a basketball game nor an intriguing match up.

Duke 5, Wake Forest 3

PRO PICK:

Seattle Seahawks at the Detroit Lions

You all saw my season preview and you all know I picked this game as a loss so why should I change now? You guessed right I won’t! Going along with his “Pound the Rock” theme and playing into the Madden Jinx that we all know and love, Coach Marinelli replaces the rock in the locker room with an XBOX that has Shaun Alexander and the Madden game loaded in it. Unfortunately even if there were a jinx, which I do believe in, it is still the Lions and it is still the Seahawks, the jinx for poor Shaun will just have to wait a week or two.

Seattle 38, Detroit 27

That is it folks, have a great weekend drinking and partying and footballing and I will catch you all on Monday – the sports dude.

Lions Preview - slappy edition!!!!

2006-09-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

The sports dude has been called crazy before and I have no issue with that but this has really been a special one for me and that is all the people who think I am crazy for saying what I have been saying about the Lions. Look this post will give a little insight into the deep, dark and twisted method that goes into my think but I really still have a feeling that this team has a chance to win this crappy division that they are in and at least go 9-7. I was going to break down the offense and the defense but I really don’t feel like getting into all of that in depth too much but I will say that the offense is already better with the subtraction of Joey ball game and the addition of Martz and a QB that actually knows how to play football. The defense is better with the subtraction of Dick “Bend ‘Em Like Beckman But Don’t Break” Jauron and the addition of Donnie Henderson who just wants to give them hell. With that I give you my thoughts on the division followed by my breakdown of the schedule and how I came up with the craziness that is 9-7.

Chicago

Sorry, but history shows that the Bears of modern times very rarely have good back to back seasons. Remember the last time they won the division when Jauron was their coach? Yep, they were not very good the next few seasons, Jauron ended up getting fired and they totally redid their roster. The point is with Chicago is that history is not on their side and their offense is actually worse than the Lions. Their defense should keep them in games more often than not but if you score 14-17 points against this team you have an excellent shot of winning. The key to me is to see how long it takes for Lovie Smith to realize the Rex Grossman came from a Florida college, which means he sucks, and that Brian Griese should be their starting QB.

Green Bay

I don’t feel like looking at the roster to check ages but at least when you see them on TV it appears the head coach is younger than the starting QB. That can not be a good thing can it? I don’t want to hear any “swan song” crap for Favre, I really don’t, the talent is not there and it is clear the Packers are well into their rebuilding mode even though Favre may not realize it yet. I think, Favre or no Favre, these guys are the bottom feeders in this division and will be looking up at seasons end. The key to me is Favre and how long it takes him to scratch his head, wonder why he ever said this was the most talented team he has been around in awhile and why the hell he came back in the first place.

Minnesota

They have a new head coach, which seems to be the common theme in this division this year, and we all know this new head coach brings in one of our old best friends here in Detroit – the West Coast Offense. They are relying on a QB who should be in the Social Security Office with Favre but I think this is the team that will be at the top of the division with the Lions at seasons end. Make no mistake about it, I think 9-7 or 10-6 will win this division at best, but I don’t see the Packers or the Bears as having winning records this year. Key to watch is Brad Johnson and how much longer he can hold up before the arthritis kicks in over a full season.

The schedule and my predictions for wins/losses

HOME – Seattle – Loss
@ Chicago – Win/Loss
HOME Green Bay – Win
@ St. Louis – Loss
@ Minnesota – Loss
HOME – Buffalo – Win
@ NY Jets – Loss
Bye Week
HOME – Atlanta – Win/Loss
HOME – 49ers – Win
@ Arizona – Win
HOME – Miami – Win/Loss
@ Patriots – Loss
HOME – Minnesota – Win
@ Green Bay – Win/Loss
HOME – Chicago – Win
@ Dallas – Loss

So there you have it, the sports dude mathematical craziness and breakdown of the schedule. That above breakdown has six games I mark as wins (Green Bay, Buffalo, 49ers, @ Arizona, Minnesota, Chicago) and six games I mark as losses (Seattle, @ St. Louis, @ Minnesota, @ NY Jets, @ Patriots, @ Dallas) and 4 games I consider 50-50 at best (@ Chicago, Atlanta, Miami on Thanksgiving, @ Green Bay). That puts them, in my mad little mind, at a 6-6 mark with four games that could go either way and I can honestly look at those 50-50 games and see them winning two if not three with no problem. At Chicago but you all know my opinions on that team, home against Atlanta whom they play well, the Thanksgiving game against Miami and they used to play well on the holiday and with Green Bay being horrible this year maybe the Lambeau Curse will end. Call me crazy if you must but when I look at it I think there is a real honest chance for a 9-7 season folks and that is my story and I am sticking to it. Later – the clinically insane sports dude.

Monday Morning QB - Wedenesday Edition.

2006-09-06T08:35:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delay but after the long holiday weekend my desk was full of actual work to do yesterday. Yes, I too think that is rude, what do these people think I am, their employee or something? Anyway, on with the talk.

As far as I am concerned, even though it was only Vanderbilt, I was quite pleased with what I saw out of the defense for the Wolverines on Saturday. They seemed quicker and they seemed to hit harder plus they actually looked like they knew what they were doing. Again I say it was only Vanderbilt but it appears that they are moving in the right direction.

The offense, on the other hand, was a little disappointing to me. No I was not expecting a blow out, that is very rare for the Wolverines and even more rare in an opener, but I think the receivers and tight ends need to remember it is okay to catch the ball when it hits your hands. Who do they think they are, the Detroit Lions or something? All kidding aside the running game looked really niceand even Henne appeared to be a little more mobile than I remember.

Well, that is it, not too much to say really as I try to clear off my desk and prepare to give my Lions preview tomorrow. Look for that and we will talk again later - the sports dude.

The Weekend Warrior Post.

2006-09-01T15:15:00.000-04:00

Yes sir he’s back and ready for business, the prodigal son returns to bloggy-blog and it couldn’t come at a better time – football is here! Come on now, who missed me, who missed me? Anyone, someone? Well, you don’t count mom, but thanks for chiming in anyway. That’s right folks it is once again time for the Weekend Warrior to take his place on the high and mighty throne and install some insight and humor into the world of college football. So here it is folks, the first installment of many weekly meetings between you and I, the all knowing of know nothingness, the silly, ridiculous and straight up mentally insane President of the Neifi Perez Fan Club… the Weekend Warrior!

Northern Illinois at Ohio State

Yes, the sweater vest returns and is dressed in his usual “Saturday’s Best” on the sidelines. Starting the season #1 has not gone well for the Buckeyes in the past; in each of the seasons that they have started #1 they never finished there. Why do I mention that here you might ask? For the simple reason that I like to put jinxes out there for the teams that deserve them so why not! Security is tight around the stadium because there are reports that Maurice Clarett has been seen outside the stadium trying to steal cell phones from fans at gun point. Ohio State wins by halftime and the sweater vest actually undoes one of the buttons and cracks a smile.

Ohio State 42, Northern Illinois 10

Akron at Penn State

Surprisingly enough JoPa is back for another season, although he can barely remember his way around campus. The campus is scattered with signs that say “JoPa go this way” to help the old man to not get lost in the Valley of the Happy. Even though his team will be up big before he has a chance to forget his name JoPa is up to his usual cranky self and barks at the officials just because they are there because that is about the only thing he does remember to do on his own these days. The officials laugh it off and remind JoPa that a touchdown for his team is a good thing and not a bad one.

Penn State 29, Akron 13

Notre Dame at Georgia Tech

Man, with all the greatness juice coming out of Notre Dame these days you would think they changed the name of “Touchdown Jesus” to “Touchdown Charlie” or something. If my memory serves me right, and mine is only slightly better than JoPa’s, it wasn’t too long ago that a rookie coach had a very successful first season, all the talk was about him returning the Irish to glory, and within a couple seasons he was out on his back side! Remember that there Irish, that guy, what was his name, oh yeah – Tyrone Willingham or something like that. The point is don’t count your chickens before they hatch, especially with Weis as your coach, because he may just eat them! Irish win without much effort anyway.

Notre Dame 45, Georgia Tech 24

Idaho at Michigan State

Well all I can say is at least it isn’t Central Michigan here Sparty, if it were you may be in trouble. Yes you have yourselves a fine QB in All-American Boy Drew Stanton but after that you have a roster full of some other dudes in green. This is just another walk through game for the Spartans whom are already looking forward to the Notre Dame game in a few weeks. Everybody’s favorite hot seat candidate, John L. Smith, reportedly spent the pregame warm ups in a tub of cold water to keep himself cool as Spartan basketball coach Tom Izzo was seen showing his buddy Steve Mariucci around the stadium. The Spartans win, but not as pretty as many would hope.

MSU 38, Idaho 24

Vanderbilt at Michigan

Replacing your worn out defensive coordinator with a fresh voice, check.
Replacing a boring offensive coordinator with a successful one from the past, check.
Hoping to erase the memory of an injury plagued season way short of expectations, priceless.
There really is not too much to say about this one other than Lloyd Carr hopes to come out injury free and has the stadium not filled with fans but with the staff of the University Hospital just in case. After last years players started dropping like flies the coach promises that even the smallest hang nail on a player will be treated immediately. The Wolverines openers are usually snoozers as Carr mostly looks to get the kinks out and keep some things under wraps for the match up against Notre Dame. The Wolverines win but it is not anything truly special.

UM 31, Vanderbilt 16

HIGHLIGHT GAME OF THE WEEK:

Florida State at Miami

The only thing I can think of with this game is you have got two teams worth of malcontents that are recruited straight out of juvenile halls and there is nothing better than watching prisoners got at it on the playing field. Take your pick here, prison team A or prison team B – I am going with the Warden, I mean Bowden in this one.

FSU 27, Miami 24

And now finally here it is, the feature of all features, the:

“MOM DO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME” game of the week:

Western Michigan at Indiana

Seriously, please, before I start typing I have to stop laughing right? How do you pick a winner in this one? The team that turns it over less or remembers which cleat goes on which foot? There has to be a safer way to do it so that no one gets injured like maybe a coin toss or something right? Either way this one will go down to the wire with the winner being decided by who can spell their teams name correctly.

WMU 9, Indiana 6

Well, that is it for this week, next Friday I will add the Lions to the mix and once the season gets going a little deeper will start adding my upset specials of the week. The Monday Afternoon QB will make his return next week but on Tuesday, even we bloggers like to take three day weekends as well. Later – the sports dude.

Wolverine Preview - Part Two

2006-08-31T14:35:00.000-04:00

Well I said I would get to the Wolverines schedule and here I am, just as promised, finally doing it. I am not going to make predictions, after last seasons embarrassing show I don’t think they need the dreaded sports dude jinx hanging over their heads! The only prediction I will make is this season will be better than last, it can not get any worse, and that I am sure their will be plenty of people out there screaming about Carr and his hot seat. (Note to the ladies here I am not talking about his butt!) Again I will say this one last time – Carr is not going anywhere!!!! There, I feel much better now, let us get on with the schedule:

Home – Vanderbilt
Home – Central Michigan University
Away – Notre Dame
Home – Wisconsin
Away – Minnesota
Home – MSU
Away – Penn State
Home – Iowa
Home – Northwestern
Home – Ball State
Away – Indiana
Away – Ohio State

The way I see the schedule breaking down is there are five “gimmie” games in there and they are as follows: Vanderbilt, CMU, Northwestern, Ball State, and at Indiana. Do I really have to go into a description for any of those as to why I think they are victories? Didn’t think so! The only one that would swing me is Northwestern because they are playing for their coach this season but I put it in the “gimmie” column because it is in Ann Arbor.

The next four games are the ones that I consider the “50-50” games because of the rivalries involved, the competitive nature of the Big Ten (best conference in college football!), and just any of the other factors that get thrown in. Those games are Wisconsin, at Minnesota, MSU, and Iowa. The nice thing about those games are the toughest three are in the Big House this year and the lone road game is Minnesota and they are full of question marks.

The next three games I will not even touch because they are all big games, all on the road, and there is no way I am putting any hexes or jinxes or anything remotely voodoo related on these games – at Notre Dame, at Penn State and at Ohio State. The only thing I will add is that if U of M finds a way to win in Notre Dame on September 16th I think this might have the makings of a special season. If they lose, oh well, I guess all of you will put Lloyd back on the hot seat again.

That’s it for now, the weekend warrior returns tomorrow, peace! The sports dude.

Wolverine Preview - Part One.

2006-08-30T11:27:00.000-04:00

There is just something about this time of year that gets to me, the grass seems greener, the air smells sweeter, even the beer tastes better! Now I love me some beer and let me tell you anything that makes it taste better is okay in my book! That is right folks, the long awaited college football season is upon us and after the crap I suffered through last year this day has taken too long to get here and give me, and the rest of the Wolverine nation, a chance to get this bitter taste out of our mouths. A taste that was not created by the beer, no that still tasted great when they were losing five games, but rather a taste of a season lost, a season wasted and a season that will seem like a distant memory after this year. That being said here are my thoughts on the upcoming Michigan Wolverine season.

On offense the key to me is Chad Henne but the most important player is Mike Hart. Sports Dude, wait a minute here, aren’t you contradicting yourself there with that statement? Well, if you give me a darn minute I would like to explain, just hold your horses and stop jumping down my throat! We all know what happened last year when Mike Hart was not at 100% or not even in the line up at all, the 7-5 record speaks for itself. For whatever reason he is the sparkplug for that offense and when he is not out there the offense just seems to lose something that no one else can replace. Although the depth at running back never seems to be a question at U of M for some reason Hart is the running back they need the most this year and that can not be argued. The wide receiving corps lost a work horse in Jason Avant but speedy Manningham can be looked at to step up and play a larger role this year and Breaston looks to show the promise (hopefully) at the receiver spot that we have seen with his return game. Adrian Arrington is another promising youngster who, ironically enough got injured early last season and was the cause to us even seeing Manningham at all. The offensive line is your typical run of the mill U of M offensive line with the hogs, but the hogs are slimmed down a little this year in hopes of them being quicker and more agile on the blocks. Jake Long needs to step up in his senior year and he knows it, to show the promise that once said he was the next great U of M offensive lineman. Tight ends are tight ends but I look for this group to be more involved this year as Mike Debord returns to the offensive coordinator position and we all remember the 1997 season when the naked bootleg to the TE was one of their staple plays. Last but not least is the key to this entire offensive unit is Chad Henne and there is really only one reason, if he gets hurt or flops then where do you turn? He needs to make better decisions with the ball, not be afraid to scramble and use his feet and build on the downs of last year to help produce ups this year. Another big thing for him is that without Braylon or Avant to lock onto hopefully that part of his resume will be erased because he won’t really have a guy to lock onto to!

Defense, to me believe it or not, may be this team’s strength and the biggest reason is the new coordinator in Ron English. I think it was clear that the guys stopped listening to Herrmann over the years and that clearly his schemes were no longer working. Another important thing to remember is that last years defense was so decimated by injuries that there is great depth and competition there now because from first string to second string every guy has played and has experience. Someone fails in the starters’ role there is another guy right there behind him to step up and take his place. The secondary actually appears to be a strength for these guys this season and a huge reason for that is the depth that I just mentioned above. The linebacking corps look solid and the defensive line, anchored by senior and Co-captain Lamar Woodley should put plenty of pressure on opposing QB’s. I expect big things from this defense this year but none bigger than what they expect from themselves.

On special teams you have a punter with a great name, Zoltan Mesko, battling it out with Ross Ryan and at kicker you have Garrett Rivas whom as we all know loves the beer just as much as I do.

Well that is it for right now, I was going to go game by game but I think I will save that for tomorrow, this is already a little long winded. Check back for that tomorrow as well as the return of the Weekend Warrior this Friday. Thanks for reading and have a great hump day – the sports dude.

Central Crown or Wild Card - take your pick!

2006-08-25T10:32:00.000-04:00

So the Tigers Sean Casey had a brain fart there yesterday afternoon hey? Until I saw the replay I could not fully understand or appreciate the brain fartiness of the situation but I must admit it is right up there with the best of the best. Have the Tigers been playing some bad baseball recently? Yes, I think that is a safe thing to say but folks they still have the best record in baseball as of today and they split the series with the Sox which means they have the same lead now as when the series started. Think on that for a moment folks, seeing how the Tigers have sucked against the Sox all year they drew a split where there was a fair shot at dropping all four against the Sox which is always a possibility. Am I panicking? No, I can not say that I am, I still expect the Tigers to make the playoffs and if for some strange they lose the Central lead to the Sox I still give them the Wild Card, isn’t that safe to say? Who is their competition? The Yankees have their division all but wrapped up and the Red Sox will most likely lose their pants off because they still have to play the Yanks a ton. The AL West winner will be it; the second place team there will not have enough wins to even smell the Wild Card. So where will the Wild Card team come from then? For the first time it will come from the AL Central and, to me, that is a two team race between the Sox and the Tabbies. The Twins are there but I don’t see them passing the Tabs or the Sox. So just for fun, and because I am bored, let us look at the Tigers remaining schedule and make a worst case scenario series by series, game by game break down starting with their current record of 81-47.

3 games at Cleveland – Tigers win 2-1 – record = 83-48
3 games at New York – Tigers lose 1-2 – record = 84-50
3 games home .vs. Angels – Tigers win 2-1 = record = 86-51
3 games home .vs. Seattle – Tigers win 2-1 – record = 88-52
4 games at Twins – Tigers lose 1-3 – record = 89-55
2 games home .vs. Texas – series split 1-1 – record = 90-56
3 games home .vs. Baltimore – Tigers win 2-1 – record = 92-57
3 games at Chicago – Tigers lose 1-2 – record = 93-59
3 games at Royals – Tigers win 2-1 – record = 95-60
3 games home .vs. Jays – Tigers win 2-1 – record = 97-61
3 games home .vs. Royals – Tigers win 2-1 – record = 99-62

Yes, I know, if you do the math I am one game short (99 + 62 = 161) but I am not going back and doing all that again, sorry, I am not a journalist so I don’t have to be 100% accurate! The point is, even with a couple crappy series that is a realistic looking outlook if you ask me. That is also finish the season off at a slow 18-15 pace so if you flip it and say they go 15-18 that is still a 96-65 mark, which better be good enough to get in the freaking playoffs! Now for fun let us do the same thing for the Sox… yes, the sports dude really is bored today! Current record for Sox = 75-52.

3 games at home .vs. Twins – Sox win 2-1 – record = 77-53 (Tigs at 83-48)
3 games at home .vs. Tampa Bay – Sox win 2-1 – record = 79-54 (Tigs at 84-50)
3 games at Royals – Sox win 2-1 – record = 81-55 (Tigs at 86-51)
3 games at Boston – White Sox lose 1-2 – record = 82-57 (Tigs at 88-52)
4 games at home .vs. Cleveland – Sox win 3-1 – record = 85-58 (Tigs at 89-55)
3 games at Angels – Sox win 2-1 – record = 87-59 (Tigs at 90-56)
3 games at Oakland – Sox win 2-1 – record = 89-60 (Tigs at 92-57)
3 games at home .vs. Detroit – Sox win 2-1 – record = 91-61 (Tigs at 93-59)
3 games at home .vs. Seattle – Sox win 2-1 – record = 93-62 (Tigs at 95-60)
3 games in Cleveland – Sox win 2-1 – record = 95-63 (Tigs at 97-61)
3 games in Minnesota – Sox lose 1-2 – record = 96-65 (Tigs at 99-62)

96-65 for the White Sox in what I feel is a best case scenario and if you look above I have got the Tigers at 96-65 if they go 15-18 the rest of the way. Yes that gives the Sox the Central but it gives the Tigers the Wild Card because, as I said, I do not see the Twins making the jump not only past the Sox but our Tabbies as well. Bottom line is even though the Tigers may be limping into the playoffs who would have thought that back in April we would even be talking playoffs at the end of August? Not me, not you, probably not many people not on the Tigers payroll. Seriously this is what it is suppose to feel like, with the youth this is what it will continue to feel like and I am finally happy to remember what it all does feel like.

Later – the sports dude.

I am back and this time it is for real.

2006-08-23T15:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, yes, I know there is a new post here and I bet all of you really don’t believe it is true. Well, the real truth of the matter is next week sports FINALLY start to get interesting for me again because the football season gets in full effect and next week the posts will again start to flow with hilarity and regularity! Everybody’s favorite know it all of the know nothings, the weekend warrior, will return next week with a vengeance and will now be known as “The FAQ” as in “Friday Afternoon Quarterback”. And after the sports dude spends a weekend watching his always side splitting picks come true you will get the follow up post on Monday’s known as “The MAQ” as in “Monday Afternoon Quarterback.” I know, it is a gimmick, but if I don’t start using them then this sight might really start to be bad, if it wasn’t bad enough already!

Just a couple quick thoughts here on the state of things, how about them Tigers? They have finally guaranteed themselves a winning season for the first time since the advent of the telephone, or was it electricity? The point is, take your pick, it was too damn long no matter which way you slice it. And, for another interesting tidbit, the Tigers have (including tonight) 36 games left, so for arguments sake let us say they play at .500 the rest of the way and go 18-18 down the stretch. Do the math folks, which is a 99-63 mark on the season, is it safe to say that they have a pretty good chance to make the playoffs? I am not saying they are in, the sports dude is not going to be the one to jinx it, and all I am saying is the numbers make me feel a little better. Besides, I think they will hit the triple digits in the win column, just don’t tell them that because I don’t want to put pressure on them.

Lastly, even though I am a huge U of M fan, this makes me extremely happy… this bastard deserves every bit of crap that he gets because to me he is the Judas of Wolverine football. Here is the link, go to hell Henson!

Oh, and one last thing, school starts up again for me here in two weeks, so you know the sports dude is going to be back… where the hell else am I going to talk about all the hot chicks? You know you guys miss my weekly hot chick updates and with three classes this semester as opposed to two last semester the odds are even better that the sports dude will find another hot chick to blog about here! Sports, hot chicks and beer… damn I love this blogging thing! Welcome back to me and let’s get ready for some damn football men! Pound the rock… the sports dude.

Dead in the water? Not yet my hearties!

2006-08-02T10:38:00.000-04:00

My month in review:

Went up north with the kids, like I mentioned in my last post a month ago, came home and had a jury summons. Went to said jury duty and, just my luck, got picked for a two week trial. Ended said jury duty and went on yet another vacation, this time with the entire family, to the Canadian Niagara Falls, Toronto and some other random parts of Canada along the way. Long story short I have been out of touch with everything and everyone this entire month. In fact I was in the office three days the entire month of July, even though I got paid for all of it! SWEET!

The Pistons month in review:

I say kudos to Joe Dumars for not breaking the bank on Ben Wallace, even though he offered him more money out of the gate then I would have. I said 3 years for 30, club option for year 4, take it or leave it. Joe D went right to the 4 and 48 but he didn’t cave when Chicago screwed itself by overpaying for Ben. I said if I could pick a starter to go it would be Ben but I will not bash the man, he needed a fresh start and hell yes, even I could not leave 12 million on the table and I doubt any of us could say the same. I say thanks Ben and sorry at the same time because you aren’t going to get past the Pistons, they still have the best starting line up in the NBA. Oh and Joe, just a side bar here, don’t let this happen with Chauncey next season, his loss would be huge and much harder to overcome than that of Ben’s.

The Tigers month in review:

Well they still have the best record in baseball yet we all still are waiting for the wheels to fall off. This can’t be for real can it? That is the general thought in this area, after nearly 20 years of losing how can it not be? Something tells me there may be playoff baseball in the near future and I tell you what, this town is going to explode!

The Red Wings month in review:

Even though I am not a hockey fan I must say that it was sad to see Stevie go and wish him luck and would like to say thanks. Next I just want to laugh and say good thing you guys are getting younger and starting fresh with the likes of Hasek and Chelios coming back, what a joke.

The Lions month in review:

Well it is just starting so it is really too early to say much except I like what I hear from camp and it really seems this coaching staff ain’t going to take any shit from anyone! That is the best news yet, except for the fact that Joey is gone! Hey, did you hear, he looked like crap in his first few sessions down in Dolphins camp, shocking!

Odd ball month in review:

Tiger won his first major since his dad died and I say congrats for that; Floyd Landis wins the Tour de France and they find dope in his system – come on, you knew that if an American won that was going to happen, fucking French; college football is breathing down our necks and I couldn’t be more excited; I really can’t think of anymore.

Sorry guys for my absence, this is the first post of many more to come so get used to it, the annoying old sports dude is back and ready to go. Later and thanks for all your patience.

Larry Brown out as Knicks coach...

2006-06-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

The header says it all and I just heard it on the radio, the Knicks have parted ways with LB. So, which rumor this summer will pick up more steam, the Kevin Garnett stuff or Larry coming back to Detroit?

Speaking of being let go I am on vacation for the next two weeks so you think I post very little now wait until the next two weeks go by! The sports dude has been lame, I know, but hopefully after this trip I will regain my edge, my focus and my desire to actually blog on this thing.

Later and have a great two weeks - the vacationing sports dude.

P.S. - one last thing, just read in the sports section the the Wheaties box for the Heat has Shaq and Wade on the front and the rest of the team on the back. Funny, didn't the Pistons have the entire team on the front together? Assholes!

Friday's with the Forehead.

2006-06-16T10:32:00.000-04:00

The Finals – darn it, just when they looked like they are finished they erase a huge deficit in the last few minutes of game 3, win it and get some momentum back. You know what bugs me more than anything about it? The fact that the 2004 NBA Champion Pistons were the only NBA team in league history to win all three games in a row at home and now it looks like the damn Heat may take that from the Pistons too! Please Dallas at least show up on Sunday so the Pistons can still have that!

The Tigers – continue to roll but it looks like Todd Jones may be in a little trouble. Look, as much as I like Zumaya I can not support him as a full time closer yet, I just can’t. If you make the move I say let Rodney get more save chances for awhile and let Jones and Zumaya share the set up role for awhile. My reasoning? If the Tigers are in contention later in the year and the playoffs are on the line, even though his nickname is the roller coaster, do you really want to trust a rookie and a second year guy getting his first real taste as a closer to be the ones to stop a 19 year drought of no playoff baseball? I am not too sure if I am willing to do that, no matter how promising they both seem and no matter how shaky Jones is, because once Leyland makes the move there is no turning back. I say let them share it for awhile until Jones works himself out of this funk and then see what happens. Besides, I am more concerned with the funk Shelton is in, what the hell is up with that?

The attack – yes, I was attacked by an anonymous blogger the other day and am still bothered by it. For the record anyone who plays any professional sport is a better athlete than me because they made it to that level and I never sniffed it so get off of my case! However that doesn’t mean that I have to enjoy the sport or what they do, to me, soccer and hockey are boring as hell! If that makes me a gallon beer drinking non 3 mile jogging fat ass so be it, but the shit is still boring as hell! Besides according to this article here and this one here if I drink 17 beers a day (how close to a gallon is that?) and eat four pizzas while watching my “sport” and then chase it all with a pot or two of coffee I am in tip-top shape anyway, so there!

That is all I got for today, I think next week I will touch on Tiger Stadium a little but I still need to read the article and let it all sink in. No, I am not a “stadium hugger” Big Al, I agree that thing is WAY PAST ITS PRIME but I just don’t know if I like what they are doing with it that’s all. Later – the sports dude.

Where the hell have you been?

2006-06-13T13:04:00.000-04:00

All right, all right, I have been lazy I will admit but I have been extremely busy too so cut me some slack. Contrary to popular belief I have not been wallowing in self pity over the disposal of my Pistons, albeit early and sad, quite frankly I was over it by the next day. Does it still suck? Yeah, but watching the Mavericks pummel the hell out of the Heat is helping any leftover wounds as well.

Speaking of the Finals has anyone actually watched? Me, I admit, turned on game #2 the other night but that was mostly because I was dusting and vacuuming the basement and there was not much else on. Yes, that is right people, the sports dude dons the old apron from time to time to, Mrs. Sports Dude makes sure of that! Listen and I say this quite honestly, I am not being a sour puss because the Heat outplayed the Pistons and won the series, but I really am glad to see Dallas up, putting a whooping on the Heat and I would love to see a sweep. Will the sweep happen? Most likely not, I think the Heat will get a game or two, but I can still dream. Look, again I say no sour puss here, but I really do not want to see Walker, Wade, Mourning, Payton or White Chocolate hoisting that trophy, I just can not stand those cats. Lastly I would like to add a couple comments on the Finals – one, the Heat look like they built themselves to just beat the Pistons and if they happened to win a title along the way then great, but they already played their game 7 and won their championship. Lame asses!!!! Next, as Shaq goes so do the Heat, Wade is not good enough to carry that team all by himself, and I say this because the longer the big fella plays this year the more tired he will be next year. Ahhh yes... there is still hope in Piston town!

So the Tigers are winning and I have actually enjoyed watching the games this year. No I am not bandwagoning, I watched games in the past to, I am just saying I am actually enjoying them now as opposed to just watching to watch. I would also like to throw this question out there and simply say that is it just me or would anyone else be surprised if Dombroski did NOT make a move before the deadline? Me, I think he will, how about you? Next, if you all want to give up on Jones as the closer I say go to Rodney, I prefer Zumaya in the set up role where I think he is better served than closer.

So the World Cup is being played and the USA lost huh? Let me say this about soccer, it is even LESS popular than hockey here and that tells you how low on the food chain it is. Unless it is women’s soccer, now that I can watch, but for different reasons!

Well I am about a week away from my Northern escape where I do nothing but sit on a front porch on five acres for a week and a half either drinking coffee (A.M.) or drinking beer (anytime not in the A.M.) and I can not wait. Sports pig, the baseball game may be out for me, I will email more details when I know for sure, but at least I think it would be neat to meet the most popular sports blogger in Leelanau! I will email soon brother!

Later and hopefully I will post more than once a week again soon! The lazy sports dude.

Angry at Pistons? No, angry at fans!

2006-06-05T15:28:00.000-04:00

You know, I am really pissed off today, totally and completely pissed off. Does anyone care to know why? Let me tell you, whether you want to hear it or not, it is because I am embarrassed to call myself a Piston fan today. Why is that sports dude, because they got blown out? Because they lost to the Heat? We understand, we feel your pain, we are pissed too. Sorry, all wrong answers, I mean it sucks that those things happened, don’t get me wrong, but I am pissed and embarrassed to call myself a Piston fan because I don’t want to be one of them for the following reasons:

“Fire Flip” or “Trade ‘Sheed” or “Let Ben go” or “Bring back Larry” or any other thing that suddenly has caused Piston fan to sound like one of those “bandwagon ass-cats” Rasheed was talking about earlier in the season. Now not all Pistons fans are bad, I shouldn’t lump you all together, but the ones that have suddenly fallen off are the ones that really get under my skin. Here, as briefly as I can make it, I will address the few common bitches I have heard and typed above:

“Fire Flip” – can I just say he is not going anywhere, doesn’t deserve to get fired and I hope he is the coach of this franchise for years to come. I tell you what I like him a hell of a lot more than Carlisle and a lot more than LB too folks! If you watched any playoff games this year you will notice that Stern has single handedly taking defense out of the game all together, meaning that defense first teams are being weeded out. Stern wants the Kobe’s, the LeBron’s, the Wade’s to take the game over and you can’t do that by playing defense. Remember the Jordan rules, where if you breathed on the cat it was a foul? Those days are back folks, there are staring us right in the face, and we need an offensive coach like Flip to do it. Say what you want but the man was a coaching God during the regular season, we all loved him, and then suddenly an ankle injury (I will get to that later) turns him into a devil. LB was a freak of nature who did something very rare, won a title in his first season with a team; Saunders could not do the same. So what? It is something that is rare, it is something that does not happen; give Saunders a chance to put his stamp on this team now. He came in and let a good veteran team have its way this season and now he holds the cards and will put his stamp on them next year. Look for him to be more vocal next year and to run a tighter ship because the “loosey-goosey” did not work this year as we can all plainly see. Lastly I will say this – forget his post season record in Minnesota, he had some lousy teams that had only Garnett, you ain’t going to get far with that.

“Trade ‘Sheed” – all I have to say is shame on you, ‘Sheed means more to this team then Ben does. I do not like to use injuries as excuses, that is up to Miami to do like they did last year, but isn’t it ironic that when ‘Sheed turned his ankle the offense started to really look bad and go south? I have read and heard that his ankle injury is the same, if not worse, than the one Tim Duncan had two seasons ago that caused him to sit an entire month, so give ‘Sheed some slack! The man had no lift in his shot, could not be aggressive on defense and was gutting it out the best he could and we want to trade him and throw him under a bus? I am not saying the injury cost us the series, the Heat seemed hungrier, all I am saying is that man should have been on the injured list for about a month and he never stopped trying. Besides, the Heat used game #7 as their fire and hunger for what they did to us this year, what’s to say we don’t do the same next year?

“Let Ben Go” – this one will be very brief and I say if he agrees to a reasonable contract for about three years and $27-30 million then good, come on back. If he is looking for the max and wants it then I say thanks for everything Ben, McDyess is our starting power forward now. Ben is in the declining stages of his career, he and McDyess should both share minutes evenly next year and Ben needs to understand that. Like I said earlier Stern wants an offensive league and Ben is like a dinosaur now, figuratively and literally, who will only be someone here. If he were to go to another team just for the money I am sorry, he would just waste away and be nothing. At least here he has an identity, he has a home, and anywhere else he would just be an overpaid role player.

So there you have it, I vented, I feel better and I would like to remind everyone of something I wrote last week and still feel today… Tayshaun will win another title as a Piston, you can count on it. So one streak ended and another one is about to begin, so rather than wanting to blow it all up can you all not say thank you? I know you are passionate, so am I, but there is a difference between passion and just plain ignorance! Billups, Rip and Prince are the guys they need to build around and if Ben can swallow his pride and understand it is an offensive game now than I welcome him back with open arms. You think Rasheed was motivated last year from leaving Horry open? How about this year being a shell of himself because of a bum ankle? Besides, I don’t care what anyone says, the Heat will not be able to do it two years in a row because Shaq can not do it two years in a row. Wade is good, but take away Shaq and he is in the same boat as Lebron… a one man show!

So what now? Look, please stop with the Garnett rumors, the only way it will ever happen is if he were to become a free agent and sign here. I like the Grant Hill rumors, it would make sense and be a good fit, but that is all up to Orlando and not Joe D. The bench needs a little more pop, Flip needs to not be afraid to use it and I really wish they would not screw with Delfino, something tells me he could he if just given a damn chance.

Anyway, thanks for the ride boys, see you next year. The sports dude.

Friday thoughts...

2006-06-02T10:10:00.000-04:00

First the happy news - happy fourth birthday middle sports dude-ling!!!! Can't believe you already are four, time goes by way too fast, but happy birthday little buddy! Playing T-Ball, loving sports and making pappa proud - that a boy!

Now, the sad news:

Five words I dream of hearing:

"The Pistons force game 7"

Five words I am afraid I will hear:

"The run is finally over" OR "The Heat eliminate the Pistons"

Either way thanks guys it has been a hell of a ride. Have a nice weekend and talk to you all on Monday - the sports dude.

"Win & Go Home" OR "Lose & Go Home"??

2006-06-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

So the playoff beard lives to see at least another couple days, but something tells me come Friday night I will be getting rid of the grizzly Adams look. I love these guys, I really do, but there is just something there this series, or rather not there actually, that just is sticking in my gut and telling me that they can’t do it this time. I hate typing it, I hate thinking it, I hate saying it but my heart and my gut are battling it out and it is not because I ate some bad Chinese food last night either. No I am not jumping ship, I have always said with this bunch that until someone beats them to four wins in a series I will never count them out, but I am not the only one feeling it right? Didn’t think so.

Some random thoughts on the game:

I was at the bar last night watching it so the post game stuff was not audible, way too damn loud in the place, but I read in the “blogosphere” this morning that the block on Shaq by Ben (I agree fellow bloggers, biggest play of the game) has the big fella’s panties (great visual) all in a bunch because he feels he was fouled. Let me tell you something buddy, Ben knocked you on your ass fair and square there partner, thanks for the big dent you left on the Palace floor when your embarrassed and pouting ass hit it. Could that block be just as big of a momentum swing as Tayshaun’s from two years ago when he got Reggie? I guess we will have to wait and see this Friday.

Here we go again, except it is the Heat this time saying that they beat themselves and the Pistons had nothing to do with it. What am I talking about – the fact that they shot 6-20 from the free throw line and were in the game all the way. Hey, maybe that makes up for the 47 freebies you were all but given in a basket in game 4 by the ref’s there cupcakes, get over it. Also I would like to point out that even though you missed a bunch of “bunnies” we still won with Rip going 7-21, Chauncey going 3-12, Sheed going 3-11 and as a team going 2-15 from three point land. So you can say all you want about beating yourselves but something tells me my boys ain’t going to shoot that bad again either so shut up, it goes both ways.

For all the people throwing Flip under the bus you should be ashamed of yourselves, it is pretty damn petty. Wasn’t he just getting praises from all of us for guiding this team to the best record in not only the league but franchise history? Is he the one that all of a sudden taught us to shoot blanks? To take Cleveland too lightly, go to seven games and have no rest or prep time to prepare for the Heat? Didn’t think so! Maybe they are spending more time on offense than defense in practice but even that is a lame excuse, does that mean you guys suddenly forget to play it? “Oh, we are not practicing how to move our feet and stay in front our defensive assignment, damn I forgot how to do it!” Come on guys that is pretty lame. Besides the way you guys have been shooting in this series I would spend more time on the offense too if I was him! Don’t blame it all on Flip, yes there are some things he could have done better but trust me it is more you than him. If you would have played all series like you did last night this would not even have been an issue.

The teams also seem to be going back and forth as to whom has the most pressure now, is it the Heat or the Pistons? Look, even though Miami got game 1 at the Palace I say there is more pressure on them than the Pistons. Do you really think they want to come back to the Palace for a game 7? Didn’t think so there either! Say what you want but they know, in the back of their minds that their game 7 is tomorrow night in Miami, trust me they know.

Not getting ahead of myself because I AM NOT GUARANTEEING JACK SHIT THEREFORE NOT CAUSING A JINX HERE PEOPLE but how great would it be to see the look on the faces of assholes like Walker, Mourning, Payton, Shaq and Wade if the Pistons somehow come back and win this thing? If it were to happen (AGAIN NO JINX BECAUSE I STRESS IF) that would to me almost be as great as winning the title back. I say almost, but not quite.

Look, I still just have the feeling this ends tomorrow because it just seems too big a hole for these guys this time and the way they just look tired. I mean this has been a long four year run with a lot of games, a lot of minutes and a lot of basketball miles put on those bodies. Can they still do it? Yes, I think we all know with these guys anything is possible, but the bigger question is do they still have enough left in the tank to actually do it? Heart says one thing, gut says another, but all I know is that they played for pride last night and I am damn proud to call myself a Piston fan this morning. Some teams would have just laid down and played dead but those guys left it all on the court and hopefully they will get to come back home one more time for game 7. Win or lose Friday it has been a hell of a ride and something tells me it ain’t over yet, but I guess we just have to wait and see. Later – the sports dude.

Dear Pistons...

2006-05-31T11:12:00.000-04:00

Dear Pistons –

I just wanted to write you, yet again, to simply say thank you for one of the best stretches in basketball I have ever seen. I have been watching you, the Pistons that is, since I was 10 years old, that would be 1987 to be exact. That was about the time that I started to pick up a ball and play in my driveway with one and only one goal in mind… beating my dad. That is right, just a father and son on any given afternoon day playing ball in their driveway and having fun. Now my dad was not a basketball person, in fact he was a baseball man at heart and hoped his boy would be the same, but he was still out there shooting hoops and taking it to his son until the day came that I could beat him. The day did eventually come, although it took a couple years, but I remember that day was one of the happiest of my life, I finally beat my dad, straight up, fair and square and once I did he never beat me again. Sure we still played but not as much as before because he was satisfied that he gave me the desire to win, to be the best and to move on to bigger and better opponents. In fact, and this one is for you Ben, one of his favorite things to do why he was beating me was to let me get close and then use the “Hack-A-Sports-Dude” strategy to cause me to lose it at the line. I was horrible at the free throws but the day I beat him, finally, you know how I clinched it? At the free throw line Ben, it was all mental, not physical, so it is possible.

As far as my love for the Pistons it has been a never ending love affair and regardless of tonight’s outcome I will not jump ship, I will not fall off the bandwagon, I will not leave. I have been threw the good times and the bad, I have been through the thick and thin with you guys. I remember how you ran Chuck Daly out of town with Ron Rothstein, I remember Laimbeer retiring and Isiah and him fighting in practice. I remember the Orlando Woolridge’s and the Bison Dele’s, the Loy Vaught and the Christian Laetner experiments. I remember the drafting of Lindsey Hunter and Allan Houston back to back and how upset I was that Allan left the way he did. I remember William Bedford, Lance Blanks, and Scott Hastings and yes, even Terry Mills and Grant Long. I remember Grant Hill, I still have all his rookie cards, and even the sign and trade and thinking “nice move Joe, who the hell is Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins? Maybe you should have just been a player and that was it!” I remember Don Chaney, Doug Collins, Alvin Gentry, George Irvine and although I wish I could forget it I even remember those ugly (to be polite) teal uniforms that you wore for awhile. That was the best move that Joe D ever made if you ask me, getting rid of those and bringing back the red, white and blue. Oh, and did I forget to mention the greatness that was Otis Thorpe and Sean Elliott, who can forget that?

The point of all that is not to run down memory lane with all of you, okay maybe it is a little, but rather to point out that these last few years have been so fun to watch I just want to say thanks in some way and that if tonight is the end of this run with you five it is okay, most of us are not going anywhere. I am not, as Sheed so kindly put it, one of the “bandwagon ass-cats” I am a Piston fan and will be until the day I no longer breathe or you no longer exist, which ever comes first.

There is this silly little part of me that still thinks that you can do this, you can come back and force a game #7 on the Palace floor, but then there is the realist in me that just says it is impossible. Too much basketball over the past four years, maybe it has caught up to you at the worst imaginable time, or maybe it is simply that your time has passed. Whatever it is it truly has been a memorable ride and one that I am sure I will experience again because I believe that at some point in time Tayshaun will win another ring with the Pistons before it is all said and done. If somehow you guys play loose tonight, if somehow you guys win big and look like the Pistons that won 64 games this season and went to back to back Finals then maybe all hope is not lost but something tells me that there is just nothing left in the tank at this point.

So there you have it, thanks guys, thanks for letting us all come along for the ride and just for so much damn fun, even though there has been a lot of nail biting and heart burn along the way it was still well worth it. Maybe you guys should just reread the first paragraph of this letter, maybe you guys should just pretend you are kids again, playing your dad, your uncle, whomever it was that was the first person you really just had to beat to prove something to yourself at an early age. Go back to having fun, go back to playing loose, stop playing scared and just let it out and leave it on the court. Be that boy again chasing a dream or you may all be chasing golf balls sooner than any of us expected.

Thanks for the ride now just go out and play – the sports dude.

Tired? Bored? Pissed? Take your pick.

2006-05-30T09:57:00.000-04:00

You know what the defining moment for me was that pretty much sums up this stretch run is over? Was it in the third or fourth quarter yesterday when Shaq blocked a shot, recovered it and raced down the court with it for a lay up? That right there tells me that the Pistons have just logged too much basketball over the last four years. This is there fourth straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and sandwiched in between was two trips to the Finals. Look, I am not trying to take anything away from the Heat, as much as it pains me to say they are more deserving right now, but when a 7'2" guy that goes at least 350 is the fastest man on the floor something tells me the other team is pretty tired!

I think what bothers me the most is they are going to lose to a team with Payton and Walker on it, those two have always been some of the biggest asses in the NBA in my book for as long as I can remember. I have no issues with Shaq, none with Wade, it is just those to that burn me up.

Yes I will mention the officiating, it has been wretched at best, but I put more blame on the players because you still have to shoot better than 35% to win right? What, are the Pistons trying to help the Palace out by giving them some extra bricks for the renovations that are going on right now? Yes the ref's have not been to kind but you can't allow your opponent to shoot 50-60% night in and night out either right?

Yes Flip has his flaws but the players still have to execute, shut their god damn mouths and stop being such pu**ies, make a freaking basket and play some defense! Remember that, your so called staple, defense? This is not even about Flip, this is more on the players.

Only a few guys that are untouchable if you ask me on this team and I put them in order like this... Tayshaun, Chauncey, Rip and McDyess. Sorry, maybe it is time for Ben to just go and see if there are any takers for Sheed. Something tells me Sheed will be fine, which is okay, but this playoff run definitely solidifies what I have said many times before... Ben is not a max contract guy and if that is what he wants then let him get it somewhere else. Besides, you all know the summer will be filled with Garnett rumors right?

Part of me wants to see them do this, pull this 3-1 deficit out, but part of me just wants the misery to end so they can get some time off, get some rest and come back next year and start all over again. I have learned over the years that until you get 4 on these guys to never count them out, but then again, I have never seen them this tired.

All in all I would like to say thanks for the ride boys, I guess I have no choice but to pay attention to the Tigers now. Later - the sports dude.

2004 to 2006 - history repeating itself?

2006-05-25T09:40:00.000-04:00

I thought about putting this post up before the Miami series began but I was afraid of jinxing the darn Pistons but I think at this point there is little worry when it comes to that. The Pistons have had about as rough as a stretch as we have seen this season and you can go back all the way to the fourth quarter of game 2 against the Cavs to where it began. Jinxing them? Why bother now, I mean, how much worse can it get? The Pistons have not had a crisp offensive game in quite awhile and something tells me they are about to break out because if they don’t this will be a very long off season. Anyway this post is simply to compare something I noticed with the similarities thus far between their title run in 2004 and what we all hope will still be a successful title run this season.

2004:

Round One – Milwaukee Bucks = Win game #1, lose #2 pretty bad, take the next three. Pistons win series 4-1.

2006:

Round One – Milwaukee Bucks = Win games #1 and #2, lose # three pretty bad and take #4 and #5. Pistons win series 4-1.

2004:

Round Two – New Jersey Nets – look really good in the first two games and suddenly lose the next three to go down 3-2. Have to win Game #6 on the road and do, but it was close. Come home for game #7 and take it running away.

2006:

Round Two – Cleveland Cavaliers – look really good in the first two games and suddenly lose the next three to go down 3-2. Have to win Game #6 on the road and do, but it was close. Come home for game #7 and take it running away.

2004:

Eastern Conference Finals – lose game one against the Pacers and almost lose game #2 until Prince delivers “the block heard around the world” on Reggie Miller. The Pistons took game #2 and #3, lose game #4 but win #5 and #6 to go to the Finals.

2006:

Eastern Conference Finals – lose game #1 against the Heat… will they take game #2? I guess if history is repeating itself here we will know by about ten tonight.

Look, I have not given up hope yet, but they really need to have a smooth looking offensive game tonight to restore some faith in everyone around here. Tonight is truly a must win game, old cliché I know, but 2-0 to the Heat is not 2-0 to some lesser teams and as much as I love them I don’t see them erasing that deficit against these guys.

Later – the hopeful sports dude.

Survival Monday.

2006-05-22T13:39:00.000-04:00

Well the playoff beard gets to stay around for at least another week but let me tell you I really just had this feeling it was going to be gone this weekend. God bless my wife for putting up with my silly little superstitions because this thing is really starting to look nappy now let me tell you! Remember Pau Gasol and Jake Plummer, remember those damn things? Yeah, I am right up there with them except mine is a little on the red side. In fact, that Russian fella the Cavs had, Ilgauskas, mine was right up there with his too. See when I first started this tradition a couple years ago the beard was still in its beginning stages and didn’t grow this fast so it was not quite as nappy as it is now in such great speed! But alas, a superstition is a superstition and until it proves me wrong I will not stray even if I end up looking like the new member of this band. Anyway enough about my facial hair and here are my quick thoughts on the game:

Chauncey – the next time you want to tip a purposely missed free throw could you do it away from the opposing teams rim? Watching that ball bounce like that was the longest second of my life.

Tayshaun – he will make the All-Star team next year, the kid is finally showing everyone nationally what he can do.

Flip – although it took you about five games and being on the brink of truly being known as a great regular season coach I must say nice adjustments and it was about time. Oh, one last thing, see what happens when you use the bench a little bit more, you went nine deep and the starters were much more fresh for the closing minutes. You will need Davis and Delfino this series so don’t be afraid to go eleven.

Lastly was this a wake up call or a sign of the end coming? Me I like to say a wake up call and if the Pistons can look like this against Miami then I like their chances. However if they lose their identity again, like they did against the Cavs, the Heat are not going to let them back in this thing. Remember how you played the Big Fella’ last year, let him dunk all over you in the first half because by the second half he will be on the oxygen machine gasping for air. Also just because you won the season series 3-1 does not guarantee anything, you also won the season series 3-1 against the Cavs.

Okay, enough yapping, remember ugly ball is you style, if Stern and the League TV people don’t like it tough crap, when you are holding the Larry O’Brien you can shove it up the… see what I am saying? If ugly wins it who cares at least you won it. Damn it these last two games have been Detroit Basketball, remember it and keep it going – later – the sports dude.

Dear Pistons...

2006-05-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

Dear Pistons –

Hey there guys, the sports dude here, and I know that not a single one of you have any idea who I am, where I came from or how I got this letter through to you, but I did and there is a very important message in it for you. Do you all want to know what it is? Well, even if you don’t I am going to give it to you and it goes a little something like this; shut the hell up, wake the freak up and play some damn ball. The mind games are not working on the Cavs; do you think they really care if you think you are better than them? Tell you what, right now, they are better than you and that should be embarrassing enough to wake you up. Right now the Cavs are playing loose and you guys are playing scared and that is about all you need to know. Seriously guys please just shut up, give the Cavs the respect they have most definitely earned and just go play ball. Now here are some personalized messages for each of you guys:

Chauncey – so you felt like you got snubbed finishing fifth in the MVP vote hey? Well, no offense there fellow, but that fifth place finish seems a little generous right now if you ask me. All I have to say is you are being out played by Eric Snow and Damon Jones and I think I will leave the place where you are going to hide your head up to you.

Rip – what the hell was that junk at the end of game #5? Wait, I take that back, what the hell has been your deal late in the games lately? You have been missing lay ups, jumpers and even free throws and that is not something we are accustomed to seeing from you. Don’t ever throw up weak crap like that at the end of the game again; remember the Boston game early in the season where was that shot?

Rasheed – all I have is three simple things to say to you and they are Sideshow Bob, Drew (NOT)Gooden and some guy with a Russian name that I can not pronounce let alone spell. Do you know why I bring them up? Simple and it is because all three of them are out playing you in this series and that is another embarrassing thing that I never thought I would type. In fact I might even throw Donyell Marshall in there and say he is doing more than you as well. Rasheed, come on, even on one leg you should own these guys, we all know it, and that is the only guaran-sheed I want to even think about again. Shut up, put your ass down on the block and score some down low. Also go look at some Laimbeer and Mahorn game tapes because it wouldn’t hurt to start putting some guys on their asses when they get in the paint. Not to hurt them, we are not dirty players, but just to remind them this is not the Washington Wizards and it is not a walk in the park.

Tayshaun – look, of all the guys out there maybe the only thing I can say to you is start asking for the ball more, open your mouth and demand it. Force Lebron to play some more defense, you are a mismatch for everyone on that team. Oh, one last thing, I would like to say you have played pretty good defense so far as well.

Ben – look dude, I don’t know where you have been but I hope you don’t have that max contract on your mind because it ain’t going to happen, you aren’t a max guy. Right now I have for you a 3 year $30 million contract with a club option for a fourth but that is where I draw the line. If you are thinking contract that is a bad thing to do, just shut up, block shots, grab some boards and help Rasheed start putting some of these guys on their asses when they drive the lane.

Flip – look, don’t forget that you picked up Delk for a reason, Delfino is better than Evans so use him, if McDyess is your so called “sixth starter” than use him like one and damn it come up with some better plays out of the time outs, what you have come up with so far has been rather lame to tell you the truth. Lastly I know you like to be the loose and player friendly coach, basically the anti LB but I think you might want to tighten the reigns here a little bit. I am not saying smother them but rather just put your foot down a little bit more than you have been. The turnovers and the arrogance need to stop and the coach has got to drop the hammer on that stuff, which is all on you.

That is it guys, thanks for your time and I just want you to know I am not ready to see you guys fishing with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith so you better come out tonight and play Pistons basketball because so far all I have seen is the JV crap that you guys always complain about.

Later – the desperate and wishful sports dude.

What the crap was that?

2006-05-18T11:40:00.000-04:00

Okay, I think I can do this now; earlier today I was not ready to type, to talk, to even think about the strange happenings in Detroit basketball land that we have seen in the past week. I guess the best thing I can do to summarize my feelings and emotions and all the things that come to mind is simply to say what the crap and that about sums it up.

Where have the Pistons gone, does anyone have that answer? Can we send out an Amber Alert for them? This is not the same team that swept through the regular season, the first round against the Bucks and game 1 and three quarters of game 2. This is not the same team that won in 2004 and came five minutes shy of a back to back last year. Where is the sense of urgency? Where is the fire? Where is the TEAM? It can not be all LB can it? Where is trying to prove everyone wrong about that? Find something darn it!

As far as the game goes I don’t want to hear any conspiracy theory crap, as much as I hate to say it the Cavs are simply playing better ball right now. The Cavs are doing what the Pistons are suppose to be doing, they are playing like the veteran team that has been there and done that and the Pistons are playing like the “just happy to be here” team. And saying that the Chauncey Billups foul on Lebron at the end of the game was a smart foul, how the hell was that smart? It was stupid, period, end of story! If it was only his fourth foul then maybe I could see the “smartness” of it but it was his sixth man, the most clutch player we have was gone with three minutes left, it was just stupid. The game was tied, give Lebron the dunk, you are only down two and you still have Chauncey. That right there was the game if you ask me, if Chauncey was in I like our chances more than three minutes of crunch time without him. And Rip, what the hell was that sissy thing you did at the end of the game and what the hell was the play call anyway? That was what you came up with for your final shot? Again all I can say is what the crap!

Understand this people this is not the New Jersey series from two years ago this is a total and complete different beast. The difference is in that series there was no Lebron to be dealt with and we all know Lebron has not had that monster game yet in this series right? How many people think that he has it saved up for tomorrow? The answer to that is this sports dude thinks it is coming people mark my words it is coming. Think it will come out tomorrow night? You bet your bottom dollar it will. The real question is can the Pistons counter it or is it too late. Lastly, and I can not believe I am typing this either, if the series does go seven I still don’t know if I like the Pistons chances in game #7 folks, for the first time in nearly three seasons there is doubt in my mind and I do not like it. The only consolation I have is that there are no three day “David Stern TV prime time schedule breaks” in between, it will all be over within the next three days and that is about it, I just want it to be over… my heart can no longer take this crap. There it is again, the word crap, and that best sums up the way the Pistons are playing right now as we speak.

Later – the sports dude.

Feeling a little nervous today.

2006-05-17T14:57:00.000-04:00

This has happened before right, so why the hell am I so nervous? Was it that giant meatball sub I ate at lunch that is causing my stomach to twist and turn? Well that may be part of it, there were a lot of peppers and onions, but I think the Pistons have more to do with it than anything else. I mean did the Pistons just decide to play good old fashioned Larry Brown basketball because it looks like their old coach may get the boot again? Why am I so nervous this time, this isn’t a 3-2 deficit against New Jersey two years ago where they had to win game 6 in NJ. This isn’t last year against Miami where they had to win game 7 in Miami or even needing game 6 in SA last year in the Finals. What the hell is it then? Why this strange feeling, usually I am confident but something just smells funny here folks and I don’t like it.

The only glimmer of hope I am holding on to is the fact that they get to face the Cavs two out of three at home and that is still very little consolation to me at this point. For nine straight quarters now, the last one in game 2 and all of them in Cleveland, the Pistons have been beaten in every aspect of the game by a team that should not be doing this to the Pistons. In the regular season we have seen this before against the likes of the Bobcats, the Hawks, or any other bottom feeder team that you want to name, but this is the playoffs man, where is your heart at boys? Or to quote one of the more infamous people in the “D” itself let us go to the clip of Matt Millen asking “where are you testicles?” Something has got to give and I hope it is not the Pistons.

In order for me to feel somewhat better I need to see another game 1 performance tonight, I need to see the Pistons run the Cavs out of the Palace and just destroy them by 20 some points. Why you ask? Simply because even if they win a close one the Cavs will still have that little bit of confidence left in them and I just want to see the Pistons cut it all out right here, right now, and just finish it before it grows stronger. No screwing around, no keeping it close, I mean by the fourth quarter I want to see Delk, Hunter, Delfino, Cato and Davis on the floor. Guys this series has to go no more than six, the Heat and Pat Riley are just sitting there licking their chops, healing their wounds and game planning for (hopefully) you guys in the Eastern Conference Finals. End it, put the dagger in the Cavs and let them bleed out on the Palace floor tonight, there can be no more screwing around with these guys, I am sure my stomach is not the only one upset right now in this town.

Later – the worried sports dude.

Bye-Bye Mr. Joey Blue Skies, drove the chevy to the...

2006-05-15T14:58:00.000-04:00

All right, enough singing, on with the post!!!!

So the trade is finally complete and Joey Blue Skies is no more, bye-bye, see you later! The soap opera is finally over, the drama queen has left town and now Joey can simply ride off into the sunset and go some place where he can feel needed and loved. Look, you all know I have never been a Joey supporter, I had the word “BUST” tattooed on his head the moment the Lions drafted him a few years ago so it is clear there is no love lost from my end of the tale. I will say this about him and that is the fact he definitely took the high road for four years and I would like to give him props for that, he took more crap than most and he handled better than most would have for sure. I never had problems with him as a person, I could care less if he was a glass half full personality, the problem I had with him was the fact that he was a half glass empty type talent.

So did anyone read the Mitch Albom interviews with Joey in the Freep the last couple days? If not here are the links here and here to the two parts and a more interesting counter interview with Tom “The Killer” Kowalski here that I think spoke more truth than Albom’s work. Look, maybe I was just looking for more or maybe it is my total disgust with anything Mitch does nowadays but didn’t the interview just seem a little staged, a little too fake and phony? Maybe it is because I know, as we all do, that Mitch likes to write fiction books on the side but it almost seemed like Joey gave Mitch the questions in advance and then Mitch did his best to “fiction up” the article. No I am not accusing Mitch of lying; all I am saying is that I agree with the Killer more than Mitch and that it seemed that too many of the good and obvious questions were left out or just not asked all together.

I also want to say that it is quite clear that Joey wanted to be gone and should have been gone a long time ago; this move was just way too overdue. I also want to say that although I am sure it was not the intent the interview, at least to me, really made Joey seem a little bit on the baby side, for lack of a better word at the time. Reading it together just made me see this little kid with a “nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I am going to eat some worms” mentality balled up in a corner crying for his mommy. Look Joey, you can say what you want about the coaches, you can say what you want about the players or your lack of a support group, but at some point and time you have just got to perform dude. The last time I checked you never did that and I would like to say that you had the ultimate supporter in Matt Millen because not only did you get one or two chances man you got a good three or four. How many other teams would have put up with that type of mediocrity from their QB for that long? Not many, so say what you want, but you got the chances and now you get the door. Sorry Joey, no hard feelings, but I am not sad to see you go, I really am not. I will miss the excuses, I will miss the drops, but I won’t miss the lousy QB play that has plagued the Lions for the past four seasons.

I heard a funny line on the radio the other day from a caller and he said that sending Joey to Miami is just our little way of saying thanks for Scott Mitchell… and believe me that is not a compliment! Good luck Joey, see you on Thanksgiving, thanks for taking the high road out of town and I for one will be giving thanks that you are on the opposite side line throwing passes into the turf and not on ours.

Lots of love – the sports dude.

So the Pistons lost right?

2006-05-08T11:57:00.000-04:00

I have never been one who believes in the old cliché of “statement games” but does anyone else think yesterday the Pistons were trying to make some sort of statement? Does anyone else think that they are just a little pissed? I mean we all know these guys love the underdog role; they feed off of it, thrive from it and just flat out love it. But this year was different with the #1 seed, where was the underdog role going to come from? Well thanks to David Stern and his need to get Lebron on next Saturday during prime time (please see Game #2 Tuesday and Game #3 eight years later on Saturday for more details) I think the Pistons clearly were sending a statement to all the haters out there – this is our title to lose.

I was not able to see most of the game yesterday, in fact I almost missed it all together, but the little I did see I would have sworn the Cavs were winning and winning big. The couple commercial breaks I caught always led with a Lebron highlight; in fact the first three highlights before the half time break were Lebron doing something. Then I was hoping to catch some of the breakdown on ESPN before bed and I didn’t even bother to watch, their tag line was not about the Pistons dominance but rather something along the lines of “how did King James do against the Pistons, highlights after the break.” Does anyone give a shit about the Pistons? I mean isn’t the new NBA that Stern is trying to force down our throats all about the Pistons unselfish team style? It is just so damn frustrating to see an actual team whoop the ass of another and still the props all go to the air-apparent poster boy that really is still years away from accomplishing anything. I guess what is so frustrating for me is that I saw all this before, 16 years ago to be exact, when a young Jordan was coming up in the league and the NBA was doing anything to turn the Pistons into nothing and “pimp” MJ. Look, Lebron is good, don’t get me wrong, but at least give the Pistons some love while they are here man, damn! Maybe that is what is the most frustrating, we as Pistons fans all have the “been there, done that” thing with Lebron, we see the writing on the wall and are just sick of it. MJ had to go through the Pistons, now they are already talking about King James needing to do the same, but how about the Pistons first and let the rest take care of itself.

So there you have it that is my rant for the day and quite frankly if Miami wins we will have another round of it to go with the Wade loving league next. The Pistons just keep chugging out the victories like the well oiled machine they are and just keep on getting the JV schedule from Stern and the league. Hey, that is fine, you know they love that stuff and I think the exhibition they put on yesterday was a statement to everyone out there – Lebron may be the future but damn it we are the now and we ain’t going anywhere! Maybe next year Stern, if he really wants to just give the East to Lebron and Wade will come out wearing an afro wig and a “Go Pistons” t-shirt to trick our boys from Detroit, maybe he will stop giving them the JV schedule and then maybe the Pistons will lose because they think Stern actually likes them. But for right now we will take the JV, we will take the backseat because that is just fuel to the fire for the Pistons and all it is doing is just feeding the Championship machine that is building. The Pistons will never it admit it but we all know better, yeah, that was a statement game alright.

The dumbass returns!

2006-05-03T08:24:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the long absence, but as they say, it is absence that makes the heart grow fonder! Okay, enough cheesy crap, my finals are over, the hot chick and I have said our good-byes and it is vacation time for me. Here is my take on some of the stuff as it stands today:

The Red Wings:

Look, I am neither a hockey elitist or even a hockey fan, but I do know on thing and that is if it smells old, looks old and plays old then gosh darn it than it is probably old. I would never kick Stevie away, if he wants to come back you let him until he drops, but if I was Holland I would take that roster and make the cutoff age somewhere around 33 or 34. To me that means bye-bye to guys like Chelios, Lang, Lidstrom, Maltby, Schneider, Shannahan, Wooley, just clean house. I would then start emptying out the minors, bringing up these young prospects and letting them start playing together and building chemistry for the next generation of hockeytown. Oh, the last thing I would do, is let Legace walk for nothing, keep either Osgood as a back up or find another vet and give the goaltending job to Jimmy Howard. Look, you fans may not want to hear it, but if you stay this "old" again for another season than I promise you that it will be the same story again next year. It is time to rebuild, it is time to get younger and it is time to look toward the future.

The Pistons:

you guys look bored, please finish off the Bucks tonight so you can sit, rest and wait for the Cavs and Wizards to go seven and beat the crap out of one another. A guy at work the other day, who is not a basketball fan like myself, actually said he was scared about the Pistons, claiming that if they look like this against the Bucks what happens when the better teams come? I tried to point out the fact that they are just bored but he didn't buy it, so I ended the conversation and turned to something else. Point is boredom is setting in for these guys so hopefully they go for the jugular tonight.

The Tigers:

pinch me I must be dreaming! I know it is early, I am not getting my hopes up, but one temper tantrum from Leyland and look at these guys now! Definitely a surprise, absolutely wonderful to see, it is just nice to see them winning and pitching and hitting and playing defense all at the same time. No more great pitching but no hitting losses or losing games 18-17 because your pitchers couldn't do jack, this has been a very nice April for all of Detroit.

The Lions:

Well except for the fact that he came from Florida State Prison University I guess I like the Sims pick, although I was really hoping for Huff. Bullocks is a nice pick up, Calhoun seems like a multi-position guy and the rest of the picks are special teams, developmental type guys. Look, I for one am glad they did not take Leinart, I still think he is going to be a back up at best, just like Joey, and not a franchise guy. I also don't think Vince Young is going to pan out, the best QB taken in the first round was Cutler. I just was glad to see the Lions not draft any wide receivers, a first I believe under Millen.

Good-bye and good luck my friends! The sports dude.

A little Piston this, a little Red Wing that...

2006-04-21T13:14:00.000-04:00

Well it is Friday and the “other” playoffs begin tonight, if you ask me and most folks out there the real playoffs don’t begin until Sunday. However to be fair to all of the people out there I took the time today to honor not only our Pistons but the Red Wings as well. Don’t get me wrong, I hope the Wings win, but believe me I won’t be watching; hockey is way too boring for me. So in honor of the teams here is a little comparison the sports dude came up with in my spare time here today at work – sorry boss!

The Wings have “The Joe”, a parking garage with seats.
The Pistons have the Palace, one of the premiere arenas in the league.

The Wings have cheesy ass slogans for the playoffs like “bring it” and “put your red on” or “turn that light off” or whatever.
The Pistons don’t need any extra slogans to draw people in and sell new t-shirts every year at playoff time, their greatness speaks for itself.

The Wings have Al Sabota (the zamboni guy’s name right?) and Mo’ Cheese.
The Pistons have Automotion, is it even a contest there people?

The Wings have stinky, slimy, rotten smelling octopus the fans throw on the ice.
The Pistons have Hooper, enough said.

The Wings have a recycled cup that has been god knows where with god knows who and had god knows what done to it. Do they ever sanitize the damn thing?
The Pistons have a nice, shiny, germ free and brand spanking new trophy at their disposal to win every year.

The Wings wear pads to protect them from the mean nasty boards and boo-boos.
The Pistons don’t need no stinkin’ pads! Ben simply wears a wrist band to protect himself from Shaq… but I bet Ben wouldn’t mind some pads if the Wings are offering!

The Wings grow playoff beards that they can’t wait to shave off when it is all over.
The Pistons have “Nappy ‘Sheed” whom is a fixture most of the year, playoffs or not.

The Wings have visors and some goalies that get creative and creepy with their masks.
The Pistons have Rip and his mask.

The Wings have fans that put embarrassing things on their heads like aluminum foil Stanley Cups & lug nuts from car tires that they claim transforms them into “Wingnuts.”
The Pistons have fans that put afros on their heads which are much more acceptable in today’s society and less likely to get you arrested or put into an institution.

The Wings play with a frozen urinal cake.
The Pistons play with a ball.

The Wings play a “sport” called hockey that’s name sounds more like something that comes up from my lungs when I have the flu than a name of a game.
The Pistons play basketball which is an obvious choice to name their sport.

The Wings have a mythical thing called “Hockeytown” which in turn they coined; marketed, ripped us all off and opened a café downtown in its honor.
The Pistons don’t need a marketing ploy like that although I am still trying to cash in myself and open up a bar called “Afrotown Café”, what do you think?

There it is, go Wings, go Pistons and have a nice weekend – the sports dude.

The sports dude and his NBA playoff madness.

2006-04-20T11:47:00.000-04:00

Well the playoffs are upon us and quite frankly they started about a month too late if you ask me. The Pistons were ready a month ago, I was ready a month ago and I think most of the fan base here in Detroit was ready a month ago. A record breaking regular season for the Pistons ended last night by setting a franchise record for overall wins, home wins and road wins. They also set an NBA record for fewest turnovers in a season total as well as lowest average per game, which I suppose is obvious when you put the two together. The Pistons open against the Bucks which, if memory serves me correctly, was the same team they opened against in 2004 when they won the title. Fate? Coincidence? Whatever it is I am just glad it was not Indiana, not because I fear Indy, but rather I think that would have been too emotional of a first round series. Anyway, here is my playoff preview and I also, at the end, will refer back to my preseason picks and see how close I was.

Eastern Conference Playoffs – Round One:

Pistons vs. Bucks = Pistons in five
Miami vs. Chicago = Miami in five
New Jersey vs. Indiana = NJ in six
Cleveland vs. Washington = Cleveland in six, not surprised to see seven

Most intriguing match up to me will be Gilbert Arenas and Lebron James going head to head for six or seven games. I almost wanted to pick Washington, but something tells me the league wants King James to go on and wants a Pistons/Cavs Round Two.

Western Conference Playoffs – Round One:

San Antonio vs. Sacramento = Spurs in six
Phoenix vs. Lakers = Suns in five
Denver vs. Clippers = Clippers in six
Dallas vs. Memphis = Dallas in four or five

Most intriguing match up, to me, is my one and only first round upset at all and that is the Clippers over the Nuggets. The Clippers have the better overall record and won the season series over the Nuggets, whom I think are an overrated bunch as it is.

Well, that is my first round and I am going to take it a step further and give my second round picks and whom I think will make the Final Four.

East – Round Two:

Pistons vs. Cleveland = Pistons in about six most likely.
Miami vs. New Jersey = New Jersey in six or seven.

West – Round Two:

San Antonio vs. Dallas = Dallas in a tough six or seven game series.
Phoenix vs. Clippers = Suns in five.

That is right folks, the sports dude is predicting the much anticipated Detroit/Miami Conference Final will not even take place and the Mavs will take care of business and eliminate the Spurs. The sports dude is predicting a Detroit/NJ and a Dallas/Phoenix final four and that is as far as I go, except to say I am sure you all know I am picking the Pistons in the East. I just don’t think the Heat will get past NJ for some reason, some strange lack of quality play, old age catching up to Shaq and just good old ball hogging self implosion. Besides man they still got Antoine Walker, a.k.a. Mister Disappear in the Playoffs. I also was not expecting the Mavs to be this good this year and historically the Spurs have never done well going for the back to back.

As far as my preview here is the link taking you back to November 1, 2005 and what I thought would happen. I had some of the seedings off in both conferences, the final few go back and forth, but for the most part I was a pretty good guesser. In the East I had Philly in and Chicago out and up until last week it looked like I was going to be right. In the West I had Seattle and Houston in instead of Memphis and the Clippers but can you blame me with the Clips? I didn’t think so!

Well that is all I got for now, I hope you enjoyed the read and I will check back later and we can all talk some more, peace – the sports dude.

A spirited compromise.

2006-04-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

The front page of today's Detroit Free Press made me think of an interesting predicament that we have here today in the city of Detroit. This is the first time, I believe, that the NHL Playoffs and the NBA Playoffs have started at the same time. Last year there was that dirty little word known as the lockout and this year the Olympics pushed back the hockey season a little bit. So the question today is what to do with the Spirit of Detroit Statue downtown that typically has a Red Wing Jersey on it for the NHL Playoffs but last year, without the hockey playoffs, had a Pistons Jersey on. So my friends what do we do now, does it wear one or the other, whom gets pissed and whom is made happy? Well, in honor of all things being fair and equal I thought that it would be best to make both teams and fan bases happy, put an afro on the statues head and a Red Wing Jersey on its torso, what do you think?

Later - the fair and square sports dude.

It is Monday & I am back...

2006-04-17T13:14:00.000-04:00

Yes, the sports dude is still alive and no I did not go into hiding because of my off the wall Lions prediction. Look, I even put the disclaimer in there that it was all on paper didn’t I? Besides, we all know how the Lions have no luck and I am sure something somewhere along the way will end up getting screwed up. That being said I apologize for the absence, I had some things going on in life that took my focus away from this place, but they say absence makes the heart grow fonder so I am back and here is what I got.

Since I already mentioned the Lions I guess I will start there and say what I have heard out of the minicamp and read about everything to me looks like so far, so good. I still have a feeling that Charles Rogers will not be here too much longer and I also get the feeling that Joey will stay on the roster all the way to June. Look, the Lions may as well play hard ball for as long as possible to get the best possible pick for him, I mean why not? Worst case scenario is you cut him and get nothing in return (which is more than they have gotten to this point anyway) because a seventh round pick is going to about amount to nothing anyway. Eventually some team is bound to get nervous and give Detroit that 4, 5, or 6 round pick they are looking for. Oh, one last thing, I really love listening to Henderson and Marinelli talk about football, it makes me want to go and just bash my head into something.

The Tigers started off with a bang but are now playing the type of baseball that should be expected of them, at least in my opinion. Beat the teams they are supposed to beat and steal some from the teams that are still better than them, that is about it right? Look, my expectations for them have not changed, all I want is something above .500 by like 5 to 10 games at the end of the season and I will dance a happy dance! There is finally a farm system with prospects in waiting, there is youth from said farm system in the majors and there finally seems to be some progress there. If you erase the Randy “I have no clue what I am doing” Smith years the Tigers are finally on track, unfortunately you can’t just erase those years and we as fans had to watch Smith make mistake after senseless mistake. Not to jinx it here but is anyone else just waiting for Tigers luck to kick in and Shelton going down with a serious injury or something? Quick, everyone knock on wood now that you read that!

The Red Wings won the President Trophy; let’s just hope that gets them out of the second round! Look, I hate to say it, but that is an old team man and at some point and time a younger and faster team is going to get them, sad but true! I look for Edmonton to take them at least to six games, if not seven, and by the second round you are going to have some tired grandpa’s out there! Remember Calgary two years ago, the Wings just looked slow and old and tired as shit against them and I see little difference now. Look, I would love for there to be two parades downtown this summer, it would be the first time in sports history that such a thing took place, but I think the Pistons have the better chance of bringing home a title than the Wings, but as much as I HATE hockey I would love to be wrong.

Speaking of the Pistons they now have home court locked up for the entire playoffs and show no signs of slowing down. The starters are getting rest, the bench is getting extra time to shake off the rust for the playoff grind, and all we need to know now is who they are playing in round one. Look, I am sorry here folks, I still don’t see any team in the East beating the Pistons in a seven game series when the Pistons have home court, crap even without it! I also am not all that sure Miami will make it to the Conference Finals anymore, something tells me that the Nets-Heat match up that should take place in the second round might go to the Nets; I am not sleeping on those cats anymore! Even so it is all irrelevant because as I stated before the only thing that can stop the Pistons in the East is an injury (knock on wood) or themselves.

Lastly I would like to add my two cents on a couple things I missed in my time off, one being Ben and his tantrum… it was just a message to his team, let it go people! Second is Tiger Woods and his use of the word “spaz”… get over that too people! Damn, I am so tired of people needed to be so freaking “PC” nowadays, stop spazzing out over it!

That is all I got, enjoy your day and we will talk again soon – the sports dude.

Lions are 10-6 (on paper) baby!!!!

2006-04-06T15:39:00.000-04:00

The Lions schedule has been released and right now, on paper, the sports dude is giving them a 10-6 which will win the Lions the division. Yes folks, the sports dude is smoking a little something-something and drinking from the funky Kool-Aid, but that is my regular season prediction for these guys. The defense will play more aggressive under Henderson, the offense will be less sleepy with Martz (and some quality QB’s finally) and Marinelli will have these guys ready to actually play some damn football. I mean if they don’t want to play the guy will kick their asses, threaten their mothers and simply ship them out of town. Look, Green Bay is rebuilding, Chicago got lucky last year, overachieved and never does good in consecutive seasons and Minnesota has the only chance of causing any problems for the Lions. Therefore, in honor of my “wacky-tabacky” day here is a game to game break down of what I think will get the Lions to my, on paper, 10-6 prediction:

HOME against Seattle = loss (0-1)
AT Chicago = win (1-1)
HOME against Green Bay = win (2-1)
AT St. Louis = loss (2-2)
AT Minnesota = loss (2-3)
HOME against Bills = win (3-3)
AT NY Jets = win (4-3)
HOME against Atlanta = loss (4-4)
HOME against San Fran = win (5-4)
AT Arizona = win (6-4)
HOME against Miami = win (7-4)
AT New England = loss (7-5)
HOME against Minnesota = win (8-5)
AT Green Bay = win (9-5)
HOME against Chicago = win (10-5)
AT Dallas = loss (10-6)

I know you all probably think I am crazy but I truly feel that Marinelli will finally get something out of these guys, Camp Moochinwegville is over! I also strongly believe that the ghost of mediocrity past (A.K.A. Joey Harrington) will reveal itself as a strong revitalized offensive unit. Martz will get the wheels turning, Jones will have the type of season he should (since he will get the ball 25-30 times) and the defense will be a lot more aggressive under Henderson than it was under the “bend but don’t break” system. I also like the thought of the Lions going Texas Longhorns style again and drafting Michael Huff to complement Dre Bly. That is it, enough Kool-Aid for one day – the crazy sports dude.

A little Wednesday this, a little Wednesday that...

2006-04-05T13:27:00.000-04:00

You know, for some strange reason I had a thought today, what the hell happened to Larry Johnson? Remember him and his old "Grandma-ma" adds with Converse back in the day? Is he still alive? Anyone?

Another thought (yes, that is two in one day, the sports dude needs to lie down now) was the good old "Little Penny" adds and I wondered what the hell happened to Little Penny? I wonder if they gave him to Anfernee, a.k.a Penny, when they ripped up his endorsement deal in front of his face?!?!? Here, take this stupid puppet, it is worthless to us just like your career! It also made me think I wonder if this is a jinx, having a twin "puppet" and all and if Lebron should be concerned in the least of ways.

Like I said, really random BS today but it is after all my blog, so why not? Later y'all! The sports dude.

Tuesday Thoughts...

2006-04-04T14:57:00.000-04:00

The Pistons:

Well, the streak comes to an end tonight as Rasheed earned his 16th tech and an automatic one game suspension from the league. Damn shame, if you ask me, because even though Dale Davis (his replacement in the starting lineup) is a gritty veteran it just isn’t the same without Rasheed in there, or any starter missing for that matter. Speaking of the technical foul issue itself, does anyone else think it is just his reputation that is preceding him in a negative way? The last few technical fouls that he has received have been questionable at best and it is a damn shame that the refs are clearly out to get him. Sorry, call me a complainer if you want, but it is clearly true.

The Pistons have also locked up home court advantage in the East and have a 2 game lead on the Spurs and 4 on the Mavs. I think, hope this is no jinx, the Mavs are all but out of it and all the Pistons have to worry about is the Spurs. A couple last second things I would like to watch down the stretch are who is going to be the eighth seed and the second seed in the East. Will Philly hang on or will Indiana fall to #8? I am not too scared of Indiana, I think the Pistons will take care of that menace in 4 to 6 games, but I worry about the emotional toll it may take out of them in a first round match up. The other thing is could you imagine the Nets catching Miami and getting the #2 seed? Talk about a tough break, and road, for the Pistons if this all happens - Indiana in the first round as the #8 and then Miami in Round #2 because they fall to the #3 seed. Not a scenario that works in the Pistons favor, so here is to hoping Indiana stays at #7, the Sixers do just enough to stay at #8 so the Pistons can sweep them and Miami holds off New Jersey.

Lastly, on a quick note, Joe Dumars finally got selected for induction to the Hall of Fame and may I say congrats and that it should have happened last year. In the modern NBA where they try and preach team work, ethics and sportsmanship there is no better example I can think of than the Pistons very own Joe D.

The Tigers:

With a 3-1 victory against Kansas City on opening day the Tigers are now a game above .500 for the first time since probably about this time last year, give or take. Kenny Rogers did what he was supposed to do and Zumaya looked damn impressive “gun slinging” out of the bullpen. Chris Shelton homered twice, man what a steal that guy was, and Guillen added a homer in the eighth for insurance purposes. Stop the presses here folks, Pudge actually took a walk yesterday as well, could this be some strange sign of things to come this season? Some sort of omen? Who’s to say, but at least it was a win and at least baseball is finally under way again. I mean I love basketball and all but I was damn near bored because there has been nothing to really read about lately.

The Red Wings:

Well, like I said, thank God baseball started – hockey bores me and I have not paid attention to these guys in my 29 years of life and it sure isn’t going to start now. I will say that at least it appears Stevie Y is going to go out with a playoff run that will end in the second round instead of the first.

The Lions:

Where will Joey go? The latest “rumor” has the Dolphins the front runner and I hope for all parties involved this wet bag of shit is off the roster sooner than later. Yes, I know this is already old, but how funny would it be to see Joey the starter for the Dolphins on Thanksgiving Day? I know one thing I would be thankful for, the fact he is no longer in a Lions uniform at long last!

There you go, another dose of sports dude wisdom, remember to chew each morsel 40 times to avoid choking and digestive problems. Have a good one my hearties – the sports dude.

Tiger Talk.

2006-04-03T10:01:00.000-04:00

Opening Day is here folks, so who’s your Tiger? Sorry for the silly beginning, but that damn add campaign has always bothered me, to tell you the truth. Something that just seems a little too cheesy or phony about it for me to “pick a Tiger”, but opening day is here so I guess let the games begin.

The Lineup:

A mix of old, new and somewhere in between the key to this lineup is one magic little word – HEALTH!!!! If healthy this lineup can produce with the best of them, make no mistake about it. The key will be if Guillen and Maggs can stay healthy and productive for an entire season and if Pudge and Young can stop pouting long enough to play ball. Granderson also needs to make a mark, the first time a youngster has had a key role in the batting order in a long time, I don’t even remember the last time a youngster was counted on in the Tigers lineup, and can any of you? Here is a quick peak at the batting order come this afternoon:

Granderson – CF
Polanco – 2B
Pudge – C
Maggs – RF
Young – DH
Guillen – SS
Monroe – LF
Shelton – 1B
Inge – 3B

The Starters:

Can Bonderman finally emerge as the ace? Will Verlander really be a rookie of the year candidate? Will Rogers hold up or bust out? What about Maroth and Robertson? The wild card to me is Robertson, I think if he falters he will be the first to be replaced in the starting rotation and I feel the rest will fair okay. I think that Maroth will benefit the most from having Rogers there everyday and Verlander will be about a .500 pitcher with flashes of brilliance and flashes of rookie growing pains. I think Bonderman will have another year in which he grows and as much as I like him I think Robertson will be replaced by the All-Star break either by Colon or Grilli. I think this is, however, the strongest starting rotation the Tigers have had in quite awhile and I think for the first time in years the lineup and its health is more of a wild card than the starting pitching.

The bullpen:

If you ask me Todd Jones was a nice signing and him and Joel Zumaya should become best friends, something tells me that young cat is the “closer of the future” the Tigers have been looking for. Beside that is there really anything else that needs to be said about the bullpen? I think not, it is just your typical bullpen, some long relievers, Jaime Walker as the “lefty specialist” and not really too much more to add.

The Leyland Factor:

Look, I like everything that the man is preaching and teaching and saying, but the thing is he is still saying all the things Tram used to say… “Little ball wins games.” He preaches the sacrifices with runners at second and one out, he preaches defense, he preaches passion and accountability, all the things Tram was pounding each spring. The difference? He is a veteran manager and the players respect that more coming from him than they did from Tram and nothing more. I do not doubt that his experience may win us a couple games that Tram may have lost, but I will always say Tram was put in an unfair position before he was ready. For Tram the best thing would have been to start in the minors, just like Leyland did, and then work your way up the ranks. Tram will get a chance again, but now it is Leyland’s turn to right the ship that has been sinking for 12 straight years now.

The prediction:

Not one to make too many bold predictions for the Tigers, it is not my cup of tea like basketball, but I think this team will finish third in the Central behind the Indians (division winners) and the White Sox. But the biggest sign of progress is they will keep it close, play competitive and meaningful ball longer than usual and yes folks, finish a few games over .500.

That is it, check back later when I post about what I really wanted to talk about today, Joe D. getting in the Hall of Fame and that amazing win that the Pistons had yesterday. Until then keep eating your veggies and be thankful that baseball is back in the D! The sports dude.

Baseball is back.

2006-03-28T11:33:00.000-05:00

The winter has ended
and spring is now here,
the smell of the snow
is replaced by that of warm beer.
Hot dogs, nachos, pretzels,
the vendor man yells,
no matter how pricey
somehow that junk sells.
A $5 hot and nasty
somehow goes to $10 at the park,
but does that really matter?
On a new season we now embark.
The manager preaches
"You gotta play smart ball!"
But do the players listen
as another routine fly falls?
Or how about that off season?
What old player did we get?
You gotta love Illitch
for overpaying for those vets.
The minors were once empty
like the vastness of the Sahara,
but some promise now shines
in the names of Verlander & Zumaya.
From Polanco to Guillen,
Pudge, Maggs and Young,
Monroe, Shelton, Inge -
if healthy they can score some runs.
But will the pitching hold?
Will Bonderman emerge as the ace?
Will Rogers be a bust?
Will we be in the playoff race?
All hope springs eternal
as each season starts anew,
for the faithful in the "D"
that hope is all we do.
Hope for the playoffs,
hell we'll even take .500,
after 12 losing seasons
can't you give us something?
But make no mistake
this is a baseball town,
& that hope still remains
they'll turn this thing around.
So get out that pine tar,
put on your eye black,
the boys of summer have returned -
baseball is back.

The sports dude.

Joey to KC? Pena cut? Pistons lose? Monday Madness.

2006-03-27T10:49:00.000-05:00

First, let us talk to the Lions and this little article that I found in the Kansas City Star. No, I am not a total geek, actually the radio was talking about it this morning and I hunted for the article and found it. Look, if this were true and I were Millen, I would do whatever it takes to get this deal done. I mean, I figured the only team that would truly be interested in Joey was maybe the Detroit Demolition or something? Sorry, I shouldn't insult the Demolition like that, they deserve better. All kidding aside I figured that, at best, they would get a fifth or maybe a sixth rounder for him, even a fourth rounder would be a stretch. Yes the key to the deal with KC is Joey restructuring his deal but I swear if I was Millen I would do everything in my power to beg and plead with Joey to restructure his deal. I understand that the ball is in Joey's court, if he just waits to get cut so he can go wherever he wants then if I were the Lions I would wait until the last second in June to cut him. Then all the spots would be most likely filled and then his options are slim at best. But if he works with the Lions then at least he can go somewhere now and be guaranteed a back up job come next season. The ball is in your court Joey, but I definitely would play along a little if I was you.

The Tigers cut Carlos Pena this weekend, all but giving up on him a couple seasons too late if you ask me. I take this as a good sign and I will tell you why - because it means the Tigers are finally not in "we don't have anyone else, we may as well let him be out there" mode with players now, they have developed some depth and some guys that can compete. We all knew that it would take a miracle for Pena to beat out Shelton and by hitting .161 this spring (or whatever it ended up being!) he did himself no favors. Does this mean the Tigers are going to finally make the playoffs? No, I do not want to go that far, but I do take it as a good sign because, to me, it means the cupboard is finally a little less bare than it has been in the past.

The Pistons lost an ugly game last night to the Nets, their 16 game home win streak snapped in the process, but to me it is not a huge concern. Why? Because it is finally nice to see that defense back as the playoffs get closer and that is what is going to get them through the playoffs more than the new offensive style they run. I think right now they are just in one of those funks where they are working more on their defense than their offense and are trying to find that happy medium like they had earlier in the season. Hey, better now than in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Heat right? Well, that is, if the Heat make it that far.

That is it folks, have a nice Monday and we will talk again later - peace! The sports dude.

Thursday chat...

2006-03-23T09:54:00.000-05:00

Man, I hate being sick, it really brings down the entire system, you know? He I am, barely recovered from the knee thing and all ready to start blogging again, and this freaking sinus-cold-cough-throat thing comes along and just beats me down! Anyway, enough with the excuses, here is what I got for today.

Tigers - all the regulars are back and Leyland says he wants his team to have a "swagger" about it. Not, as he put it, a "rah-rah" high fiving cheerleader type swagger, but a business like approach to the game where they feel, without actions or words, that they are going to have a chance game in and game out. I like the guy, I really do, and I hope that the Tigers listen to him this time, as opposed to their last manager. I think Tram's biggest thing was not that he was a bad manager, but his lack of inexperience really did him in with the veterans, they just didn't listen. The line up, if healthy and on paper, looks pretty damn good and the pitching staff should be another year older and wiser. Looking forward to Tiger baseball, as always, but like I said earlier I think somewhere around .500 will be good enough for me and should be about all that is expected.

Pistons - it was nice to see them all but throttle Wade last night, but like Flip said, this game won't mean a thing come May and June. I agree with that totally, but all the same, it was nice to see the Pistons put the choke hold on Wade. Unless something totally unforeseen takes place, I think it is safe to say the Pistons have the #1 seed all but locked up in the East. That being said, I still don't see any one team in the East taking the Pistons out in a seven game series, especially when they have home court. Sorry, just don't see it. There are 15 games left for the Pistons and there are two up (in the loss column) on both Dallas and San Antonio for the #1 seed overall. The Pistons can not complain about "boring" games anymore, out of those 15 remaining games 11 are against teams headed to that playoffs. In order, the games go: at Indy, NJ, Dallas, at Philly, Milwaukee, Phoenix, New Orleans, at Miami, at Orlando, Indy, Cleveland, at Toronto, NY, at Milwaukee, Washington. 15 games, 11 against playoff teams and 9 of them at home. I would be happy with a nice 11-4, 10-5 push considering that 4 of the 6 road games should be "gimmie" games - Philly, Orlando, Toronto, and Milwaukee. At Indy on Friday and at Miami on April 6 should be interesting, to say the least.

Lions - all I have to say is why are the Raiders interested in Joey? I mean, could you picture Joey as a Raider? Don't you think Joey would piss himself on a daily basis and curl up in the fetal position in some corner of the locker room? Sorry, Joey as a Raider, I could care less where the kid ends up but that, even from a Joey hater like me, would just be dead nuts wrong to do to the kid.

Well, that is it for today, I will check back with all of you soon - the sports dude.

Man, Thursday was the best day ever!!!!

2006-03-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

Not only did the Lions finally get to the point with Joey that I have been waiting for since about three years ago, the hot chick really made my day last night!

See, last week she was not in class, she was off performing with the dance/cheerleading team at some event for the school, it was either a competition or a sporting event they needed to be at, whatever it was the point is it is HOT!!!! Anyway, so she missed me in class last week with the two crutches, but I am still forced to use one for at least another week. Anyway, so she sees me hobble into class and the second best thing I heard all day came out of her mouth...

"Oh my god, how are you? How is your knee? You know, I thought about you over spring break and was hoping you were all right. How are you feeling? How did it all go?"

Now, some of that is paraphrased, but the key part that is true and quoted direct are the sweet words "I thought about you over spring break"; it felt like that scene in Jerry McGuire and all I wanted to say was "You had me at hello!" So there you have it folks, your weekly hot chick update, and it the words of Cartman "As if we care!"

Wait a minute sports dude, you said that the hot chick thinking of you over spring break was second place to the news that Joey is all but gone? Yes, yes I did... tells you how much Joey has disgusted me since they drafted his overrated ass! It was a close second, but still second to that!

Have a nice weekend, I will talk to you all Monday - now go drink some green beer! The sports dude.

Breaking News... Lions sign McCown!!!!

2006-03-16T13:16:00.000-05:00

Here is the ESPN link, first of all.

Second, the little letter below now officially seems worth wild!

Third, my prayers have finally been answered... Joey is gone! Only about three or four years too late, but hey, who's counting!

Fourth, is Kitna going teach McCown? Is McCown going to make Kitna back him up, ala Carson Palmer style?

Fifth - did I mention that I am EXTREMELY FREAKING HAPPY right now? Finally, no more wet bag of shit gatorade boy throwing passes into the dirt, ala Andre Ware style!

Sixth - have a good day - the ecstatic sports dude.

Dear Joey.....

2006-03-16T10:43:00.000-05:00

Dear Joey –

I just wanted to send this letter and let you know that I feel your pain and to let you know that you are not alone. I know what you are going through, as a fellow athlete, and just wanted to let you know that there is someone else out there that feels the same things inside as you… the hurt, the anger, the betrayal, the emptiness. All of those things are natural Joey, there is nothing wrong with feeling that way, I myself experienced the same emotional highs and lows as you and I just wanted to make sure you know that I am here for you if you need me in this dire hour you now face.

See, I came to Detroit with the same expectations, the same feelings of joy and warmth filled me as it once filled you. I know what it is like to be a high draft pick, to come to a team that looks at you as “the cornerstone of the future” and to be the darling of the media and fans for awhile. When I first got here people were screaming my praises, saying that I would be the next “great one” for my franchise as well, but things didn’t stay the same for long. Yes, everyone knew that I was going to be a project, just like you, but I kept hearing big words like “upside” and “potential” and just played along, much like you I am sure. Forget about the fact that my English was not that good, again much like you, forget the fact that those words seemed big to me, again just like you, everyone said it was going to be okay, that my time would come, just be patient. Eventually, they all said, those big scary words would come true, I would play up to my “potential” and my “upside” would be seen by all, I am still not sure that those words mean much to me, but I just wanted to play. See, I know you are confused right now, just like I was for some time, but the bottom line is I never stopped believing in myself, I knew I could be a valuable asset to some team in my league, just like I am sure you feel that you could be a valuable asset to some team in the NFL. I just wanted to let you know that the most important thing is you can never stop believing in yourself, even if everyone around you (from teammates to fans to management) stops believing just never quit on yourself.

Joey, I know it is tough right now, I have watched you play and I know it was other peoples fault. People will say you are just being a baby, a little whiny bitch, but sometimes those things you complain about are true. Forget about the time you blamed the wind on your inability to throw a pass that didn’t hit the turf, maybe it was windy that day. I don’t know, I wasn’t there, I was to busy pouting myself. Forget about the fact that you constantly throw behind your receivers, or to far in front of them, or even over their heads, just tell yourself they are too slow or too fast. See Joey, the key is to keep doing what you have been doing… remember, it is never YOUR fault but always someone else’s. Forget about the fact that people say you throw like a girl, or that you look like you want to shit your pants in the pocket sometimes, tell them things like “girls can throw to” or blame it on the bad Mexican you ate the night before the game, again remember it is not your fault. Forget about the fact that everyone questions your accuracy; again just say that your receivers aren’t athletic enough to catch passes that are out of their reach. Also, don’t forget all the drops they had when you did, on rare occasion, actually hit them in the numbers or the hands, many will say the receivers were actually shocked you hit them there and that is why they dropped it! Screw that man, just tell them it was because you have a cannon for an arm and the divas couldn’t handle the laser! See, now that sounds cool man!

I would just like to close by saying that there is nothing wrong with asking for a fresh start and a bus ticket out of town, I did it and it worked wonders for me! I mean, I may still be riding the pine, but at least I play every game in garbage minutes as opposed to once a month garbage time, but the weather down here is so much better. Just one word of advice, if you go to a sunny city, pack some sun screen… I learned that one the hard way! I also hope they trade you for more than they did me, all I got for my old team is an injured expiring contract and a first round pick in the year 3000! Maybe they will get some towels for you or even a towel boy with the towels for that matter! Crap, maybe even a Gatorade bucket or some footballs and a beer vendor! I joke, I am sure they will get something for you in return; every team needs a back up QB on their roster right? Well, if you have any questions or just want to vent I will leave my cell phone number at the bottom of this letter in case you want to chat. I hope you use it, I think if we talk through this we may be able to help each other out in this difficult time in our careers. I hope to hear from you and I will close by saying that at least you didn’t have to play for Larry Brown… that man made me cry at least twice a week! What a doo-doo head he was! Well, good luck and hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

Darko
1-321-555-BUST (my cell #, as promised!)

P.S. – tell Charles to give me a call, he may need this advice as well!

The sports dude returns...

2006-03-15T11:24:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, well again I say I suppose just gentlemen, I am back and ready to start posting again! Can I get a "whoop-whoop"?!?! All right, maybe there is not that much fanfare over it, but I did miss this place. Unfortunately for me I am not only behind in the blogosphere, I am behind at work as well, but then again has that stopped me before? Hell no, I still will find a few moments to blog here and there, and the here is now, so let us begin!

I thought about recapping the events that took place while I was out, but really why bother? Is it really all that important to talk about the "shocking" news that Barry Bonds, once again, is being reportedly linked to steroids? Or that he dressed in drag? Or either? Does it really matter, in the grander scheme of things? To me, I say no, so let us recap some of the more recent and important stuff.

The Pistons seem bored, can you blame them? I hope they refocus here and start playing better in their last 20 games, can you believe they have only 20 left already? It is all but certain they have the #1 seed locked up in the East, but they need to focus on the #1 overall, that is huge. Dallas and San Antonio are both on their heals, I think at last check they were only a couple games off in the win-loss column (Detroit is at 50-12, which is two games up in the loss column on SA and Dallas, 50-14 each) and that #1 seed in the Finals would definitely be nice. It should come down to the final weeks of the season and I hope the Pistons realize this and finish with a strong stretch run.

The Tigers seem to be fairing rather nicely so far in spring ball, but spring ball and the regular season are two different things. I still like the looks of Shelton, Polanco, Guillen, Inge, Pudge, Monroe, Granderson, Maggs and I guess Young at DH. The pitching staff of Rogers, Bonderman, Maroth, Robertson and what looks like Verlander is okay, better than what was there last year! The biggest thing will be getting Maggs and Guillen for a healthy, full season and keeping Pudge from putting his head up his ass again! I still don't think this team is ready for a playoff run, even the wild card just yet, but just give me a couple games over .500 and some sound baseball and I will be happy.

The Lions have signed some guys, from keeping KR Eddie Drummond and DE Kalimba Edwards, to bringing in TE Dan Campbell, WR Korey Bradford, QB Shaun King and QB Jon Kitna. Look, we all know that I am not a Joey supporter, but I think the writing is on the wall here folks... He is as good as gone. Either the Lions are going to try and trade him for something (can you say maybe a towel boy or a gatorade bucket?) to simply just releasing him. I think the Kitna signing all but solidifies it folks. Either they are going to sign one more QB, like a young Josh McNown, to play behind Kitna and learn or they are going to draft a QB and, much like Kitna did for Carson Palmer in Cincy, have Kitna pave the way for said drafted QB. I just think that Marinelli and Martz both want "their guy" here to learn under Kitna and I also feel that Joey just doesn't want to be here anymore. Here is a link to a MLIVE article by Tom "the Killer" Kowalski about that subject exactly, the fact that Joey is the one that wants out this time. Not that I blame Joey, I think he finally realizes that he can not win over that locker room ever and if, as Martz puts it, they are going to "strip him down and make him relearn everything about being a QB" then he may as well get stripped down some place totally new. I think what the Lions do in the next few weeks as far as if they persue any other QB's or what they do in the draft will indicate what they are going to do with Joey. The thing is they have plenty of time, it is not until June that they owe him a $4 million roster bonus, so there is no rush... That is about 2-3 months before they must decide to keep him or cut him or trade him. You all know my opinion, trade him for a beer vendor, who is more valuable, but let's see how it plays out.

That is it for now, I am back and ready to start driving you all crazy again! I would like to say thanks again for your continued "checking in" and your concern, I am down to one crutch already and by next week it should be zero! Thanks again guys and, for the sake of sounding sappy, yes I did miss this place and all of you! Later - the sports dude.

The scope, the vicoden and some motrin too!

2006-03-10T14:27:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, well I guess actually just gentlemen, I do not think the ladies frequent the forehead here too often, the sports dude has survived and is doing well so far. If you read the header here you know that I am actually feeling quite happy right now, not a care in the world! I would like to thank all of you for your kind words and continuing to check on this little old blog of mine, I promise that come next week I will return to your regularly scheduled blog programming. Again my thanks, my gratitude and I appreciate your patience with me as I recover from this little old surgery of mine. Yes, all went well, the knee is doing great, and the blog will be back in full swing come Monday.

Thanks again ya'all, I have missed this little old blog of mine and you guys as well... just don't tell anyone, okay? I don't want them to think the sports dude has gone all soft and stuff. Peace and we will talk next week - the crutched sports dude.

Friday update...

2006-02-24T14:26:00.000-05:00

This could be the last post for awhile from the sports dude, not that many care, but I figured that I would at least give some update to you all as to why I am most likely going to disappear for about two weeks.

First, for the fun part, I am on break next week from school, as well as my oldest son, so the family and I are packing our bags and heading here for a few days. Yep, just a nice little relaxing break for the kids and, yes I will admit, myself for a few days away from the world of work and school. So if you are a little lonely, miss the sports dude and wish he were posting just relax, smile and picture me floating in an intertube down the lazy river.

Now, for the no so good portion of what could be a two week absence for the sports dude, the surgery part. That is right folks, the sports dude is going under the knife (or, rather, under the scope!) for a little arthoscopic knee surgery on the bum right knee. It has been bothering me for quite a few years now, an old basketball injury, and the sports dude finally had an MRI done on it this summer. As the doctor told me when he reviewed my case, if you are going to tear your medial meniscus you may as well do it right! So I am going in, getting it cleaned up and hopefully by summer I will be pain free and ready to go. Unfortunately about the only athletic thing the sports dude does nowadays is golf and the chasing of his three young sports dudes, but at least I will be able to do it pain free. So, if you are looking for me after next week I will be on a table, out cold and in a nice little hospital gown here, praying I wake up again when it is done and not in the middle of the surgery. Also, as I found out officially today, there will be physical therapy involved in my recovery time which means the sports dude has to start working out. Man, gone are the days where working out involved a recliner, a beer, a remote and a playstation controller, now I have to use weights and stuff!

Lastly, as yesterday was Thursday, I would like to give everyone my weekly hot chick update just for the hell of it. First I want to say, yep, she is still hot! Second, I would like to add that I have discovered her to be even hotter because she is a member of the dance team/cheerleading squad. Third I would like to add that she went out of way last night to sit right next to me even thought there were plenty of seats open in the class. And, last but not least, I got the old sympathy vote from her because I mentioned that the next time she sees me I will be on crutches and told her all about the surgery. That's right y'all, the sports dude played the sympathy card!

Later, wish me luck and I hope to return to your regularly scheduled blog-casting system in a matter of two weeks. The surgery is on Tuesday March 7, wish me luck, godspeed and I look forward to returning shortly after that. Later and keep the sports blog world going for me fellas! The sports dude.

Thursday this and that...

2006-02-23T11:55:00.000-05:00

Not too many people took to commenting on the hot chick debate so I guess I will just leave it at what it is, the sports dude should stick to sports. Fair enough, like I said I was just taking a chance at talking about a different subject for a change, now we move on. I would like to thank the sports pig for checking it out and just remind everyone that this is Thursday therefore it is hot chick night at school. All right, enough with that let us talk about sports for a few.

Well, apparently my good buddy Ian at Sweaty Men Endeavors is having issues with his man card, apparently he has watched the women’s figure skating for no other reason than because he can. Look, I gave him the outs and he at least appears willing to use them, as in he was watching to look at the flexibility of the women, the overall hotness of the women and really enjoys it when they do those “leg thingies” with their legs behind their heads. Also, I would like to congratulate the local hottie Tanith Belbin and that guy she skated with (I think his name was Ben Agosto, but come on, it was all about her) on the silver medal they won this week, man talk about eye candy… I mean a great accomplishment for them and this country, yeah, that is what I meant!

Locally, the Tigers are doing their spring training thing, saying all the right things, and having a blast down in Lakeland. Man, does that sound familiar or what? In fact I read an article the other day saying how Leyland was going to preach “situational hitting” and playing “little ball” and making sure guys got hitters home from third with less than one out. Sound familiar? Yeah, it was the same shit that Trammell had preached each spring he was there, how did it work out for the Tigers? That’s right, they sucked at it, sucked at all aspects of baseball and Tram got fired. Good luck Jimmy, good luck!

Next, the Americans are out of contention for a medal in hockey, does this shock anyone at all? I didn’t think so; in a country where hockey is barely a “blip” on the map what do you expect? It will always be the ugly step sister of sports (and I use the word “sport” there loosely) here in America, get over it!

The NBA trade deadline is right around the corner and I have already heard rumors on the radio this morning involving these players all coming to the Pistons – Iverson, Garnett, Mike James and Jesus Christ himself. Man, I love the trade deadline rumor wire, but come on, could you imagine if the Pistons got Jesus Christ? Look out Shaq and Wade; we got your equalizer now! Truth be told I don’t see them making anymore moves, although Mike James would be nice and is the most realistic, but all they have to offer is some random picks and Cato, there really isn’t much else there. In conclusion I only have two words for you – standing pat.

Lastly the Lions have made no progress; apparently Matt Millen is telling his coaches that Harrington will be given a chance no matter what. Yeah, if I was Martz and Marinelli I would quit right now, period, point blank, end of story. I also keep hearing and reading that, contrary to the shit Millen is spewing and selling, that the Lions are going to pursue Brees when, and if, he becomes available. Look, I like a wet bag of shit over Harrington, I think you all know that, but until we have a real QB on the roster (which is what Brees would be) then I am not getting my hopes up.

That is all I got for today, enjoy the rest of your Thursday and I will try to drop you all a line later. Peace – the sports dude.

The sports dude is calling it quits.

2006-02-20T15:06:00.000-05:00

Well, the sports dude has decided to hang it up, call it quits and ride off into the sunset… for a post at least, that is! Hah, did I scare you? Probably not, but at least I thought I would attempt it anyway. I am, however, partially telling the truth because, for a post at least, going to hang up my sports blogging shoes and take a ride down non-sports blogging lane and discuss something that has been mentioned quite a bit here lately – the hot chick.

See, this entire post comes from a conversation I had with my brother in law last weekend about said hot chick and I was wondering if anyone else out there had ever experienced anything like this before. For the record I would like to mention two things right off the bat – one, I am happily married (and yes, I stress the HAPPILY part) and two I have no desire or intentions to pursue anything with said hot chick. Not that there is anything to pursue, for the most part it has just been fun conversations and the like, but I just wanted to throw those disclaimers out there so that people did not think the sports dude was some cheater or evil bastard. However, what I wanted to discuss and get people’s comments on, I hope, is the conversation that my brother in law and I had on the hot chick and get some other peoples perspectives on it.

As you all are aware of by now, at least the two of you that read on a daily basis, in my Thursday literature class there is one extremely hot chick that I have enjoyed several nice conversations with and even walked her to her car a couple times, seeing how she was mugged recently and all, I figured I would be nice and offer. Not that the sports dude is exactly “ripped” or anything, actually nothing could be farther from the truth, but rather safety does come in numbers and I just felt like being nice. The point of the conversation my brother in law and I had was how different it is now that I have nothing to lose, as does he because he is also HAPPILY married and he himself, being a recent college grad, has experienced this same thing recently as well. What we were saying is that, since we had nothing to lose, we were more likely to talk to the said hot chicks in classes and engage ourselves in their company because, at this stage in life, we really have nothing to lose one way or the other.

What do you mean by that sports dude, what the hell are you talking about? Well, what I am saying is that, back in my earlier college days when I was “unhappily” single and looking for dates, him and I both agreed that there was no way in hell that we would have even fathomed having a conversation of any sort with a hot chick, it just wasn’t something we would have done. See, believe it or not, on the surface I may seem like a rather confident and out going guy, but underneath it all I am this shy little shit that had a hard time finding dates because I just had a hard time approaching women, it just wasn’t me. But now, seeing how I am off the market, have no intentions of going back on the market, happy and like I said have nothing to lose, I am enjoying college life like I should have in the first place, with a “who gives a shit” attitude about what people think of me. I am what I am, why not strike up a conversation with a hot chick and see what happens, and this semester I did just that and it worked. (There were no hot chicks last semester so I didn’t get the opportunity to have this type of fun before now.) Don’t get me wrong, I am not “playing” hot chick either, by that I mean not only do I have my wedding ring on the left finger (AKA branded) we had a group discussion a couple weeks ago about a book in which the main character went to Jamaica and I openly talked about my honeymoon there in front of the whole class. See, I am not trying to play her either, she as well as the rest of the class knows this man is married, but like I said it is just fun for me to experience life with confidence all of a sudden, you know, and talk to the hot chick and not be scared shitless about it.

So has anyone else experienced this sort of thing? Is the sports dude a horrible person for enjoying his college experience like this? What do you all think? Like I said, there are no intentions, there is no doubt that everyone knows I am married, all this is, basically, is what my brother in law and I said, a “nothing to lose” type of adventure. Agree? Disagree? Or are all of you saying “shut up sports dude, get back to sports dude?” Hey, feedback is fun; let me know what you think, later – the sports dude.

Monday Morning Randomness...

2006-02-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

Well, I got a midterm tonight, and you want to know what the sports dude did last night to prepare for it? That’s right, studied… the NBA All-Star game that is! Damn it all to hell Pistons, how could you do that to me? Of all the years to go and get four players in it had to be this year, didn’t it? I mean, if it was just Ben I probably would have skipped out on it, for me it is hard to watch Ben suffer when he is all alone out there. What do you mean suffer there sports dude? Well, just ask Pau Gasol who learned first hand, back to back, in a matter of two seconds why Ben is there in the first place… his defense! How cool was that watching Ben stuff the shit out of Gasol like that and how quickly he blocked him not once but twice? That is why I say suffer because if Ben were out there without his partners in crime he is like the sore thumb sticking out, why are you playing defense Ben? We don’t do that here! But seeing the four of them together, damn, that was cool and it was also the first time I watched an All-Star game in years.

Speaking of them being all together, can anyone else deny the fact that it was the four of them being in there together in the late third and early fourth quarters that brought the East back? Personally, if you ask me, Chauncey was the MVP because he was running the show when the comeback began, but we all know it goes to the “pretty” boy on each team, so it makes sense Lebron got it. Besides, Lebron can have that MVP, Chauncey already got the better one a couple years ago in the Finals and could (or should!) be in line to win the league MVP, plus maybe another Finals MVP as well. The point is something tells me Chauncey ain’t feeling too bad this morning, all things considered.

How out of place did Paul Pierce look in there with the Pistons, especially in the first quarter? I think he shot every time he touched the ball (shocking!) and boy did he look like a wet bag of shit misplaced and uncoordinated as hell. But hey, Flip had to use someone, maybe he used Pierce because he knew it would make him look bad and wanted to embarrass him, I don’t know, but he really looked like shit. Hey, did I mention yet that Pierce looked out of place out there?

Lastly, is there any doubt now that the Pistons are not only the best team in the NBA but they clearly have the five best starters in the league? I mean, they erased a 21 point deficit against the “Best of the West” without one of there own, and the “other guy” usually looked so out of place I felt bad for him? If anyone doubts what the Pistons have and what Joe D. has helped build then shame on them, they need to go get their head checked.

In other news, the Olympics apparently are still taking place and the Ice Dancers that train in Canton are in second place with only today’s event left. Yeah, I admit, I have watched a little ice dancing, but that is only because Tanith Belbin is so damn hot! In all honesty is there any other reason to watch that stuff? (If you said yes, and you are a male, please leave you man card at the door!) I also enjoyed the replay of that snow boarding race in which the Lindsay Jacobellis totally bought it at the end and lost the gold, what a screw up that was! Guess she must have thought someone stole her Visa Check Card or something and freaked out! (Yeah, I am sure no one else made that joke yet either!) But whatever that event was called, the downhill motor cross half pipe snow board thingy was awesome, how about that other wipe out in the final where the chick bought it and went into the fence? Man, if all the Winter Olympic Sports were like that I would tune in all the time.

Lastly I guess there was some race somewhere with these fast cars that go in a circle, well actually more like an oval, for about 100 some odd laps or so and every now and then one crashes or something? Did that happen over the weekend? Yeah, if you guessed it, I am not a big NASCAR fan, I put it right up there (or should I say down there?) with hockey. In fact, I always mess with the “token” hockey fan here at work and tell him that hockey is simply NASCAR on ice. The rink and the track are about the same shape and every now and then someone or something flies into the boards. The NHL has intermissions and NASCAR has pit stops, there is a zamboni in one and a pace car in the other, see what I am saying? He doesn’t appreciate it too much but what do I care; I just love messing with the dude.

Well, there you have it, the sports dude showed up on a Monday and gave you all a post to chew on and digest, enjoy! Oh, and please, no choking… the sports dude.

The Friday List

2006-02-17T10:35:00.000-05:00

Well, well, well, two posts in one week, which is almost unheard of in these parts isn’t it? Man it is really sad what I have let my blog become but I am not going to waste your time with sorrow, instead I will try and share some brief thoughts with you quickly. Here is something that I am going to try and stick to, a Friday list of things that happened in the week that I feel were of note.

Lions presser – I only listened to bits and pieces of it, work has been just as busy as school, but the pedigree is definitely there. Henderson seems like he will play defense the way Marinelli wants it and Martz is a genius, right? I tell you what, if he even turns Joey into “serviceable” then I will buy a t-shirt that says “E=M(artz)C2” because I still don’t think Joey will ever be worth a damn.

Pistons trade – Darko and Arroyo to Orlando for 8.5 million in cap relief and a first round pick in 2027. Look, I think we all know Darko was never going to play enough here, there was just no way. Arroyo didn’t fit, but I hope Joe sticks to his word and tries to send Cato to someone for another PG. My final thought on the “great debate” is this, Darko was the best option for the Pistons at #2 at that time, life goes on, and that is that. Carmelo would not have fit; Wade and Bosh were not household names, period, and end of story.

Tigers in spring training – that’s right folks, love springs eternal! The Tigers are back to torment us yet again with dreams of a winning season and hope, yes hope. I think we all can say that all we really want is a damn winning season, crap I will take two games over .500 at this point! I think that is along the lines of what you will but it is, at least, a start.

NBA All-Star Game – well, it is this weekend and when I am not studying for my damn midterm on Monday I hope to watch, but only to see the Pistons enter all at once. I also can not wait to see what sorry sap gets to be the fifth man with the Pistons and watch as they totally shut him out of the offense. Yeah, that’s right fifth man, you will see what team ball is all about bitch! Lastly, if I were Flip, I would play them for maybe five minutes in the first half, five in the second, and then run the rest of the Eastern Stars into the ground.

U of M and MSU basketball – what the hell guys? Are you trying to compete for the team that has the worse record than the other? Shit, they are both playing like crap right now.

The Olympics – is anyone really watching? Me, I have not watched a lick, but that is because there are no real good events in the Winter Olympics. Hockey? Yeah right, that is the same damn thing as figure skating; just the players are a lot uglier. I would have liked to have seen some of the snow boarding events, the skiing events, and even the luge and bobsled are pretty cool, but beyond that I say “why bother?”

Gretzky – old news, but I still find it funny, how the hell are you going to bring down “The Great One?” It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds.

Super Hot Chick – come on, how could I not mention her? Had my Thursday class with her last night and, as always, it was enjoyable.

Peace out and I will talk to you all soon – the sports dude.

What is this? Is it really a post? Hell yeah!!

2006-02-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

Man, this old blog of mine is really getting lame, isn’t it? Seems like ever since I got put in the pages of “Deadspin” that my blog has taken a turn for the worse, kind of like the Madden jinx I suppose. I would like to thank you all for continuing to check, I promise to be a better blogger in the future, but damn if life isn’t moving at a hundred miles a minute. For the most part I have missed some sort of hockey scandal (not that I care for hockey!) that involves “The Great One” and his wife, whats-her-face. Kind of reminds me of basketballs great conspiracy theory from back in the day, you know when Jordan “retired” from basketball right around the time some bookie slips were found with his name on it. Come on people, we all know he didn’t retire right? We all know that Stern and him had some behind the scenes deal to just disappear for awhile until it all blew over. I mean, can you imagine the shit storm if Stern had to ban Jordan, who was the NBA for Christ sakes, for life because of it? Just thought that I would mention it because I have always loved that one.

So, what else is going on? Well, the Winter Olympics but again I chalk that up in the “does anyone really care” category. Are there really any interesting sports going on in the Winter Olympics? I mean you have figure skating (both female, male and NHL versions) and skiing, but again I say does anyone care? I haven’t watched a lick, at least not on purpose, and until the NBA resumes next week will be happy taking some time off from sports.

Baseball has begun again; the catchers and pitchers have started to report for active duty. The Lions have hired Mike Martz for the seventh time, the Wolverines finally got smart and dumped Herrmann and Malone, the Spartans and Wolverines in basketball seem to be forgetting that you are suppose to win more than lose and tomorrow I have my literature class with super hot chick again. That about sums it up right there, except for the NBA All-Star game with four Pistons (long overdue recognition) and the second half with Dallas and San Antonio on our tails for the best record there is little to discuss. I look forward to seeing Flip insert all four guys at one time but then I hope he rests them and wears the hell out of the rest of the guys on the roster.

Now let me put forth my opinion on the hot topic of the week, Darko and Arroyo for spare change, a broken player and some first round pick eventually. I have yet to read other bloggers opinions on it, I will do that after posting mine here, but here is what I think and I hope I am not stealing any thunder. I will start by saying that I am tired of hearing about Bosh, about Wade, and anyone else the Pistons passed to take “Busto”, I mean Darko. Look, I distinctly remember that draft and there were only three names being mentioned hot and heavy folks, Lebron, Darko and Carmelo, that was it. If I recall no one at that time had any clue that Wade would be what he is today, no one thought Bosh was going to be this solid. Everyone knew that Lebron was going to Cleveland so it was simply a matter of Darko or Carmelo for the Pistons, plain and simple. I think we all know that Carmelo had no place to play on this team (I still would take Prince over him any day) so why not take a chance on Darko? It was a project, we all know it, but the project is failing because the project doesn’t want to sit, learn and be patient for the next three years until Ben retires or ‘Sheed retires. Quite frankly the project has turned into a whining little bitch that simply “wants to play”, doesn’t want to work for it, doesn’t feel he should earn it, so quite frankly here is you ticket out of town buddy, enjoy your time on a perennial loser of a team like Orlando.

As far as the trade itself if I was the Pistons I would take the first rounder in any way, shape or form, get it while the getting is good. Cato is a salary dump, that is about it, and the first rounder could be useful to get a point guard in here to learn from Billups now (I just don’t trust Acker) and sit and watch like Darko should have. Does this mean Darko is a failure or that Joe is a lousy GM? In my mind no, how many teams can take the #2 pick in the draft simply for the hell of it? Not too many, that is for sure. They took it because they really just were drafting a project for themselves, what the hell else can you say? The project failed, but ask yourself this (as I stated before) did anyone know what Bosh and Wade would become? Furthermore, what makes you think Bosh would have played, wouldn’t he still have been behind Rasheed, Ben and McDyess? How about Wade, don’t you think he would have been behind Rip and Prince? Wade was a starter from day one in Miami, he would not have had that luxury here, and so what makes anyone think he would have gotten the chance to develop like this? Quite frankly I don’t think he would have and we all would be saying this following statement:

“DAMN MAN, LOOK AT DARKO DOWN THERE PLAYING IN (INSERT LOTTERY TEAMS NAME HERE), CAN YOU BELIEVE WE PASSED HIM UP AT #2 FOR WADE’BOSH? THOSE CATS ARE JUST SITTING AT THE END OF THE BENCH, TAKING UP SPACE, CRYING ABOUT MINUTES AND NOT EARNING A DAMN THING… ESCEPT A PAYCHECK.”

Funny how things work, doesn’t it? I still think it was a good move, I still think Darko will be a decent pro someday, but he is just too impatient and clearly doesn’t want to wait. Wish granted, here is your ticket out of town and playing time, just don’t feel bad why the Pistons are still winning Championships the next couple years and you are playing, just on a team that is struggling to finish at .500.

That is it, more later (I hope) so until then see you all later! The sports dude.

What an amazing week!

2006-02-10T12:34:00.000-05:00

Damn, there has been so much going on this week it is not even funny! Of all the weeks to get busy at work (damn my bosses, don't they know I have a blog to run here!) it had to be this week when so much has happened. As it stands right now I have little or no time, but the big wigs are all still at lunch, so if I may take a brief few moments to discuss the joyous events of this week I will do so.

First, I guess the on again, off again, back on, nope it's off, just kidding it is on again... relationship with Mike Martz has come to fruition. I do like the hiring overall, I really do, the only thing that scares me is the personnel he has to work with. Like say our undersized offensive line? Or how about our underachieving divas at the receiver position in Rogers and Williams? Or how about our QB who couldn't hit the side of a barn with a pass? Here is a link to Drew Sharp's article today in the Freep and for once I actually agree with him.

Next I would like to point to the Freep again and say "about damn time" that the Pistons get the freaking respect they deserve, sort of. I say "sort of" because, I am sorry, I hate the way All-Star games are run, I really do. To me it really should be the coaches who pick the starters and let the fans pick the damn bench warming scrubs. Seriously, the starters should be the five most deserving men in the sport and are there any better than the Pistons starting five? If you answered yes then slap yourself upside the head five times, one from each starter, and never watch a NBA game again, you don't deserve it! I also like the fact that Saunders is going to put all four of them in the game at the same time, I can not wait to see them take it to the "Best of the West" together. Very proud and it is long overdue!

Lastly, and by far this is the best news I have seen in years, Jim Herrmann is out as defensive coordinator at U of M. Bless the Lord, all praise Jesus, my prayers have been answered! I have not seen anything in the sports section in years that has made me this happy. In fact, when I heard the news on the way to school yesterday my day was made, that and the fact my Thursday class has this super hot chick in it, but the Herrmann news was good too! Maybe finally if we have a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter we will keep it and increase it too, since we got a new offensive coordinator as well! Man, I am so happy about these moves September can not get here fast enough.

Well, aside from that, the Super Bowl came and went and the city of Detroit impressed the hell out of everyone. I would love to see the revival continue but with Kwame in office I doubt it will. In fact I would be willing to bet that, hypothetically speaking here of course, if the Super Bowl came back in ten years the city would look exactly the same, if not worse, thanks to that wet bag of shit. Hey, can you tell I am a Kwame hater? Put him right up there with Kobe I do.

Peace out and hopefully I can get back to not ignoring this damn thing! The sports dude.

My liver, the Super Bowl and thank you.

2006-02-06T11:45:00.000-05:00

Man, what a weekend for drinking this was, I still have alcohol coming out of my pores! It started on Friday when me and some family members took my younger cousin out to celebrate his 21st birthday and just kept going. Saturday was a “Vegas Night” themed party at my cousins’ house, same ones, and that was a nonstop beer and shot filled night and the party ended on Sunday with the Super Bowl. Needless to say I am still sweating out alcohol and my liver is quite pissed off at the abuse it took, but I survived, I am here, and now we can talk about the game a little shall we?

I guess I will start with the best part of every Super Bowl, the commercials, who cares about the game anyway? There are only a few real memorable ones that come to mind, like the poor guy working with all the monkeys and such, which kind of made me chuckle a little bit. I did like the version with the jack asses better because it made me feel right at home with my own work place, I work with a great combination of jack asses and monkeys, we have great balance here at my office! Another one that comes to mind, and it may be my favorite, was the “FedEx” one with the cavemen and such, recalling that one right now is making me laugh all over again. It was just so perfect, him getting fired for something that doesn’t even exist (can we all relate to that?), kicking the shit out of the little dinosaur right before he gets squashed. Hilarious! It reminded me of a cartoon from when I was a kid called “Bambi Meets Godzilla”, something that as a young child made me laugh non stop every time I watched it. I enjoyed the Budweiser streaking sheep, the “GoDaddy.com” one was great for the old eye candy angle, and the “Magic Beer Fridge” was just your typical stupid guy one that was amusing as well. I know I am missing a couple, but those are the only ones that I can recall at this time, like I said, I still am a little fuzzy.

The game went rather quick, if you ask me, I could hardly believe it was only 9:30 and the third quarter was well under way. Hey man, trust me, I ain’t complaining about going to bed early and sleeping off my alcohol induced weekend state of mind, but I was really surprised about how quick it went. Yes there were questionable calls but I don’t know if I would go as far as to call it a conspiracy theory or anything like that. I will say the Seattle should have had the games first TD, that “offensive interference” was a rather shady call at best. The other call that comes to mind is Roethlesberger’s “QB sneak” and I keep going back and forth on that one and I think it was right to let the TD stand. We all know that it was called a TD and it can not be overturned without “conclusive evidence” and that is why I say letting it stand was the right call, you could not tell whether or not the ball crossed the goal line before the knee went down. From the side angle I say it did but from the other angles it looked shady, plus you could not tell how he was holding the ball. If the ball was in his hand, near the wrist, then yes the tip of the ball made it across; his wrist crossed the line before the knee went down. But if he was holding the ball differently then I am not too sure, but the play stood and the Steelers got six.

The only other thing of note that I would like to discuss is the end of the game and what the hell happened to Mike Holgrem, where did he go? My cousin asked me “Why does Cowler look so pissed, he just won right?” I agree, I have never seen a Super Bowl winning coach looked so pissed, but he looked like he was ready to put pads on and take someone out. I ponder for a minute and then read his lips and he asked the question to the people standing around him, “Where’s Mike?” That is right folks, he was looking for Holgrem to do the traditional post game congrats/hug with the opposing coach but he couldn’t find him, and the cat was standing at midfield, it wasn’t like he was hiding! Unfortunately they cut to commercial and by the time I got back from starting the clean up process at my basement bar (damn straight ya’ll, the sports dude has got a mans room!) they were doing the stage presentation and stuff like that, so I am curious here people, help me out, did Mike ever come up to Bill? Or did he snub him? We all remember Phil Jackson and the infamous “cold fish” handshake he gave Larry Brown after the 2004 Finals, did Mike go one step further and just give a snub? I missed it and I just would like to know.

Well, lastly I would like to link to this little diddy over at “Deadspin”, apparently the old sports dude got a little honorable mention in an article there for his blogging on the Pistons. No, I am not typing this to stroke the old ego; rather I am bringing it to note to say thanks to all of you for making it possible. Without the readers and fellow blogging friends that stop by from time to time this is just a place for me to talk to myself and people already think I am crazy enough as it is, so that would not go over too well if you ask me. So I say thanks for reading and helping me get that honorable mention, it would not have happened if it were not for all of you.

All right, that is enough ass kissing for one day, now I got to get back to work and quite frankly so should all of you! What would your boss say if he knew you were using company time to read my blog? Well, if he was cool he would say “I love that blog”, but most likely he would give you a pink slip or something. Peace – the sobering up sports dude.

Finally a post! Sorry ya'll!

2006-02-01T11:10:00.000-05:00

Man, I hate school this semester, I really do. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that I am back in school and working towards a degree in a field that I actually want to be in, but damn if this semester is not kicking my ass! If you haven’t heard me bitch about it before, here it is, I have a literature class this semester, the reading of fiction. Look, I am not trying to say I hate reading, in fact I wish I had more time to read, but the book selection so far has been horrid and, to make matters worse, the pace at which we have to read is insane. Basically, so you all understand it better because I know you want too, is I have a 14 week semester and have to squeeze in four novels people, which on average are about 300 pages long! Plus, on top of that, we have a book of short stories that we are required to read, we get about three assigned to us each week, and we have to analyze them and all this other crap! The first novel I am reading (“Rule of the Bone” by Russell Banks) is the biggest piece of shit I have ever read in my life, and I am only a third of the way done. I think my biggest problem with the book is the way it is written, as in there is no structure what so ever! You could have an entire page that contains only three sentences… that is right, the man is in love with run-ons! And, to top it off, he doesn’t use quotation marks when people are having conversations; it is driving me absolutely insane! Oh, one last thing too, I also have a 250 page book that I have to read for my “Intro to Sociology” class by March as well. All right, now that the bitching is out of the way, I guess I will briefly turn my attention to sports for awhile.

The Pistons lost last night, so is the sky falling or what? Look, I missed the first half but watched the second, and it just looked to me like they were tired. The shots they normally hit in their sleep were not falling and you could tell the Nets were more amped up for the game. Besides, hopefully last night will remind them to not fall in love with the three ball so much, something they have done lately. The amazing thing about the Pistons is that they have not lost back to back games this season and there is a reason, it seems each loss is a reality check, a slap in the face, a wake up call. They got too much one on one earlier in the season, the loss to Utah, Ben Wallace speaks up and they put a run together. Hopefully this game will be the same and they will start to look inside a little more, I am not saying give up the three, but maybe just spend a little less quality time with it, that is all.

The Lions appear to be putting together a pretty decent coaching staff here folks, at least on paper. I like the Donnie Henderson hiring as defensive coordinator, he has some pedigree there and I think him and Marinelli will work nicely together. Now, as far as Mike Martz is concerned, it sounds like a done deal and for a harmless one year stint, so I guess it can’t be that bad. The only question I have for Martz is (I am sure it is an old joke by now but I still like it anyway) if you have a bad heart fella why would you want to come here? I mean, you do know that Joey Harrington is our QB right? You know he is about as accurate as a school girl right? Are you just asking for more heart problems? I know that you worked a miracle with Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger, but I don’t know if you can do it with Joey but I wish you well. At the very least maybe you can do what you did for Warner but in the opposite, as in you took Warner from stocking shelves to NFL QB so maybe you can take Joey from NFL QB to shelf stocking. That is if he could hit the wide open shelves with the groceries and not miss.

Lastly, and I hope I can do a more extensive post on it later in the week; I would like to talk about the Super Bowl for a second. I am sticking with Pittsburgh, although I think Seattle will give them a run for the money. I do not expect a blowout, I don’t expect a high scoring game, and I expect one of the best, most evenly matched Super Bowls in awhile. I think it will come down to the fourth quarter, who can control the clock and whom can grind it out the best. In that case I give the edge to the Steelers because they got “The Bus” baby and I think he will end his career in the most special of ways, which is rare and most deserved. My final score guess is:

Steelers 27, Seahawks 21

That is all for now, back to work and back to reading, peace out! The sports dude.

Bless You Boys, the sequel.

2006-01-26T15:12:00.000-05:00

So the Pistons are 35-5 and have matched the infamous start that the Tigers had in 1984 and a lot of people seem to be asking the question “which is more impressive, doing that in baseball or basketball?” Personally I really do not have an opinion on that subject, mostly because I was about 7 years old in 1984 and barely remember it. I do remember going one of the World Series games, my dad scored some tickets, and all I remember about it is my parents holding on to me for dear life as we walked to the stadium and constantly saying “don’t look at anyone!” So I guess in that aspect some things have not changed, there are still some dark and scary places downtown, revival or not, but besides that how different are these two things? I say it is like comparing apples to oranges, there are some similarities (they are both a fruit and good for you) but the bottom line is that, no matter how you slice it (no pun intended) they will never truly be the same.

I guess the bottom line is, for the Pistons, if this fast start turns into anything but a Championship it would be a major disappointment. All along the players have said the same things, all the while the machine keeps moving along, that the number of wins doesn’t have to be record breaking as long as it is enough to get all game #7’s (if any are needed) on their home court. Whether that ends up being somewhere in the 60’s or 70’s I truly think these guys could care less and that is the thing that continues to impress me the most with these guys. There truly is some weird drive in them and, even though it is extremely played out if you ask me, they just seem to have some internal switch that they simply can turn on when they need it. Like last night, after they went down by four in OT, I truly thought it was over but the next thing you know – BAM – they are up by four, just like that. A ‘Sheed three, a Rip steal, a Billups jumper and the game went from a loss to a win. I will say this much though, at least the game woke me up enough to finish my homework, can someone tell me how something 50 pages long can be considered a short story? Well, I had to read one last night and the game got the adrenaline flowing just enough to help me finish the damn thing! Thanks Pistons, you help me in more ways than one.

Back to the 35-5 comparisons for a moment, I wish I could give an honest opinion on the matter but I really can’t. The parallels are eerily similar though, as in both teams just came out of the gate and ran, neither team really had any true “star” power that got a lot of respect. Wasn’t it Trammell that should have won MVP in 1984? Isn’t it today that no member of that 1984 team is even close to the Hall of Fame? I mean, if Ryne Sandberg can get in, crap even Ozzie Smith, how can you deny Tram? Even Jack Morris is getting screwed, but I think a lot of that has to do with how he treated the media and maybe now they are getting just a little revenge on the poor dude. Now look at the Pistons, are any of them going to start in the All-Star game? Not even close my friends. Has Billups or Rip even been there when arguably they have been the best Eastern Conference back court for a couple years now? Nope, neither has ever been. In fact, Chauncey was a rare thing in the 2004 Finals – a Finals MVP that had never been in an All-Star game. The Pistons are 35-5; surely they must have had a couple players of the week awards by now right? Nope, only one, Rip got it last week, the first person to do so and the season is what, 12 or 13 weeks old? I know the players don’t care too much, at least not publicly, and they definitely use it to help fuel their fire but damn, when is enough going to be enough? Lastly I am also tired of all this “81” point crap, the Pistons are off to the second best 40 game start in NBA history (three teams had 37-3 starts) and all we keep hearing about is individual ball hogs who are only interested in personal glory and jersey sales. I tell you what, I truly hope the Pistons run away with the Title this June, not just win it but run away with it at an all out sprint, maybe then they will get the respect they are long overdue. I doubt it still, I am sure it will still be the same crap we heard with the Lakers, you know the whole “caught them at the right time” garbage, but hey, it is what it is right?

Well, there you go, that is what I think about the Pistons, the 35-5 and all other things that are truly amazing, a word that doesn’t even begin to touch what the Pistons have done so far. To me, Rasheed said it best at the beginning of the season when asked about being over looked, and the quote is right here on my page, he said "We'll see them bandwagon ass-cats come May & June". Peace out – the sports dude.

Wednesday is FSN link day... I guess?!?!

2006-01-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press had a nice story up today on Fox Sports Net, here is the link. You know, I hate to jinx the cat, but I really like his writing style... reminds me of a young Mitch Albom and that is where the jinx comes in. I used to love reading Mitch, I really did, until he became full of himself and totally detached from the people of Detroit. Anyway, back to the story and one Michael Rosenberg here, the piece was nice and is definitely worth the read. In it he talks about how great a sports city Detroit is, how much pride the people take in the city and how it does not deserve the bad rep it gets. I agree with what he said on all counts and, like I said, really enjoy reading this guy.

Here is another pretty interesting article from Fox Sports Net concerning ball hog Kobe and the damn “81” again. However it contains an interesting twist, you see, because it is about Vince Carter talking about how he feels crap like that is sending a poor message to the kids. Look, I may not go that far, but I do agree with Carter and how he says crap like that is destroying team ball. Like I said, call me a “hater” if you must but damn, that performance was nothing but sick (in a bad way!), all about personal glory and just plain ball hogging madness. End of story, I don’t want to hear about it anymore.

Another interesting story, yet again from FSN, was this little diddy here about NY Knicks President Isiah Thomas and the accusations for sexual harassment being brought against him. Look, the sports dude is not here to pass judgment, I am not saying this is true or this is false, all I am saying is “WOW!” Plus, I would like to say, if you are going to accuse Zeke of anything, how about going after him for being a lousy executive? I mean the proof is all there, no eye for free agent talent, signing aging veterans to huge contracts, have a bunch of over priced bloated money on your salary cap and running a storied franchise into the ground. Come on, now that is easy to prosecute.

Lastly I send you, yet again, to another FSN story about one Crazy-Ass Artest and his refusal to go to the Kings. Apparently the deal was all but done, crap Peja didn’t even show up to the Kings game last night, but Sacramento is not good enough for Ronnie and he said he isn’t going there. Look, this guy is an asshole; can we all agree on that now? He screwed up last year (to put it VERY mildly!) by causing the brawl, and yes it was 99.9% his fault. What did the Pacers do? Did they cut him? Banish him? No, they stood behind him and helped him in anyway they could. What does he do this season when he gets back? Pisses and moans like a baby and says he wants a trade. Please, how can anyone not tell me that is simply like stabbing someone in the back? I am surprised Larry Bird, a dirty player in his days, didn’t just take Artest outside and pound him into the ground. The Pacers now have had a black cloud hanging over them this season, again, because of Artest; last year it was the brawl, and this year it is “when are we going to get an extra body here for Ronnie?” Seriously, beside the fact I think Stern should have kicked him out of the league for good, when will the Pacers just say screw it and shut him down for good? I know they need the player but damn, when is enough simply enough? I still think he should be traded to a bigger bottom feeder than the Kings (please see the Raptors, Bobcats, Hawks or Trailblazers for more info) simply because that guy doesn’t deserve any of the treatment he is getting. The Pacers hands are tied, I understand that, they need a body and at least want something in return, but screw the guy like he has screwed you for two years now… send the wet bag of shit to a wet bag of shit team, plain and simple. Damn, why did Stern even let him back?

Well, that is my rant for today; I guess I will talk to you all later – peace! The sports dude.

Tidbits updated...

2006-01-24T15:32:00.000-05:00

Apparently the wait is over, according to the radio and barring failed physicals and league approval, the Pacers have shipped Ron (Mike Tyson Jr.) to the Kings for Peja Stojakovic. My opinion, well, the Pacers now have another outside shooter who is afraid to go to the basket (Stephen Jackson Jr.) and really we all know that Peja has always been Tayshaun's bitch. The trade does not scare me and really I am just glad that the deal is done so maybe we will all do what is best for Artest and forget about him. That is until he bites someone's ear off or something.

Another little tidbit I heard on the radio is that the Lions are ready to hire ex-Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson as their defensive coordinator. Don't know much about him but apparently some people thought he should have been hired as the Lions head coach in the first place so it sounds like a good fit.

Later - the sports dude.

Tuesday Tidbits.

2006-01-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

Man, what a day for some good old fashioned random tidbits from yours truly, the sports dude. Want a taste?

Ladies and gentlemen, hell has officially frozen over, pigs undoubtedly are flying and I think the sky may fall at any moment; Dick Jauron has been hired as the next coach of the Buffalo Bills. That is right folks, a former Lions coach actually got rehired, at the pro level, can you believe someone actually wants a Lions retread?

Detroit rolls into Minnesota tonight for yet another reunion game, of sorts, in this horrible season of basketball that they are putting together. I mean not a single one of the Pistons players has come close to 81 points, they should be ashamed. Forget about “team” ball, forget about 33-5, forget about the Title, the home court advantage, throw all that out the window folks and get me a ball hog that can score 81 points in a game. Wait a minute, I got off on a tangent (or rant, whatever!?!?) what was I talking about again? Oh yeah, the reunion game, Flip back in his own stomping grounds for the first time since he was fired last Feb. 2nd by his “good old buddy” Kevin McHale. Good thing you got rid of that lousy coach there Mr. McHale, look at what he has done to the Pistons! He took a team that won a title in 2004, was minutes from one in 2005 and has turned them into a 33-5 wreck of a team. Damn you Flip, what a horrible coach!

Another Piston moment here, if you will, and it is all this “matching the Tigers and going 35-5” crap that I keep hearing about. People please, shut up and let it go, why would you want to jinx the Pistons and start throwing Tigers crap at them? Seriously folks, let it go, before it is too late!

MGOBLUE Blog first hinted at this the other day and then at lunch I read it at the bottom of “The Ticker” in the Detroit Free Press, supposedly the Dallas Cowboys have some interest in one Jim Herrmann and are looking at him for a linebacker coach. Man, could you see that, Herrmann crossing paths with Bill Parcells? Seriously, don’t you think Parcels is going to make him cry? Besides, what the hell is he going to teach those LB’s anyway? How not to tackle? How not to be aggressive? How not to cover the middle of the field? Or, to just put it plainly, how to play defense as to not lose? Man, can you tell I really am going to miss that guy, that is, if my prayers are answered and he is gone? Now when is another team going to start looking at Terry Malone, the offensive coordinator?

Hey, did anyone figure out yet that I think Kobe is overrated and I am, as some of those other sites state, a “hater”? What the hell is a "hater", man that word just really never sat well with me, something about that whole improper English thing or something, but hey, what do I know, I am just a “hater”.

The Super Bowl is set and yes the sports dude is happy that the Steelers are in it. Hey, I don’t know if you guys heard this yet or not, but Jerome Bettis is from here? Can you believe it? Man, what a story, I can not wait to hear about it, read about it, listen about it (hey, I am a "hater", I can use improper English too!), have it forced fed to me for breakfast, lunch and dinner... you get the point! Yes, I am happy for the Bus but damn, are you all going to start following him into restrooms next to see if he wads up his toilet paper or folds it? Come on, give me a break. Oh, I would also like to point out that Larry Foote and Jermane Tuman of the Steelers and Steve Hutchinson of the Seahawks are all from U of M and playing in the Super Bowl. In turn I checked and I would like to let the sports pig know that I could not find any Spartans anywhere on the rosters, but I will keep looking. Hey, maybe the towel boy is from MSU on one of those teams. I kid sports pig, you for sure will get your revenge this week when the Spartans beat the Wolverines 1,000 to 7.5 in basketball, and then we will be good.

Well, that is really all the weird crap that I can think of right now that I felt was necessary to get out. I would like to mention I have added a couple new friends to the linkage on yer right, one being “http://thewaynefontesexperience.blogspot.com/” and the other I updated my U of M “M-Live” link and it is now a new site called “The Diag”. I would like to welcome them to my humble “bloggy-blog” and apologize to the goofy white guy because I meant to add him a whole lot sooner then I did but, you know, I get lazy and stuff sometimes. All right, I quit, that is enough tidbits for one day… peace! The sports dude.

Monday Babbles...

2006-01-23T11:57:00.000-05:00

So the Super Bowl is set and yes my friends I still have plenty of reason to watch. It is also a somewhat historical game for both teams, the Steelers being the first #6 seed to make it (they seed teams in the NFL Playoffs?) and the Seahawks making it for the first time in franchise history. Also on that note, it now puts the Lions in some very prestigious company… the Saints, the Cardinals and yes, our laughable Lions, are now the last remaining teams to not make the Super Bowl. Boy, aren’t we all a bunch of proud parents today? It could have been worse though, if you believe it, one of the last expansion teams (Carolina) could have made it for the second time before we even got to our first! But hey, let us just be thankful we are in the same class as the Saints and Cardinals for a second and reflect on what that truly means. Now excuse me, I have to go shoot myself!

Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a game last night, the second highest point total since Wilt Chamberlain dropped a century mark on a team back in the day. What does this mean to all of us? That Kobe is great, that Kobe is ready to take the Lakers to the next level? That Kobe is all that and a bag of chips? No, it just means that he is a freaking ball hog and is only interested in personal glory. I heard it on the radio this morning on my drive in and I simply said “Wow, I wish I was Kobe’s teammate so that I could just stand there and watch him shoot 46 times in one game!” It is this exact type of performance that brings down the NBA game, if you ask me, and is why I am rooting for the Pistons to win the title this year more than ever. Not only because they are my home team, my favorite team, but because they are just that… a freaking team! Seriously folks, look at what has happened to them already this year, by National Networks, not once but twice! The first time, on Christmas Day, they were the opening game of a national double header on NBC, the JV to the Varsity, in a Finals rematch against the Spurs. Who was the second game might you ask? No, it wasn’t the Lakers and Heat, that answer is incorrect, it was Kobe against Shaq, along with some other dudes in uniforms as well. The second time it happened it was brought to you by none other than TNT, again they played the Spurs in a warm-up game to “Lebron .vs. Kobe”, no it was not the Cavs against the Lakers, it was poster boy against poster boy, star against star. You want to know why fans sometimes get turned off by this crap that the NBA is pushing, or should I say pimping? Because they themselves forget that it is suppose to be a team game, they don’t pimp the Pistons, they don’t pimp the Spurs, they pimp the jerseys and the names they put on the backs of them. Shit, at least the Spurs have Tim Duncan; the Pistons just have a bunch of teammates, how flashy is that? Man I hope the Pistons just walk away with the Title, I can already see David Stern squirming with the fear of another Pistons-Spurs Finals match-up. In fact, even though it would mean nothing if they don’t win the Title, I would love to see the Pistons get to 70 somehow, I mean could you imagine, an actual “team” winning 70 and not just a player (as in Jordan) doing it? What would Stern do, would he be forced to pimp an actual team? Man, I would love to see that.

The Tigers are somewhere on a bus right now, touring the state and trying to get us excited about baseball in these parts again. Are you excited? Are you feeling it? I am, but not because I think they are going to make the playoffs, rather only because at heart this is a baseball town and we are all just sick and twisted at heart. Shit, give me a .500 team and I will be down in the “D” flipping and burning cars simply because that is about as close of a reason as we get. Look, if they stay healthy and if the cards fall this is a .500 team, bare minimum, but that is about it folks right? I will say this; at least they got the seating chart right on the buses, because I read that Kenny Rogers is supposed to be on the same bus as fellow lefty starters Maroth and Robertson. Let’s just hope he is teaching them about pitching style and not improper cameraman etiquette shall we? Come on, give me a break, I had to take one shot at the cat for goodness sakes!

Beyond that I got nothing else today folks, I really don’t. My classes are already driving me crazy, if you want to know the truth, I have twelve weeks to read five novels and I am not looking forward to that at all! I mean when the hell is the sports dude supposed to read his sports section and blog? Don’t these professors know who I am? Well, I am sure they don’t and even if they did something tells me they would care less. I also finally watched “Batman Begins” this weekend and it was awesome, and that is putting it mildly! Beyond that, I say again, I am at a loss for words and will sign of now. Peace the fork out and have a nice day – the sports dude.

Weekend Warrior - Final Four Edition.

2006-01-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

Not a lot of time today, so here is the “Final Four” version of the NFL Playoffs.

Pittsburgh at Denver

Well, Pittsburgh did the unthinkable last week and still gave me a reason to watch the NFL Playoffs. Look, Saturday night was a very sad time for me, the Patriots all but imploded and it was a very strange thing to watch that happen. However, the Steelers gave me reason to still believe and pay attention by all but blitzing old softy (a.k.a. Peyton Manning) out of the playoffs, even though the refs did their best to try and hand the game to the Colts. All that aside, you know I am pulling for the Steelers and somewhere up in heaven (if you believe in that anyway!) my grandpa is looking down and saying “you better be boy, especially after you pulled for the Patriots to beat them last year!”. Well grandpa, no hard feelings, but since the Pats lost I can now do you right by rooting for the Steelers. Look, they are on a roll and, even though Denver is now 9-0 at home this season, I just can not pick against them for two reasons; first my heart and second that defense looked awful good man! I think it will be a good game, a close game, but I think the Bus and Willie Parker will control the game on the ground, keep the clock moving and there will be no fumbles this week.

Pittsburgh 23, Denver 20

Carolina at Seattle

I am torn here between a team that I really do not care about (Seattle) and a team that is somewhat hit or miss with me (Carolina). Instincts tell me that I should just go for it and pick both the road teams to win this weekend, but can I really do that? The best way I can answer that is with a simple no, but only because the Panthers are without their starting running back (Deshaun Foster). If he were in I might say go for it and pick Carolina, but darn it even though Steve Smith is playing awesome right now I just don’t think it will be enough. Something tells me that Mike Holgrem will finally get the Seahawks to the Super Bowl; something tells me that Shaun Alexander will have a really great game and something tells me there will be little (thanks to some untimely injuries) that the Panthers will be able to do about it. Carolina has done a nice job of winning on the road this playoff season so far but this time I think they will come up a little short.

Seattle 27, Carolina 19

Well, there you go, I was 3-1 the first weekend but fell off to 2-2 last weekend. I guess 5-3 is not that bad, but as long as I get the Steelers pick right this weekend that is all right with me. Peace out, football responsibly and let’s hope the Bus is coming to the D! Be careful, stay safe and see you all next week… the sports dude.

I'll take the angel hair pasta with the Marinelli sauce please.

2006-01-19T15:23:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know, the title is a little played out, I am sure, but damn I had to use it. I was also thinking along the lines of “MMMM…goodness!” – You know, stressing the four “M’s” there for Marty, Mooch, Marinelli and Millen, but I went with the pasta angle instead. So sue me if you will, you all know by now the sports dude enjoys the silly angles and abstract views in the sports world. That is my job, that is what I do, and whether you admit it or not that is why the three of you read. Hey, but I love the three of you and, besides Tom Brady, I don’t throw my man love around to just anyone. Speaking of man love, and an obvious segue to the next paragraph, let us talk about the new man in town, the man we all hope to love (if he allows it!) as the newest Lion coach, the newest “M” boy, the one and only Rod Marinelli.

I have to admit, when I first heard this guys name mentioned a week ago I said “Whom?” – That was my honest to goodness first reaction. For weeks we had heard the names of Haslett, Grimm, Saunders, Lewis, Carthon, and out of the blue here comes this Rod character. Who the hell are you buddy, from what rock did you climb out from under? After today I realized maybe that is a good thing, at least which is how I am trying to spin it, because maybe that is what we needed here for a change. You see, you all remember when Mooch was hired and for the most part at the time that seemed like a good hire. The pedigree was there, the golden boy image, the return home, all of that was thrown in our face. In Mooch we had a proven winner, an offensive minded coach and a guy who was known to get the most out his QB’s on the field. Well, a few years later, we all know how that turned out and it can be summed up in one word, shitty. In Marinelli we have a guy whom up until only a couple days ago no one really even knew existed and, in fact, I don’t even think anyone else was looking at (except the Raiders, but do they count?). Yes, I know, some may say that is a bad sign, but I am trying to stay positive and say that it is a good sign because God knows, we need all the good signs we can get here.

Another thing I like, and yes I know it is all just words at this point, but listening to this guy talk I couldn’t help but get excited about it for some reason. Maybe it is just the whole “ass kicker” persona this guy seems to have but, if you don’t mind me saying, I think this team needs a good ass kicking. In fact I believe that said ass kicking is long overdue! Furthermore he seems like a guy that will try his hardest to motivate the hell out of his guys in different and creative ways – videos, speeches, and even slogans like he had in Tampa Bay the year they won the Super Bowl, “Pound the Rock”. Well, I put this idea for next season in a comment on the sports pigs site, but I think next seasons slogan could simply be “Down with the Divas” because man, damn it, if he is the ass kicker he sounds like there won’t be any room for the diva shit in that locker room like there has been recently.

Look, the defense to me, for the most part, was always a decent strength here in Detroit the last couple years. I tell you what, something tells me that “Big Daddy” and “Big Baby” are licking their chops right now thinking of all the sacks, all the blitzes and all the QB’s they are finally going to be allowed to smother next year as opposed to this “bend but don’t break” crap we have seen here recently. I also think he will get more out of our LB’s because, when healthy, I think that we really have a young and athletic bunch here in Detroit. Defensively speaking this is a great hire, I am sure he will find a coordinator from his own mold to come aboard here in Detroit and only make the whole unit better. However, where the real question lies is whom will he bring in to be the offensive coordinator because something tells me he is not going to be one of those head coaches that also calls the plays, but that is just a hunch. I think the offensive staff that he puts together will be the key and it will be interesting to see how he approaches it. I would also like to add that no, the sports dude could give two shits about a “Joey rip” here, I already said the economics almost mean that he has to be back, so he better find a coordinator that can milk something out of one Joey Harrington.

All in all I am, for whatever reason, slightly excited but at the same time I want to see it on the field. I like the thought of the guys practicing in pads, I like the thought of someone getting in Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams faces and making them cry. I enjoy the mental picture of Dre Bly ripping Joey now and seeing Rod bitch slap him on National TV and telling him to keep it internal. I like the boot camp thing because to me that is what football is suppose to be – no divas, no country clubs, just down and dirty smash mouth football with all the blood and guts and glory that go with it. I also like the fact that he mentioned the offensive line and that he knows that you start your offense there and that he wants to make sure the Lions have a legitimate line in place. (Sorry Raiola, you got a lot of work to do baby and you may be cut sooner than you think!) I like the fact that he understands the importance of the run because I truly think Kevin Jones could be better if he touched the ball more than 15 times a game, but maybe that is just me! But, like I said earlier, it is all just talk now but I truly hope it transcends from words to the football field, I really do.

So there you have it folks, “Down with the Divas”, print your t-shirts, make your signs and look forward to the upcoming season in Detroit Lions football. I do have one last question for Marinelli though, what receiver you thinking about drafting? Later – the sports dude.

Weekend Warrior - NFL Divisional Playoffs Edition

2006-01-13T11:38:00.000-05:00

It is no longer Wild Card Weekend; it is now officially time to separate the contenders from the pretenders. I know, that is a rather cheesy opening line, but I feel like crap today so bear with me, it was the best I could come up with. The sports dude sported a nice little 3-1 record last weekend so hopefully my luck will continue this week as well. Before I get to my picks let me say this though, aren’t you all glad that we don’t have to watch a Chicago/Washington match up this weekend? Could you imagine what an all out snooze fest that game would be? It was bad enough having to stomach the Redskins and Bucs last weekend, thank goodness we don’t have to sit thru the Bears ands Skins because, believe me, it would be the same thing. Anyway, now that I have that out of my system, let me get to the games at hand this weekend in the NFL Playoffs.

NFC Playoff Games

Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks

Yes I know I am hard on the Redskins, but how can I not be. Did anyone watch that game with the Bucs and not want to vomit? Granted the Skins and Bucs have very good, physical defenses, but a little skill on the offensive side of the ball doesn’t hurt, does it? I give Joe Gibbs a lot of credit for righting the ship that Steve Spurrier all but sunk in Washington, but even he can not get past the Seahawks without a little more help from the offensive unit. Against the Bucs they gained a total of 120 yards of offense, an all time low for a playoff winning team. What, do they think they are the Lions or something? Listen, Gibbs is one hell of a coach, I give him that, but he is not a miracle worker people. I think the defense will keep them in the game longer than they should be, but come the fourth quarter, the Seahawks will all but have the game wrapped up. Yes I know the Skins beat the Hawks in the regular season, but this is the playoffs now and the Skins got lucky last time, needing a missed field goal to force OT and squeeze out the victory.

Seattle 28, Washington 16

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears

Well, the Bears won the Central Division and earned a first round bye and at least one home playoff game. What does that entitle them too? Nothing besides what I just typed, that’s what! Of all the teams left in the playoffs I think they are the weakest by far, only a step below the Redskins. In fact, the only reason I give the edge to the Skins is because of Gibbs, otherwise both of these teams would be together at the bottom of the barrel. I gain understand that the Bears defense is one of the best in the game, but the Panthers defense is nothing to shake a stick at either. I also expect the Panthers to still be feeling the sting (both literally and figuratively speaking!) from the hurting that was put on them by the Bears earlier in the season. I expect this to be a relatively low scoring close game and I think the Panthers will pull it off in the end.

Carolina 21, Chicago 17

AFC Playoff Games

Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts

I hate picking against the Steelers; I really do, because I grew up watching football with my grandpa and rooting for the Steelers in my youth. (Hey, it’s not like the Lions have ever given me much to root for anyway, so yes, I was a Michigan born Steelers fan in my youth!) In fact last years Pitt/NE game was very tough for me, but I think my grandpa understood that I had to pull for my boy Brady all the way. But enough of that, let’s get on to this game. I have to say this, if I was going to pick an upset this week it would definitely be here because I think the Steelers are going to give the Colts a run for their money. The Steelers are coming off an emotional win and the Colts are coming off of some bye week “R & R”. But something tells me the home crowd will he the Colts shake off the rust, and the Steelers, before it is all said and done. I think the Steelers will play to get a little of their pride back from the whooping the Colts put on them earlier in the season, but pride only gets you so far as well. Sorry grandpa, your Steelers will give the Colts a game, but in the end it still will not be enough.

Indianapolis 27, Pittsburgh 21

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Well folks, here it is, if you ask me this is the best game out of the bunch and you always save the best for last right? Yes these teams squared off earlier in the season with the Broncos winning 28-20, even though the score is closer than this game really was. However, there are two things to consider when looking at that and they are the facts that the Pats team is not the Pats team playing now and secondly, do the Pats ever lose in the playoffs. Come on, you have two seconds to answer this question, Jake Plummer or Tom Brady? Didn’t even take you the full two seconds did it? Also, don’t you think that Belichick was already scheming for this game long before the Jacksonville game even started? Even though the Broncos are at home, and even though he has played much better this season, Jake Plummer has a way of disappearing in big games and doing some really stupid s@#t, if you catch my drift! Besides, until someone beats Brady, Belichick, or the rest of the Pats I am not going to pick against them. Look, the Pats are over their early season woes, are rolling, and I don’t see the train stopping until… well, check back next week and I let you know if I think they can beat the Colts or not.

New England 31, Denver 17

Well, there you have it folks, another day and another round of my best, most (un)educated guesses for the NFL Playoffs. As always I wish you a safe and happy weekend of footballing, drinking and all out couch potato enjoyment. Come back next week when, if I am right, we will be discussing the Pats against the Colts and the Hawks against the Panthers. Until next time be safe, stay well and thanks for reading, Godspeed, the sports dude.

Shield your eyes! Women in bikini's! Stop devil stop!

2006-01-11T12:51:00.000-05:00

This is the third opening for this post because, quite frankly, I am not too sure what to even say or where to go with this. If you all are not aware of it by now the Detroit Pistons are being pressured by the Michigan Decency association (or whatever their cult is called!) to pull the calendar of the shelves for what they claim is pornographic. Well here is what the sports dude thinks of that.

How the hell can you call that calendar pornographic, what the hell are you talking about? I mean do you people not go to the beach in the summer? Forget the beach, how about a water park or even a public pool for Christ sakes? What do you guys wear, sweat suits and full body armor? To call that pornographic is ridiculous, asinine, stupid, dumb... You get the point. Quite frankly the only thing indecent about the whole damn thing is the fact that this organization is attacking it and that is the truth.

In fact there is even a quote in the article about one of the accusers calling this calendar prostitution, what the hell is that? Are the Pistons standing on street corners or in dark alleys selling these things to men after hours? No they are not, in fact, they require ID checks by the retailers selling these things just to make sure the purchaser is at least 18 years of age. By doing so, as Tom Wilson states, is not conceding that this is pornographic but rather a way to make sure that under age teens don't go home with something they shouldn't. Look, I have no problem with that and furthermore, being the father of three young boys myself, realize that going to a pool, beach or even a water park means they are going to see a lot worse than what is in those calendars if you ask me. Plus they are going to see it live, which again leads me to this question a second time... Do these people go to beaches? Forget beaches, do they leave their freaking houses?

Look, if I were the cheerleaders, I would sue that bitch that calls this calendar "prostitution" for slander, I really would. Basically she is calling everyone of those ladies a cheap 50 cent whore, which I think we all know they are not. Furthermore they are not even doing this for the money, which is usually what prostitutes are doing this for right? The money, except that which is required to cover the cost of making the thing, is all going to local charities that the Palace supports. Does that sound like prostitution to you? I mean how many hookers do you know (me personally the answer is zero, but I assume they are all the same!) that give away their earnings to charitable foundations after a good nights work? Unless you count the pimp, and again I say Tom Wilson is no pimp here, I don't think those hookers are giving up too much of their "hard" earned money, no pun intended.

Look, I have no problem with these so called "decency" organizations when they fight the good fight but clearly this is not one of those situations. If I walked into a video store and saw porno flicks sitting next to the Disney section I would be outraged. However, they keep those things behind closed doors... Or so I have been told, I have never actually seen anything behind those closed doors, I swear! If I walked into a 7-11 and saw a porno mag right next to the Sunday paper I would be pissed, but they keep those things somewhere behind the counter and covered up. Again those are the good fights, those are the ones that are worth getting offended over, but this, especially calling it pornographic and prostitution, come on!

Look, trust me on this, I have been to "family" orientated water parks like "The Great Wolf Lodge" and beaches with my kids, etc., over the last couple years and I have seen things far more "indecent" then that on people at these places. The bottom line here is this, it is up to me as a parent to teach my young sons that women are not objects, they are to be respected. It is organizations like this that try to take the fight to the wrong arenas, take it out of the parents hands and put it on their own shoulders. All I have to say to you is this... piss off, you are only making matters worse. By doing what you are doing, to me, is insulting me and telling me I am not a good parent, that you do not trust me to raise my children right. Trust me when I say to you that I feel it is far worse to make people look away from this stuff, it gives them a complex and only worsens us as a society. Why should we be so afraid of the human body, of a little skin, or (dare I say it?!?!) a little nudity? Do I want my young boys looking at porno, hell no! However my sadly mistaken little organization this is not porno, it is simply a calendar with photos that could have been taken by any "family" at anytime at any given trip to any given beach anywhere in this country. Leave the morals, leave the raising my children and all that other parenting stuff to me and go find something else to call indecent like say, you know, actual porn! It is you that I feel sorry for, it is you that I think needs to get out of the house more and it is you whom, to put it bluntly, that I feel needs to get a life.

More on this tomorrow...

2006-01-10T15:43:00.000-05:00

I am up against a deadline today, sorry, so I will have to touch on this tomorrow. Anyway, the Pistons are under fire for their "pornographic" Automotion calendar. Here is the link and when time permits I will write on this tomorrow. Later - the sports dude.

"Wild" Weekend Warrior Post.

2006-01-06T13:01:00.000-05:00

What the hell was that this morning, that strange glowing ball in the sky? Was it the end of all things, a sign from above? Hell no, it was our old friend the sun, whom I have not seen since last year! No pun, no joke meant, literally speaking here folks, I don’t think I have seen that damn thing since before Christmas. However, we are not here to talk about the sun, or lack there of lately, we are here to talk about football, the Wild Card Weekend, and what I think will happen this weekend in the NFL.

AFC Wild Card Weekend Match-ups:

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

Cincy was the surprise team this year to many, me included, to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, needed to somehow find a way to beat the mighty Detroit Lions in their final regular season game in order to make the playoffs. In other words, if you already didn’t sense my sarcasm, the Steelers knew they were in before they even showed up that day! Cincy is at home, extremely happy to be in the playoffs, but I think the biggest problem is they are too young and this really is their first taste. Cowler has been in Pittsburgh for 80 years now (or so it seems!) and the Steelers have continually been a playoff contender for just about every one of his years there as head coach. I take experience over the home field, so I give this game to the Steelers.

Pittsburgh 23, Cincy 16

Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

So my boy Tom Brady threw out the “disrespect” card this week hey, as did his Jacksonville counter part Byron Leftwich. Look, you all know I have serious man love for Tom Brady, I am not ashamed to admit it, and even if this game were in Jacksonville I would still pick the Pats. Look, the last time I checked, Tom Brady has YET TO LOSE A PLAYOFF GAME IN HIS CAREER AS A STARTER, how can you go against that? You can’t, at least not until they match up against the Colts in the AFC Championship Game anyway. I think this year may be the year Brady loses, but not this weekend anyway!

New England 27, Jacksonville 13

NFC Wild Card Weekend Match-ups:

Washington Redskins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Well I guess we have to have at least one of these games in every playoff year, you know, where everyone will be bored to death? You have the old coach (Gibbs) against the young coach (Gruden) and then you even have the old lefty QB (Brunell) against the young lefty QB (Simms). Look, I am sorry, but this game interests me just about as much as watching my laundry dry on the line, you have two solid defenses with very inept offenses. Quite frankly I expect this to be the lowest rated playoff game this weekend, for those of us that don’t need caffeine just to get through it! I go with the Bucs because A.) I have to pick someone and B.) I guess because they are at home.

Tampa Bay 13, Washington 10

Carolina Panthers at New York Giants

Well, the “other” Manning is going to get his first taste of the playoffs this year, unfortunately for him it is against the Panthers. If I am not mistaken, aren’t these the same Panthers that were on the cover of Sports Illustrated and picked to win the Super Bowl this year by them? Isn’t this the same team that was in the damn thing two years ago? Yep, it sure is, and did I mention this is the “other” Manning yet? You know the one that Peyton has the loaf of bread signed for? Man, I love those commercials for some reason. Yes I know NY is at home but I still like the Panthers in this darn game.

Carolina 31, NY 27

So there you have it, my picks for Wild Card Weekend baby! In my crazy little world this means my bracket has next weeks AFC Games being Pittsburgh against Indy and New England against Denver, while my NFC Games are Seattle and Tampa Bay then Carolina and Chicago. I would give you my picks for those as well, but we’ll wait and see how this weekend falls first. Anyway, that is all I got for the time being so as always please “football watch” responsibly and come back for more fun times next week my hearties! Later and Godspeed, the sports dude.

Random randomness.

2006-01-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

The Pistons = well, they lost their fourth game on New Years Eve and won last night against Orlando to avoid their first losing streak of the season. That is right folks, they have yet to have a losing streak this young NBA season. How amazing is that? The one thought I had, watching last nights game, is how cool it would be if Joe D. some how swung some miracle deal to get Grant Hill back here in Detroit. I know it is a stretch, but I would have no problem moving someone like Arroyo and a second round pick for Hill and letting him come off the bench. We are about to get Hunter back and he could be your second guard, plus Hill could play the "point-forward" off the bench. I know it is a pipe dream, but I just had the thought and realized how nice it would be. I always have remained fond of Hill and just think it would be nice to get him a ring before it is all said and done for him.

Maurice Clarett = man, if it were not for Artest and T.O., could you love any other wet bag of shit more? Got to love the cat, way to be a "man" and get in trouble for armed robbery.

The Lions = a lot to do this off season and it was nice to finally hear Millen speak. I have yet to read the article in the paper, so I may have more on this later, but it is about time he actually came forward. Look, about the only candidates that scare me are maybe Saunders from K.C. (I am tired of "offensive" guys), Mike Singletary (I think he would be Mornigweg Junior, we need someone with more experience) and I go back and forth on Haslett. I think Haslett just got screwed by Katrina, the dude did all he could do. I wouldn't mind seeing Jon Kitna here as a QB, I wouldn't mind seeing Aaron Brooks here either, but yes we need to keep Joey. Not so much because I think he deserves another chance, but rather because of the economics of it. Look, if we cut him then we pay him not to be here plus we still have to find (and PAY!!) two other QB's to be here besides Orlovsky. That makes no sense, so I just say keep the cat and get a better option to back him up then Jeff "the wet noodle" Garcia. Oh, one last thing, even though it is a long shot, how cool would it be to have Bill Parcels here?

The Rose Bowl = USC wins big and makes history folks, 45-17. Yep, another blow out and another year left wondering why the hell we do not have a playoff. By the way yes, the sports dude HATES THE BCS!!!!

Happy to see JoPa beat the warden (a.k.a Bobby Bowden) last night and man is Bowden the most annoying man on the planet? Here is JoPa trying to get interviewed about the victory and Bowden is taking all the camera time! He is a cocksucker to put it nicely!

That is all I got, more to come later as I try to be a better blogger here I promise. Later - the sports dude.

Happy New Year Post.

2005-12-29T11:38:00.000-05:00

Now that football season is officially over for me, well except watching the Patriots in the playoffs and such, the year ends and a new one looms on the horizon. Here is the sports dude's well wishes and memories from an interesting and long 2005, enjoy.

First let me say have a happy and safe New Year folks, I hope all of you come back next year. I would like to thank you all for taking time out, stopping by and reading the senseless ramblings that I spew here on this bloggy-blog of mine. It means a lot so please celebrate safe and responsibly this weekend. As far as the rest of this post goes here is a reflection of the few things that I could recall, off the top of my head that made 2005 a special year in sports and abroad for me.

The coaching carousel that became known as the Detroit sports scene – you had Larry out and Flip in, you had Lewis out and Babcock in, you had Tram out and Leyland in, you had Mooch out and Jauron in. Oh, and by the way, we all know that it will soon be Jauron out and some other poor sap in.

The Pistons – game #7 in Miami, Robert Horry and the “bonehead” play, game #7 in San Antonio, Brown saying “I love you guys” in the huddle during a time out, and of course who could forget all the Larry Brown drama all season long.

The Red Wings – well the lockout ended and stuff.

The Lions – another receiver drafted, another year wasted, the angry fan march, the orange out, “FIRE MILLEN”, the ugly black jerseys, the five year extension, why the hell did we sign Raiola again, Joey or Jeff, and of course the word “embarrassment”.

The Tigers – more losing, more of the same, the locker room turmoil, Pudge and his extended vacation, the injuries mount, the fun ends and, as usual, is there really a point?

The Wolverines – an injury plagued season comes up short, tailgating at the golf course, upsetting MSU, losing (once again!) to the hated sweater vest, the last play against Penn State, the final seconds against Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, finally showing some promise in hoops, looking forward to next year and the lovely Sun Belt officials down in the Alamo Bowl.

The Spartans – “STANTON FOR HEISMAN”, the OSU game and that damn blocked field goal, “the coaches are screwing it up”, women and men in the Final Four, women in the Finals, at least one more year of funny and wacky stuff from John L.

Sports in general – the MLB All-Star Game, the build up (and building cover up!) for the Super Bowl, how the hell Kwame got reelected, T.O., Ron Artest, bye-bye Reggie Miller, steroids, Kobe and his ego not making the playoffs, Phil Jackson and his ego coming back, the White Sox winning the World Series, the Mitch Albom scandal, the NBA dress code, the NHL on OLN, the Vikings and the Love Boat, the Vikings and the “Wizzinator”, Hurricane Katrina, the best bowl game ever (except the outcome) in U of M against Texas, the sports pig and his U of M banner, Kenny Rogers and the camera man, no more powder puff Barry Alvarez schedules and my arch enemy Drew Henson riding the pine in Dallas as Tom Brady ran off his third Super Bowl in four years.

On a personal note, like I said, lots of thanks for another year of this blog, my wife and three sons and their continued health, going back to Eastern Michigan to do something I love, another year with my mom, seeing Aerosmith in concert at the Palace, finishing my very own “mans room” in my basement, going to see Mount Rushmore and the beautiful surrounding areas in South Dakota this summer and just being healthy and alive.

Thanks again to all of you, be safe, be responsible and as always Godspeed my friends. Oh, and one last thing, even though it is cheesy as hell you all know I got to do it… talk to you all next year! Later – the sports dude.

So sports dude, what did you think of the Alamo Bowl?

2005-12-29T08:15:00.000-05:00

FUCKED.

More later, the sports dude.

Rememer the Alamo! Or just 1997 for that matter.

2005-12-28T10:41:00.000-05:00

You knew that I was going to do it didn’t you? Come on, admit it, you all know by now that I am an avid U of M slappy right? You had to believe that I was going to take this opportunity, even eight years later, and compare the 1997 records of the Wolverines and the Huskers didn’t you? And, as if you even need to ask, yes U of M would have kicked the shit out of the Huskers in a head to head match up that year. The Wolverines deserved the outright National Championship; the only reason why the Huskers got it was because they were given a retirement present to their coach. That is right, their coach (Tom Osbourne) was retiring and the Huskers won the coaches poll National Championship while U of M got the other. It was a scam, a slap in the face and robbery of the gravest kind. I was so pissed, in fact, that at the time I was working for a major company that delivers mail and parcels and such around the world. The dock I was working on had a truck for Nebraska and one night, while checking boxes into the truck, noticed a bunch of boxes being delivered to a “Tom Osbourne” in Nebraska. I know, immature and all yes, but damned if I didn’t write a little “GO BLUE” love letter on each and every one of those boxes just to say “hi”. Was it the same Osbourne, probably not, but it still made me feel better all the same. Anyway, here is a look at the opponents from each of those teams and you tell me how much easier Nebraska had it than U of M.

Wolverines = Colorado (W 27-3); Baylor (W 38-3); Notre Dame (W 21-14); at Indiana (W 37-0); Northwestern (W 23-6); Iowa (W 28-24); at MSU (W 23-7); Minnesota (W 24-3); at Penn State (W 34-8); at Wisconsin (W 26-16); Ohio State (W 20-14); Rose Bowl against 10-1 Washington State (W 21-16).

Break down = ranked opponents of #8 Colorado, #15 Iowa, #15 MSU, #3 Penn State, #23 Wisconsin, #4 Ohio State and #8 Washington State. That is seven ranked opponents out of 12 and only two true “gimmie games” in Baylor and Indiana, plus they had to beat MSU, PSU and Wisconsin on the road.

Nebraska = Akron (W 59-14); Central Florida (W 38-24); Washington (W 27-14); Kansas State (W 56-26); Baylor (W 49-21); Texas Tech (W 29-0); Kansas (W 35-0); Oklahoma (W 69-7); Missouri (W 45-38 OT); Iowa State (W 77-14); Colorado (W 27-24); Texas A&M (W 54-15); Orange Bowl against 11-1 Tennessee (W 42-17).

Break down = ranked opponents of #2 Washington, #17 Kansas State, #14 Texas A&M, #3 Tennessee for a grand total of four out of 13 and only Washington and A&M were on the road. If you look at their schedule they had a shitload of “gimmie games” in Akron, Central Florida, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas, Oklahoma (before they became good again!), Missouri and Iowa State.

If you compare U of M and Nebraska in shared opponents U of M killed Colorado and Baylor while Nebraska just barely beat Colorado and gave up more to Baylor. Lastly Nebraska needed OT and a little “cheating” to beat Missouri, while U of M never really had any games to worry about. That’s right Husker fans, don’t forget your boy kicked that ball in the end zone to his teammate for a TD, which should have been called off because you are not allowed to use your feet for that purpose in the rule books. U of M clearly had the upper hand in all things related to tougher opponents, strngth of schedule, etc. Sorry, head to head U of M would have steam rolled your punk asses, get over it! Now, briefly on to the 2005 match up.

Look, I am over the snub, it still makes no sense to me how an Iowa team we beat at home (to end the longest home winning streak in the nation mind you!) gets the nod over us in a January Bowl but hey, if it smells like bullshit, looks like bullshit and tastes like bullshit it is most likely bullshit! All that crap aside U of M is trying to avoid its most losses since 1984 when they finished an unimpressive 6-6. Nebraska is simply trying to prove to everybody that they are done rebuilding and are ready to be considered one of the nation’s elite programs once again.

To me the key to U of M and this game, as it was all season, is Mike Hart and that damn ankle of his. I tell you what, I am tired of sounding like a broken record here, but the dude is truly the “Hart” of that U of M team. Here is a little tidbit I read in the paper today; U of M was 3-1 with Hart and 4-3 without him at all or in VERY limited duty. Even still, with all the games he missed, Hart still lead the Wolverines in rushing with just under 600 yards for the season. If Hart can carry the load 70% of the time and U of M only needs Grady to give Hart some breathers I feel U of M has an excellent chance of not only winning but winning big. If Hart is the featured back throughout the game and Grady, Jackson and Bradley (Max Martin did not travel with the team!) are only in there sparingly I think this game will be out of reach by the fourth quarter for Nebraska. Sorry, I am a U of M fan; I am allowed to be cocky and arrogant from time to time.

Look, U of M still feels the sting from last second bullshit losses to Wisconsin, to Minnesota, to OSU, shit even Notre Dame was a weird game! They know the promise that was once there and they feel they need to get this game, in a big way, to help propel themselves into next season. I think they will take all the pent up frustration of a season that, if you ask me, never actually got a chance to get started, they will add to that what they feel is a snubbing in the bowl picks (don’t tell me Carr ain’t using that in the locker room!) and I think they will punish the hell out of Nebraska. Oh, and don’t forget, I am sure Carr will bring up all that 1997 bullshit as well too! That being said I am going to say that Hart’s ankle is better than Carr is leading on to be (you know how he is with injury reports!), I think Henne will have the type of game we have been waiting to see and Avant will go out on a nice note, so my predictions are as follows:

Hart – 145 yards rushing, 2 TD’s
Henne – 270 yards passing, 2 TD and 1 INT
Avant – 115 yards receiving and 1 TD
Breaston – 220 all purpose yards

FINAL SCORE:

U of M 41, Nebraska 23

Later, the “still pissed off about 1997” sports dude.

The surviving Christmas post

2005-12-27T10:14:00.000-05:00

Well, I got basically everything on my Christmas list (I missed out on one of the Better Than Ezra CD's and the Jason Mraz one) as well as a few surprises, but none was better than the greatest gift of all... the stomach flu! Or maybe it was food poisoning, but whatever it was it kept me up all night on Christmas Eve spreading holiday cheer all over my bathroom... if you catch my drift! Needless to say I am still feeling a little out of sorts today, but hopefully by tomorrow the sports dude should be back to his smart ass self. That being said, let us take a look at some of the things that occurred this weekend shall we?

The Lions truly were the definition of a Christmas miracle actually winning a damn game, in fact, let me take that one step further... Winning a game that they normally would find a way to lose. From the descriptions that I read it appears they almost did, but luckily the best player on their team also happens to be their kicker and pressure situations like that will not rattle him easily. I know, I have to admit, the sports dude did not watch the game, in fact the sports dude totally and completely forgot they were even playing. I have not cared about Lions football in many years now but hopefully someday again I will. I will say this, if there wasn't so much history with Joey Harrington I would agree with most of my blogging brethren and give him one more year under a coach that plays to him and not vice versa, but could he survive it? Would the fans, the media, even the team stick together if he gets that chance? Or would it be mutiny? If Harrington and Garcia are both gone (bare minimum Garcia better be!) then that is two QB's that need to be replaced, that is no small task, that is why I think Joey will be back. A combination of he should "kind of sort of" get a fair shake with the right coach and "shit, we have no choice!" But look, they better go out and get a damn good viable back up that has something left in that damn tank (please see Jon Kitna of Cincy for reference) that we know can win and we know will not play rubber ball like the only other option we had this year in one Jeff Garcia. Oh, and by the way, I still like Orlovsky a lot, but I think he needs another year or two on the bench.

Next, I want to talk about the Pistons and just say this... Three losses, that is pathetic! How the hell do you expect to contend for the title when you have lost three of your first 25 games? That is embarrassing fellas and you need to get back to that "Goin' To Work" mentality from the last couple seasons. Okay, give me a break, you all can allow me some sarcasm right? Tonight they face the Raptors at home, a nice little "trap game" right between the Spurs (their biggest Western rival who they throttled!) and the Heat (their biggest Eastern rival whom they want to bitch slap!), so please don't get too full of yourselves and lose this one boys. Besides that, what the hell else can you say? I still think the talk of 70 wins is premature, all I care about is winning the Central which, like I said in my preview, will get them the #1 seed in the East and hopefully for the Finals as well. They need ALL game 7's on their court, they sense it, they know it and it looks like they are doing all they can to make it happen.

Later and welcome back from the break y'all! The sports dude.

Merry Christmas and all that other holiday stuff.

2005-12-22T11:37:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to take a quick moment here while I had the chance and wish everyone out there a safe and merry Christmas. For those of you that frequent this blog I would like to say thanks for reading and I hope all of your holiday wishes come true. Personally I just look forward to waking up at 5 A.M. on Christmas morning to the sounds of "Daddy, Santa was here!" Even though it is too early for even me it is worth it when it is all said and done!

So, what the heck was on all of your Christmas lists this year? Me, seeing how having a wife, kids, bills, a mortgage, etc. to take care of, the frugal days of old are gone, so my Christmas list is typically a collection of all the CD's and such I missed during the year. I know, my wife, mom and mother-in-law always give me the typical "boring" look when they see it but hey, I just can't go out like I used to and drop 15 bucks on a CD freely anymore! Damn responsibilities! They always give me the lines like "Don't you want something for the house?" or the famous "How about some new work shoes or dress pants for work?" My typical response to that is of I need a new pair of pants or shoes or I need something for the house I just go out and get them, those are needs that are budgeted in! In my opinion a Christmas list is about all those guilty little pleasures, all the "wants" that I missed out on in the last year.

Anyway, since I really have nothing else better to do today here is an exclusive inside look at exactly what the sports dude asked for this Christmas. I know, none of you really give two shits but hey, it is my blog damn it, I will type whatever the hell I want!

CD's - in no particular order:

Santana "All That I Am"

Fiona Apple "Extraordinary Machine"

Nickelback "All The Right Reasons"

Our Lady Peace "Healthy In Paranoid Times"

Garbage "Bleed Like Me"

Gretchen Wilson "All Jacked Up"

Sheryl Crow - "Wildflowers"

Better Than Ezra - "Before the Robots" & "Closer"

David Gray - "Life in Slow Motion"

Faith Hill - "Fireflies"

Jason Mraz - "Mr. A to Z"

And, of course, a repeat gift every year, the current versions of "Madden" and "Tiger Woods Golf" for the good old PS2.

There you go, now that I have bored you to death I can again say Merry Christmas and I will let you all know next week how I did on Christmas myself. Peace out, go Pistons and have a safe and merry and jolly one! Godspeed - the sports dude.

Mitch Albom is unattached, unless it comes to self promotion.

2005-12-20T10:58:00.000-05:00

Mitch Albom is a dumb ass, there I said it, now let’s move on. If any of you are wondering why I am typing those words then look no further than this link right here, it will take you to an article in Sundays Free Press. In it Mitch writes about what he think the word fan is and why he thought the orange out, the “FIRE MILLEN” signs, the angry man march were all inappropriate and were not what defines a true fan. Again I say this Mr. Albom, not only are you an unattached dumb ass you are completely wrong.

We here in Detroit have a football team, if you want to call it that, which has produced one playoff victory since 1957, a span of nearly 50 years (48 to be exact Mr. Albom, but I didn’t want to hurt your small brain with actual math!). We here in Detroit have a football team sir that had quite arguably the greatest running back of all time in one Barry Sanders simply walk away from this franchise because, to put it plainly, he could still walk. You see, the organization failed Barry, they never gave him a team to compete with, they just figured Barry was filling the seats so why bother? You know, that is a disgrace in itself, the greatest runner of all time walks away from the Lions because they all but used him and screwed him over. Says a lot about the guys in the front office doesn’t it? Well, not as much as giving a guy with a 20-58 record (looming on the horizon is 20-60!) a five year extension before this season began! It is a shame that the Fords take us for granted Mitch, it really is, because their track record speaks volumes for itself… 50 years of losing yet still they sell out every game.

So what do you think a fan is then, Mitch, please tell me? Is it someone who stands by and just keeps saying, like you said, “We’ll get them next time?” Well, in the case of the Lions, when will that next time be? In this case the next time appears to have taken 50 years (again, I round up to save you the trouble of thinking too much!) so do we wait another 50? Do I tell my three young boys that maybe someday WHEN I AM A GRANDPA MYSELF that the Lions will finally be done with this “get them next time” phase of redevelopment? Is that what you want us to do Mitch, as fans?

See Mitch I think the problem with you buddy is right there in the article you wrote, you even said it yourself, you are not a fan of anything… except maybe self promotion! You are truly and completely 100% detached from the so-called “fan” base that you write for, you truly are! The march, the orange, the “FIRE MILLEN” campaign was not about us turning on our Lions but rather an intervention, kind of like rehab Mitch. Say you have a family member or close friend that is on the brink of dying from a drug overdose, so close in fact he has nearly died a couple times already. Do you turn the other cheek Mitch and assume that they will eventually just “get it themselves”? Or do you and some other friends and family members step up and say “okay, enough is enough, all of us are here now and all of us love you, now let’s all get some help together?" I suspect, and hope, that you would intervene immediately Mitch and that is exactly what this Sunday was all about there buddy – a large scale group intervention. There was no “boycott” being called for, no violence, not for one damn instant did it even turn ugly, and in fact I think it was entirely calm and full of apathy. It was just a bunch of us “family and friends” there together Mitch trying to get a message to the Fords – enough of this “overdosing” of mediocre football, we are here and we want to help. You see Mitch, behind every one of those paper bags, underneath each of those orange shirts, behind every "FIRE MILLEN” sign is a Lion fan at heart and we just wanted to make a statement, we wanted to do the “group intervention” thing, and that is all it was.

I ask you this Mitch, when was the last time you were a fan of anything? I remember the investigation you were under recently and I felt bad for you then, but this article may be too much for many in this area to overlook. You called us out this time Mitch and I think that was a mistake and it shows how you have truly lost touch with those that you supposedly write for. Maybe the next time you put one of those self promotion tags at the end of you articles (the ones that are always there reminding your “fans” where you are going to be signing your books!) you may want to take note, there soon could be a “FIRE MITCH” protest outside one of those places of business, or does that not make us “fans” anymore either?

Monday Morning Madness...

2005-12-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

Well, the Lions are continuing down the road of the most laughable franchise in maybe not only the NFL but in the three major sports in the USA - the NFL, NBA and MLB. I only hope I can hear Jauron give us another one of those "best chance to win" speeches this week when he names Garcia the starter again.

Looks like the Pistons just continue to roll and that is how I spent my Sunday evening, watching them go to 10-1 on the road (15-2 overall) by beating the Clippers and the "Hack-A-Ben" tactics last night 109-101. Seventeen games so far this season and an astounding 11 on the road, the fact that it includes two Western swings is remarkable if you ask me. I am glad we have these guys to watch, there ain't much else as far as sports go nowadays! I know it is still early and I know that there could still be a key injury or some other fluke or dry spell, but even if they go 7-3 the rest of the way (still possible!) you get a 57-20 record and five other games that could split the difference, so let's go 60-22. Not too shabby for a team that is picked to be the third or fourth best in the east. But all that regular season crap means nothing if they don't maintain it, get the Central Crown and get that #1 seed, which I predicted would come out of the Central anyway. Damn, the sports dude is looking pretty smart again huh? All right, like I said it is early, but step off... I can pat myself on the back a little.

Anyway, another one of my predictions came true today, you know where I said Ron Jeremy Van Gundy wouldn't make it thru the season in Miami. Well, I said it was going to be because he was fired, but looks like he "resigned" instead. That's all right, I still think it was a conspiracy and the cat was really fired, but whatever, I was right and the dude is gone. Good luck Pat and keep buying that motor oil you put in your hair to keep it black. That dysfunctional group you put together there in Miami will make you totally gray before too long!

Lastly I just want to say that I love Ron Artest, especially when he opens his mouth and gives us quotes like this:

"I'm so demanding of the ball. It's not my fault," he said. "Every time somebody is on me it's a mismatch. It messes up the offense."

Hey Ron, maybe you need to go back on your medication okay, but unless you are battling you inner demons or other personalities or something I don't think teams try and focus on "stopping Ron Artest" offensively when they game plan for the Pacers. They worry about you defensively yes, but I think on offense they worry more about Jermaine O'Neal and not your "Tru Warrier" style. Lastly, before you start demanding trades remember to spell shit correctly okay!

Damn, the Pistons go 15-2 and all basketball hell breaks loose! Look out folks, it is Armageddon time! Later - the "taking cover the sky is falling" sports dude.

Some random quickies...

2005-12-08T10:34:00.000-05:00

The Tigers have reportedly brought back Todd Jones to be their closer and I have heard they are about to announce the signing of Kenny "I Love Cameramen" Rogers, both to two year contracts. Personally, as long as Rogers behaves himself, I like both of the moves and they seem safe, especially the two year deal part. This will give us a veteran in the starting five to eat up innings and help take some of the stress of the younger guys while they grow and develop. As far as Jones in concerned I like that move as well, we have no closer and we didn't have to over pay for a one year bust (please see BJ Ryan and Toronto for details!).

The Lions continue to be a mess and it is clear to me that Millen, in all his intelligence, forgot to ask Jauron one key question - "Are you going to play the younger guys and develop them?" This franchise is going nowhere fast and even if Joey and Chuck are not in future plans why do this? I could see Orlovsky starting if Joey is not in the mix next year but Garcia? And with Chuck just give the guy a chance to showcase some stuff, I guarantee that he would be good trade bait... If he got some time! Damn, what a farce it has become in Lionsville.

The Red Wings seem to have cooled off after the hot start, kind of up and down lately. Not that I really care about hockey, but I figured I would be nice for a change and mention them.

The Pistons, well when it is going good it is really going good. Although this week off makes me feel like it is the All-Star break and not the beginning of the season. I tell you what, 13-2 with and impressive 8-1 mark on the road is all I need to see. They have looked like a very dangerous bunch and I really don't see any let up in the near future. Oh, for the record and even though I know it is all rumors and such, I would not trade any of the starting five for Garnett, period. They can have any of the pieces off the bench but no one in the starting five is worth it. Besides, Garnett is a free agent after the season, just wait and sign him then. Come on, 'Sheed was going to come off the bench last year for Dice, you don't think he would for KJ.

That's all I got for now, later! The sports dude.

I see no reason to boo.

2005-12-02T12:49:00.000-05:00

First I will say I am going to keep this short and sweet, time is not on my side this afternoon. Also, I wrote this post ("A Thank You Note to Larry Brown") back on July 26 and, quite frankly, I still agree with most of what I said there. So really if you want to know what I truly feel about the situation then read that post either before or after you read this little ditty.

As far as I am concerned there would have been no title without LB. Even with Rasheed do any of you actually think they would have won with Carlisle at the helm? The answer, if you are being honest with yourself, is nothing other than "NO!" LB took the defensive foundation that was laid by Carlisle and broke those players down into that whole "right way" thing and got them that title. In fact, he had them within either a bonehead play away ('Sheed in game #5) or within minutes (in game #7) of winning back to backs. There is a banner hanging in the Palace, the place is now located on "Four Championship Drive" because of what Larry brought to the table so please think twice before you boo.

Lastly I have always felt this way about it - you know what you get with LB and that is a wandering eye. He was brought here by Joe D for one reason... to win a title. He came here for one reason... to not rebuild and to get the title. There was only one problem - it happened in the first year of the plan and therefore LB and the wandering eye happened a lot quicker then anyone thought possible. Look, Joe used LB and LB used Joe, it is as simple as that.

Quite frankly if I was at the Palace tonight I would stand and give the man a much deserved ovation but once the game starts I would cheer just as loud to have the Pistons blow him out of the Palace.

Thanks Larry and thank you for reading guys - the sports dude.

Blue skies, gray skies or new skies?

2005-12-01T10:39:00.000-05:00

To start or not to start, that is the question here? Do you go with blue skies (Joey), gray skies (Jeff) or new skies (Dan)? Damn it Lions, I was going to forget all about this bloody soap opera you created and talk about Larry Brown coming back to the Palace tomorrow but no, you do something stupid (shocking!) and now I have to talk about you again. Why the hell do you torture me so? Actually, now that I think about it, why the hell do you torture all of us?

There has been a long comment thread on my last post pertaining to the surprise news that came out of the Allen Park Compound yesterday, that news being that Jauron named Jeff the starter this Sunday. For the record, if I was coach, I would have either started Joey (yes Evan, I am being honest!) or started Dan Orlovsky, Jeff Garcia would have been relegated to Gatorade and Clipboard duty on the sidelines. However, since I am not Jauron I can only guess as to why the hell he did this and what the hell this lack of logic really means. As I stated before, if it makes no sense to us then it makes perfect sense in Allen Park, thus you have the definition of “Lions Logic.” On that note I would like to take a few minutes here to briefly dissect this bonehead decision made by Jauron and post what my guesses are as to the “why” behind this puzzling move.

Before I get into my guesses, let me say this, even though I have never been a Joey supporter I still would have started him. What do you have to lose? If the decision has already been made to part ways after this season then let him “gun sling” for five games and at least showcase what little skill he may have for trade purposes. Second I would like to say this, for all of issues I have with Joey I also have issues with our offensive line (or obvious lack there of!), our inability to get the running game going because of said shitty line and the desire to only let KJ touch the ball twice in a game and the fact that the receivers drop passes like they take the word “hot” in “hot route” too seriously. Just because it is a “hot route” doesn’t mean the ball is hot like in hot potato you jack asses – catch the ball! Oh, and by the way Roy Williams, when you catch a lucky bounce in a game that you are getting torched in and it goes for a TD, don’t do anything celebrating in the end zone, especially a pose type one (see “Little Buddha” for reference), it only makes you look like a bigger ass and diva then you already are! Alright, there you have it, I got all that out of the way and I will say this one last time – should Joey start? Yes. Has he been part of the problem? Yes. Are there other parts to the problem? Yes, the entire offense from players to scheme has been part of the problem, so now on to my guesses. Quick disclaimer – these are my guesses as to help me figure out this BS known as “Lions Logic” and not necessarily the views of this blogger.

The first thing I think of is this, Jauron was the teams’ defensive coordinator and the defensive players have been fed up with Joey all season long. In order to please “his guys” he started Jeff because he has been listening to the defense bitch about Joey all season long and probably some last year as well. Now that he is in the head coach position he is going to take all that bitching to heart and please the guys he has been responsible for since last year.

The second thing I thought of, and this one is extremely weak but it made me go “Hmmm…” at least is, for whatever reason, since him and Mooch are long time friends he is giving it back to the Lions and saying “You fire my buddy well I am still starting his guy over yours!” Stupid and weak, I know, but the thought did at least pop into my head. I mean, think about it, what is Millen going to do; fire Jauron two days later and name Olsen coach? Silly logic, but after all, I am trying to think like a Lion here!

Another thing I thought of was simply, for whatever reason, Jauron really feels that Jeff gives them the best chance to win. He is looking at this as a mini five game audition for not keeping this job next year (why he would want to is beyond me!) but an audition for other teams as well to show that he still can coach. Maybe he is just as sick and twisted as Mooch and feels that Jeff can still get something out of that already bone dry tank, I don’t know, maybe he is just demented and still suffering from shell shock.

Yet another thought that popped into my sick and empty skull is the “younger guys” that Millen was speaking of was the divas and KJ and even Millen has given up on Joey. Maybe this whole organization just feels that the best way to evaluate the guys that are all but certain to be here next year (KJ, Roy and Mike – I think Joey and Charles are gone!) is to put Garcia under center and to let KJ run the ball 25-30 times. Pound it, pound it, pound it and not let Jeff even think about going down field (which is good because he can’t anyway!), just keep Jeff in the short passing game and see if these receivers can break something. Beyond that I still see no reason to start Jeff, but these are just hunches here people!

The last one (and yes this is the last one!) is maybe this is some sick and demented game Jauron is playing with all of us – the fans, the QB’s, damn the whole team! Maybe he is starting Jeff for one game, maybe just one half, knowing full well that Jeff can not survive in Greg Olsen’s offense, but you know who can? Joey can! Maybe Jauron is just putting Garcia out there to show everyone that the tank is dry and that when Jeff fails in comes Joey and he performs well in an offense better suited for him. Talk about a role reversal here folks, Joey replacing Jeff, think about it! I mean, I know it is a mean trick to play, but damn I like it and damn I hope it is true. That is the only thing I can see happening that makes any sense to start Garcia over Joey this Sunday that is it! Put Jeff under the bus for a change and bring in Joey to right the ship for a change. All the pieces are there to do it, I mean why else make Olsen coordinator over Tollner? Jeff would fit better into Tollners’ scheme wouldn’t he, where as Joey looked pretty decent last year with Olsen calling the shots? Man that would be something, but then again, even though it is one hell of a mean trick, it would fit right in there with all I learned at “Lions Logic 101.”

Well, that is it people, I hope you enjoyed my madness and I hope we get some good comments on this as well. Yes Evan, I truly meant it when I said I would have started Joey or Dan, Jeff should simply be the Gatorade boy. That is as long as he doesn’t throw the cups 50 feet straight up into the air! On that note I say good-bye and yes soon we will talk about the return of the vagabond one, LB. Peace out, just like the Lions season – the sports dude.

Garcia to start Sunday...

2005-11-30T11:30:00.000-05:00

This just in, according to WDFN the fan and one Tom "the Killer" Kowalski... Coach Dick Jauron has named Jeff Garcia the starter for Sunday against the Vikings. Can this strange little soap opera get any weirder? To me it is quite simple, this is now the third coach to try and get it thru Millen's fat and stubborn head... Harrington is crap! Think about it folks, Morningweg clearly didn't want Joey, Mooch obviously hated Joey now Jauron is saying it too? What else could it be? Why not give Joey five games and just say let it rip? Simply because there is no one in this organization that feels Joey will do anything under center, except for Millen. So he is an interim coach giving the nod to Garcia for what reason? You would think that Mooch being fired and Olsen being promoted to offensive coordinator would be all that Joey needed but I guess not.

I guess it makes sense though, because it makes no sense, which is the Lions way after all.

Later - the confused sports dude.

"We're building something good here!"

2005-11-28T13:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess it is all but official now, Mooch has been fired as coach of the Lions. Rumor has it that Dick Jauron has yet to except the "interim" position, seems he wants to be given the job plus a three year deal. If Jauron continues to be an ass about it then it appears QB Coach Gregg Olson will be given the interim tag. There is a press conference at approximately 4 PM at the Allen Park Practice Facility hosted by none other than the moustache himself, Matt Millen.

My opinion can be wrapped up in two very familiar sentences - "What the hell took so long" and "There is always next year." I guess it makes sense and I really could give two shits either way, that is how much I love the Lions. In fact I was joking with a guy at work today that the Lions should hold a contest and allow one lucky (or would it be unlucky?) fan to get some buddies together and coach the Lions for a Sunday. Couldn't do any worse, could they?

The last thing I would like to add on this is this - how ironic is it that the longest tenured coach in Detroit is now Flip Saunders, by like a week or so over Mike Babcock. Boy, isn't that something!?!?

Anyway, I hope all of you had a nice holiday weekend, I did and my waste line shows it! Hope you all are enjoying this Monday and take care - the sports dude.

I am thankful for this post and...

2005-11-23T12:55:00.000-05:00

Well yesterdays post was a rip off of sorts so I guess I may as well keep the theme going with today’s post as well. There have been many sites that I have frequented this week, as I always do, that have done some sort of “thanks” style post in honor of this week of giving said thanks. Therefore I too would like to jump in on this giving thanks band wagon and make my thanks be known to the people out there in the world as well. However, seeing how I rarely take anything seriously (SHOCKING I KNOW!!!!) here at the old forehead not all my thanks will necessarily be on the serious side. Yes, there will be some that are serious, but I also want to give thanks to some of those “off the wall” things in life as well, so without further babbling here we go.

First (and any of you that have one of these will understand why this one HAS TO BE FIRST!) I would like to give thanks for the lovely and talented sports dude-ette, yes boys, there is a wife in my life, someone really does see something in me! Not quite sure what it is but I do know that I am not deserving of such a wonderful women.

Next there are the three little sports dude-lings that run around the house and wear me out on a daily basis. Thank you JB, D and LJ for giving me plenty of exercise without ever having to step foot in a gym. Yes, the sports dude has been graced with three young strapping boys; I must have done something right somewhere to be that lucky!

Another year with my mom, who has beaten two different cancers now and continues to kick ass! Of course I am thankful for my father as well; it is his fault after all that I am the way I am with sports!

Next there is all the family and friends that I am fortunate enough to have and they actually enjoy this raving lunatics company! Shout out to my nephew “Lil’ C” (I give all the kids initial type nicknames, keeps it more real you know!) who just turned one and took his first steps this week. Yes the sports dude is also the sports uncle (would that be duncle?) and has another niece or nephew on the way. I have three boys and a nephew; maybe this one will be a girl!

I would also like to thank the men and women serving in the military and putting their lives on the line everyday for this country. Whether or not you support the war you have to at least support the troops so to them I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

There are some of the generic ones as well like health, a house, a job, etc… those are all givens and I do not mean to diminish them, trust me I am fortunate there as well. Lastly I would like to thank all of you readers out there that help keep this little silly dream of mine alive, without you there is no forehead! There is my good buddy the sports pig there taking care of the “north country” and was the first to find me here about a year ago. Also some of the new friends I have found in the sports blog world like J-Combs over at Pistons News, the sweaty man & fried rice guy Ian C., Greg Eno and Out of Bounds, the newest member of the family at sports litter and all the other sports blog brethren who frequent from time to time, even though you aren’t regulars you still help me keep it going. Also there is this cat over at 21 Thieves that goes by Evan and even though he is not a sports blogger to say don’t be fooled, he still sneaks a sports post in every now and then. Soon he will become one of us, but even if he never fully does, he is a great read and a supporter of the forehead as well. Seriously to all of you my gratitude goes out, even though the grammar may be off and the structure poor, I love to write and this allows me a free form way to do it. I tried political blogging before as well as a creative writing one, but they never stuck because they never worked, I just never got into them. But the forehead works because it allows me to do two things I love – write creatively and enjoy sports. Oh, and it also works because of all of you, so seriously thanks a ton.

All right sports dude, stop getting all mushy and ass kissy on us, where is the wacky stuff we are used to here? Well, here are just a few of the none standard things that I am thankful for in life.

Of course there are the Ron Artest’s and the T.O.’s of the world whom every time they open their mouths it seems to be something entertaining and hilarious. Please guys keep up the good work, it makes my job easier.

I am thankful that hockey is back so I again have something to put on my TV at night to help me fall asleep.

I am thankful for college football and tail gating at the golf course outside the Big House, all though this year I wasn’t thankful for all the ulcers and heart problems you guys gave me!

I am thankful for beer, most notably anything that has the words “Bells Brewing Company” on it!

I am thankful for the game of golf – where else can you drink and drive and get away with it legally?

I am thankful for Bud Selig who continues to run MLB like a joke.

I am thankful I am not Latrell Spreewell, who must have a lot of kids somewhere if that 10 million he was making last year was not enough to put food in said kids’ mouths.

I am thankful for Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, and Halle Berry just to name a few.

I am thankful for Donald Trump and that ridiculous comb over for making me laugh, the guy is a millionaire, can’t he buy some better hair or something?

I am thankful for warm blankets, apple pie, pizza, the game of basketball, my widescreen, my PS2, anything that says "internet" and "NSFW" and all the other silly guilty pleasures in life that get me thru!

I am thankful that you guys made it to the end of this post, thankful that you read it and thankful, as I said before, that you visit. I will be off of the blogging thing here most likely until Monday so please have a safe and happy holiday weekend, eat and drink your fill, but do it wisely! No DUI’s or busted guts here at the forehead! Be safe, remember what you have and respect it, think about those who are without and cherish those you hold dear. Until next time we speak, Godspeed my hearties! The sports dude.

Turkeys in Sports.

2005-11-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

First I want to say that I got inspired to do this little silly post here by a local radio station that is doing something similar this afternoon. There, I said it, that way if any of you readers out there read this post and think "Yeah, nice job sports dude, real original, what else are you ripping off of people?" then you know that sure as shit, it inspired me to write this damn thing. So in honor of turkey week, in honor of all things thanksgiving and such I give you my nominees for turkeys in sports.

NBA = Ron Artest. The guy just seems to be turning into the NBA's version of Mike Tyson with every passing second.

NFL = Terrell Owens. Tear apart your franchise QB. Check. Offer to fight all your teammates. Check. Demand more money when you have no right to. Check. Working out topless in your driveway and performing an interview at the same time. Check. Just being an overall douche bag that got what he deserved. Priceless.

NHL = not a huge hockey fan but I will give it to Bob Goodenow whom should have just realized the sport needed a cap and given in right off the bat.

MLB - Rafael Palmerio. Let's see, I guess I will go before Congress and point my finger at them and proclaim that I have never done steroids only to test positive a few months later. Real smart there Raffy, real smart!

That's it, like I said not a earth shattering post here but just something I felt like doing. So come, let me have it, who do you guys think should be in there? Let me know - later, the sports dude.

Monday Morning QB - Darn It Edition!!

2005-11-21T13:50:00.000-05:00

Well, it was not a good weekend all around for Michigan sport teams, the Wolverines, Spartans (both basketball and football), Pistons, Red Wings and Lions all lost and lost pretty darn well if you ask me. However, we will not reminisce too much on the sad state of affairs here and will instead try and assess the future in a positive way here at the old Monday Morning QB.

First I would like to say that, although it was gut wrenching to see the Wolverines lose that game essentially in the final six minutes, I will say I am still damn proud of that team as a whole. I guess I am not too upset because really if you look at that game it was a perfect microcosm for there entire season – just a little but short. You heard all the players echo the same sentiment that they just never seemed to finish out games and that was the case in every single one of the losses this year. Another thing that happened in that game was the injury bug that seemed to plague them all season came back one last time again this Saturday afternoon, again a perfect parallel to their season. All season long it seemed there was a new offensive line every week and against OSU I think they used every available offensive lineman they had. Hart was out again, the secondary was hit again (Leon Hall broke his leg), it was almost as if all the things, the injuries, the inability to close teams out, caught up to them in a fitting fashion in their last regular season game. Like I said it was a perfect ending to anything but a perfect season, which will end somewhere in a late December bowl most likely. The only positive I will take from this season is that all the injuries allowed the Wolverines to play a lot of underclassman who will now return next year seasoned and not wet behind the ears. Besides that all I can do now is think back on this season as probably one of my favorites of all times and how really masterful of a job Lloyd did as coach to keep this group together. “What the hell are you talking about sports dude, are you smoking something over there?” Let me put it to you this way, at the start of the OSU game that was the first time since the opening game against Northern Illinois that the Wolverines had their projected starters out there, together, as a unit. That was the healthiest the Wolverines had been all season essentially and even though it didn’t last long there never was any consistency anywhere throughout the season. The Wolverines were a dejected bunch at 3-3 a few weeks back with tough games against Penn State, at Iowa, at Northwestern and OSU still looming, how many people then would have been happy with 7-4? I know I was one of them that thought 6-5 at that time looked great! So yes, even though it is tough to swallow another loss to the sweater vest I will stay I still believe Lloyd turned in another masterful job coaching and keeping these kids together and furthermore these kids impressed the hell out of me in never truly giving up.

The Spartans, on the other hand, are just that – a team that looks like it all but gave up on the season not just this last weekend but a few weeks ago. There are a lot of questions that remain to be answered in the future and the one that seems to be burning in most people’s minds is do they fire John L. or not? Now obviously I am not one too put my two cents worth in there too much because I am a Wolverine supporter and do not follow the Spartans as closely as a true fan does, but I would say it is worth giving him another shot. Something tells me that if Smith gets the axe here soon within the next couple weeks Stanton will just say screw it, forgo his senior season and take a shot at the NFL. For me that would be enough of a reason to keep John L. on board for one more year because without Stanton next year guys, unless I am missing something here, there really is not too much to get excited about on that team. He makes everything go in East Lansing and if he goes so does your football team.

Lastly I would just like to thank the Lions because now that the college football season, for me, is over until bowls begin, it also means that football is officially done for me for awhile. Why should I suffer and watch such garbage on Sundays when I have better things to do, like beating my head against a wall! We can now all start our “mock draft” discussions as to which wide receiver the Lions should take next year (hey, 3 for 3 so you may as well go 4 for 4!) and whom the next coach will be as well. I for one am a Millen supporter, believe it or not, but that dude has some serious house cleaning to do this off season and the majority of it is on the offensive side of the ball – that is after shit canning the entire coaching staff! The offensive line needs a center that actually has skill, Backus either needs to show up (I will say this though, at least he plays with pain Roy!) or get the hell out, Charles Rogers needs to get on the Puff The Magic Dragon Train and head out of town, and Joey needs to go somewhere where he can get a chance and a fresh start. Did I miss anything? I mean, I know there is a lot, so please excuse me if I forgot some of the other things that are wrong; I am a little short on time.

Well, that is all I got for now, it is a sad Monday but at least there are still the Pistons to watch. Yeah, I know they got spanked by Dallas, but hey, I will take an 8-1 start to the season anytime! Those Western Swings were never friendly to the Pistons in the past, but they beat some decent teams out west, that says a lot to me. Later – the sports dude.

PS - new link added to the side bar! Yet another sports blogger come out of the wood work and kindly introduces themselves to the old sports dude. Even better than that the cat actually enjoys coming here! That's right folks, the old sports dude has found another supporter here in "SPORTS LITTER" and in a friendly link exchange has done a little of the "you show me your link and I will show you mine!" Welcome to the party pal and thanks for the linkage.

Weekend Warrior - Rivalry Weekend Edition!!!!

2005-11-18T11:48:00.000-05:00

Well, here you have it folks, not only is it rivalry week we are staring at what may very well be the last weekend warrior post for the year. Let’s face it, after this weekend college games become spotty at best and there is little left to root for as far as our NFL team here is concerned in the “D”. So without further adieu I give you the (possibly!) final installment in the all knowing of know nothings, the wacky, zany and clinically insane prophet known as the Weekend Warrior!

Northwestern at Illinois

Ron Zook is just finishing up his first full season at Illinois and it has been anything but pretty. After enjoy life in sunny Florida for a few seasons he has come to see not only how tough the Big Ten is but just how cold the weather is up here as well. The season couldn’t be over fast enough for him as he contemplates not only how the hell is he going to stay warm but why in the hell he came here in the first place.

Northwestern 47, Illinois 19

Minnesota at Iowa

Both teams are bowl eligible so the bottom line here is who gets the better bowl and who gets the worst. The season has been historic for both programs with Minnesota winning the Little Brown Jug for the first time since Christopher Columbus set sail and Iowa losing its first home came since 1776. Iowa has the edge in the passing game, Minnesota in the running game and both have the inside track for the best bowl game not going to Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin or Michigan.

Iowa 24, Minnesota 21

Purdue at Indiana

Well, this game comes down to one simple thing… NOTHING!!!! Both teams are ineligible for a bowl game and both are just now “playing for pride” I suppose. This one is a snoozer at best and I think it is safe to say that, if it is on TV, go rake leaves or something.

Purdue 17, Indiana 10

Penn State at Michigan State

There is so much riding on this game I think really there is no room for jokes. By the time this game starts the “BIG” game in Ann Arbor should be well into the fourth quarter and the need for this game should be either monumental or diminished. If U of M wins to the Spartans try and give it a full effort knowing full well their victory all but gives U of M the Big Ten’s BCS berth? Do they want to win it for themselves, regardless of what it means in Ann Arbor, or do they just want to get the season over with? Do they believe in John L. as a coach or do they just tank for him in hopes of getting him fired? Do they even care anymore, do they want to at least get some bowl game and salvage what was once a promising season. Look, maybe I am being a slappy here, maybe I am just hoping for the best and that U of M will win and the Spartans will win, but strange things have happened in this rivalry over the past couple of seasons. I think the Spartans will ignore Ann Arbor all together and instead play for themselves and play the way they did early in the season. Yes, I am picking the upset here for folks, again not because I want MSU to help us, but rather I think MSU wants to help themselves. Yes I am being sincere darn it, so get over it!

MSU 35, PSU 31

Ohio State University at Michigan

First I am going to say this, all bets are off in a rivalry game and because this game means so much to me I am not going to make a score prediction at the end here. Maybe I don’t want to jinx it, maybe I am just uncertain, maybe it really is a combination of both, but I am not going to do it! I will say this; I hope that in payback for last years embarrassing and unnecessary “dog sniffing” incident at OSU that the Wolverines pipe their fight song into the OSU locker room. I also hope that they employ a ban on anyone and everyone that wishes to wear a sweater vest at the game, all but forcing Tressel to actually not dress like a dweeb for once. This game will come down to the intangibles as always and I give the offensive edge to the Wolverines, I give the defensive edge to Buckeyes and special teams are dead even if you ask me. Both teams have dangerous return men and both teams have shaky kicking games, they are about as even as you get. U of M is much deeper at tailback and I think the change of pace between Hart and Grady will be punishing for the OSU defense, but those damn LB’s I am sure will take it. All in all I think this game will come down to the fourth quarter, be much closer than last year and I will say this – thank God it is in Ann Arbor!

Michigan and OSU – may the dog fight begin!!!!

Well, here it is again, quite frankly for what could be the last time this season, the totally and completely off the wall feature to save all features, the:

“MOM DO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME” – Game of the Week:

Duke at North Carolina

That’s right folks, two of the nation’s elite programs going head to head at the tail end of the season. The battle of North Carolina, two schools so close that they are literally right down the road from one another fighting it out on the basketball court. Last years National Champion against this seasons #1 ranked school, a true dog fight in its purest form. What’s that you say this is a football game and not a basketball game? Darn it, I guess no one really cares then, but I liked the basketball angle better.

North Carolina 3, Duke 2

UPSET SPECIALS OF THE WEEK – I am taking Virginia over Virginia Tech, Auburn over Alabama and the above mentioned MSU over PSU.

PRO PICK:

Detroit at Dallas

Remember when we were looking for a coach and Parcells was available and stuff and remember how we never even looked at him? Remember that? Yeah, not that I really think that “The Tuna” would have considered coming to this mess, he does have a reputation to uphold, but I still think it should be brought up. Does Joey deserve the start? Yes he does and he should continue to start until he goes back to old Joey, but that is just my opinion. The problem is that Mooch continues to defy logic and who the hell knows what he is thinking nowadays, let alone why the hell he is thinking it! Lastly I would like to add that regardless of who is starting the Lions are destined to lose this game, they really are just not that good and way too banged up on defense.

Dallas 27, Detroit 13

Well, that is all I got for now, I am off to church to start begging for forgiveness and to pray for a good old fashioned ass kicking to be put on the sweater vest this weekend. GO BLUE, GO GREEN and do it safely, I really want everyone to come back next week. Later – the sports dude.

A Love Letter to Sparty.

2005-11-17T10:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Sparty –

First I just wanted to write and offer my condolences and remorse for what has been a tragic season for you. I know it is not easy being on the top suddenly, especially when no one expected it, and then suddenly you fall from grace faster than a ton of bricks. We here in Ann Arbor are used to success, we are used to being at the top, that is why we feel for your pain right now, we can understand what it must be like for you. I mean, come on, you have to admit it tasted sweet, didn’t it? The media hype, being the media darlings, being the offense no one could stop, even your QB was suddenly on the Heisman Watch List! In fact you were even favored going into our rivalry game that October 1st afternoon, something that had not happened in that rivalry since the advent of the light bulb! Do you remember how it felt, how it tasted, how the air felt so much crisper to breathe? Go on, close your eyes for a second and reminisce, grab hold of that feeling and try to bring it to the field with you this Saturday because you need it now more than ever. You can feel that way once again, your season will again have meaning, all it takes is one simple victory this Saturday and you will be bowl eligible, you will be the talk of the Big Ten and yes you, not us Wolverines, will again be the most popular team in Michigan Collegiate Football.

See, we here in Ann Arbor are about to do you a favor, so we need you to do us one in return. See, it was not us that ruined your season; it was those hated Buckeyes that flattened your tires this year! Remember, it was you who were dominating that game earlier in the year against OSU, you owned them in the first half, easily forgetting about the loss to us and focusing your anger on the Buckeyes. Then it happened – the blocked field goal that was returned for a TD, essentially sucking all the life out of not only you in that game, but apparently for the season as well. See, it is OSU that is to blame for your 4-1 start turning into a 1-4 finish to this point and that is where our favor to you comes into play here Sparty. See, as always is our fashion here in Ann Arbor, we close out the season against the Neanderthals that are more commonly known as Buckeyes this Saturday and we would like to repay them for ruining your season. Just so you know, contrary to popular belief, there is really only one game we want you Spartans to lose every year and that is obviously when you play us. I mean, no offense, I hope you understand, but we truly want you to win the rest of your games! That is why, as a token of gratitude and sportsmanship, we extend to you the favor of ripping the Buckeyes a new “buckeye” this weekend, if you get my drift, all we ask in return is one small simple favor from you – beat the Nittany out of those damn Lions! Or beat the happy out of the valley, which ever you choose, just please beat something out of them!

You see, remember how I spoke to you in the opening paragraph, about wanting to be the most popular College Football Team in Michigan again, you can do that, all you need to do is beat Penn State. Do that and not only will your fans be celebrating but Wolverine fans everywhere will also join in and burn couches, side by side, with their fellow Spartans. It will be a perfect “Nirvana” for everyone, unity and peace and tranquility and again you will feel like you were on top of the world! Just like you did on October 1st, just like you did when you were the darlings of ESPN and just like you did when Stanton was the poster boy for the Heisman! Furthermore, with the victory, not only will you bring about said “Nirvana” to the state of Michigan, you will also receive (as a nice consolation prize!) the opportunity to represent your fine University in the Motor City Bowl at Ford Field. I know, you may think that the M.C.B. is a slap in the face, but let me put it to you this way, there has been no real “home team” there all season, and you would be the first and by far the most exciting! Just think of it, the first actual “home team” to play a game in Ford Field, the Lions have yet to show up yet since it has opened. For sure, anyway, you would be the most impressive offensive “home team” that Ford Field has ever seen, maybe you could even teach the Lions a thing or two… or 3 or 4 or 5… you get the point! But I don’t think that favor is too much to ask, do you?

If all those other things don’t work, how about this – you beat Wisconsin last year for us, why not Penn State this year? I mean, it can’t be personal, we beat you last year and you did us a favor, so you can’t use that as an excuse! Think it over, let me know, and you better hold up your end of the bargain because our game is played before yours. So we expect you, after we come thru with our promise, to keep up your end of the stick.

Thanks in advance and here is to the long awaited coming of “Nirvana”,

Sincerely – the sports dude.

Monday Morning QB - showdown in Ann Arbor Edition!

2005-11-15T11:24:00.000-05:00

Get off of my case all right, you all know that typically my “Monday Morning QB” is posted on Tuesdays, aren’t you all used to it by now? Especially this week, the sports dude had a huge test yesterday at the old college (yes, they let me in, they will take just about anyone’s money you know!) and an even bigger test looming tomorrow. So, no offense to my 1.5 fellow readers, but all my extra time has been devoted to studying. That being said, I did find a few moments to type this up, so here you have it!

First I just want to “toot my own horn” because the old sports dude had a really nice week in the upset specials department going three for four. Don’t bring up that Northwestern/Ohio State game that I kept referencing to it was not in the finally tally. All things considered I got the South Carolina over Florida, Iowa over Wisconsin and LSU over Alabama picks right. My lone misstep was picking Cal over USC and I have now decided that enough is enough, USC will never lose again as long as the sun continues to shine in California!

First let me talk about the U of M front here for a moment if you will. I am not yet ready to give my pick, I still need to talk to the spirits, consult my magic eight ball and go into a deep trance and channel the worlds energy into my soul to make an accurate choice. All right, actually all I do is drink a few beers and eat a burrito, but that counts as spirits right? Anyway, no matter what happens this Saturday this season truly ended up being one of the most memorable and special to me. Just a few weeks ago I looked at a devastated, injury ravaged and just emotionally beaten down 3-3 team that lost to Minnesota (for the first time in 1,000 years!) on a last second field goal. Not only was it a last second field goal, but it was created by a back up running back gaining 60 some yards down the sideline when all he was really trying to do was not fumble and run out the clock! That was it, I said, I love my boys, but the wheels have come off and the spirit is now broken. I looked at the schedule and I said “Hmmm… Penn State next, followed by a scary trip to Iowa, then Northwestern and Ohio State still. The only “gimme” is against Indiana! Shit, 3-3 could easily be 5-6!” Well, I tell you what, even if this team loses to OSU they showed a lot of heart, a lot of poise and a lot of “intestinal fortitude” by sticking together and vowing not to break. There are a lot of teams out there that would not have been able to suddenly start second stringers because of injuries, there would have been plenty of teams that would have cashed it in, but they persevered and really turned a down year into a special year.

Speaking of “cashing it in”, I guess that is a perfect way to lead into the Spartans who have had one of the most amazing turnarounds (in the opposite direction that is!) that I have ever seen. After the U of M game they stood at 4-1, still a nice standing and plenty of reason to finish out the season strong. But then in one instant, in one stupid fuck up by the coaching staff, all the air got sucked out of MSU football with a blocked field goal right before the half against OSU. That block, which was returned for a TD by OSU literally changed the momentum of not only that game for the Spartans it seems to have literally crushed them and ruined what once looked like a pretty darn good season. They have gone completely 360 from the 4-1 start to a 1-4 finish with one game left on the horizon, against Penn State at home this Saturday and at 5-5 a victory gets them a bowl. The trick is, Spartanville, do you want to win, do you want that bowl, because if you do (and assuming U of M takes care of business against OSU, I said assuming, get over it!) then it means you victory gives the BCS bid to the Wolverines, it gives them a share of the Big Ten Title and it gives you simply a trip to the Motor City Bowl. Or do you just forget everything and tank it so that the season is over and you officially are labeled one of the biggest choker schools of all time? That is a lot of weight on one game there Spartyville, what are you going to do about it? Me personally, in order to help you make you decision, have spent a lot of money on chocolates and flowers this week, sending it all too any Spartan football player I could find. Oh, and did I forget to mention that if you win I will be holding a “kegger” at my house afterwards in your honor? Yeah, I thought that might work better than the flowers and stuff, but I sometimes wonder about you Spartans so I am never too sure what to do.

Lastly I would like to talk about the Lions, my beloved Lions how they love to torture me so, and the soap opera that continues to be yet just another season in Detroit Pro Football. There is a local radio station down here that carries Mooches Monday press conferences and let me say this, that cat truly hates Joey Harrington. I am not just talking a dislike or distrust, I am talking 100% full and total hatred of him as a QB and I am starting to think as a person as well. Just listening to him say that “Joey played good” and the tone in his voice when he said it you would think someone had a gun to his head and was threatening his family in the background, this guy just can not give Joey any love at all. Was it a great game, no, but I think we all know that there are not too many “great” QB’s in the NFL these days. But come on, at least say he had a good game and pretend that you mean it for Christ sakes! I understand the predicament that Mooch is in, he knows if this season continues to head into the crapper that his job is gone, so I can not blame him for favoring his boy in Garcia, I really can’t, but at least say something nice and sincere about Joey for a change. In fact, I almost see Millen getting rid of Mooch and Garcia at the end of the year but giving Joey a fourth “last chance” with a new coach next year. Millen is playing Mooch like a puppet right now, you want to save your job fine, do whatever the hell you want, but it better get me to the playoffs buster or else! That is what is at stake here and Mooch knows it, Millen is playing it, and all us fans are left puking our brains out and scratching our heads. Oh yeah, one last thing, when everyone and their momma calls you a “diva” and you score a TD, don’t go and strike a pose like a bikini model in the end zone there Roy Williams, it only makes things worse! Man I miss Barry Sanders, he had the best TD celebration of all time, you know, just handing the ball to the nearest rest. He didn’t need any dancing to prove he just beat you, the broken ankles and skid marks he left on defenders was enough for him. I hate all this “celebration” shit; it really is just silly if you ask me.

Well, that is all I got today, off to talk to the spirits, eat me a burrito and get some beer, there is a big day of college football Saturday and I have got to be ready for it. Well, I got that stupid test tomorrow first, but after that my thoughts will only be about that damn sweater vest and how the hell the Wolverines are going to beat them on Saturday. Later – the sports dude.

Weekend Warrior - 11/11/05 Edition.

2005-11-11T10:34:00.000-05:00

Yes sir, you know you have missed it, you know you have been waiting for it and well here it is! Once again it is the time for the all knowing of the know nothings, that insanely master of stupid humor and personal therapist for Terrell Owens, it is time for the Weekend Warrior!

Indiana at U of M

Yes, I know, I spoke about it here last week and I will bring it up here again, all I have to say is trap game! Lloyd Carr has said all the right things this past couples of weeks, the players have all said their focus is on the Hoosiers and not yet on the Buckeyes, but do you really believe them? I for one think U of M truly will win, but if I were a betting man I would NOT put money on this game and expect the Wolverines to cover the spread. Take Indiana because this game will be closer than the 24 points the line is giving but I think at the end of the afternoon the Wolverines will shake of the boredom and come out on top. Actually the sports dude scored a pair of tickets to this game, so look for me on your TV tomorrow afternoon. How can we tell what you look like sports dude, how are we going to know it is you? Come on now, that is easy, I am the prettiest guy in the stadium and I also have a halo over my head!

U of M 38, Indiana 20

MSU at Minnesota

So U of M needs to win one of its final two games to get that sixth win and become bowl eligible, is that right? And John L. Smith is currently, as is with the case of all Spartan coaches recently, on the hot seat at the end of his third season, am I not mistaken? After starting the season 4-1, with a loss this Saturday the Spartans will have done a rare feat and that is go the complete 180 from their start and be 1-4. You know what Sparty fans, hate to say it, but that sixth win is not going to come until next week.

Minnesota 27, MSU 19

Northwestern at Ohio State

I was half tempted to put this one in my upset special section, but then next weeks show down in Ann Arbor would lose some of its luster if OSU came in with a second loss already. Therefore I kept it out, but remember the sports dude really wanted to put this game in there! Without needing to say anything else about this game, except for my weekly shot at the sweater vest, the wet bag of shit Ohio State coach gets a good look at what a spread offense is supposed to look like, not what his half assed version of it is he runs in Buckeyeville. That being said, again I remind you this game is teetering for me, I pick Ohio State in a closer game than I think most people expect in Columbus this weekend.

OSU 37, NW 34

Iowa at Wisconsin

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz and Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez are good friends and former colleagues, having both served on former Iowa Coach Hayden Frye’s staff. In honor of his buddies pending retirement Kirk decides to send him out with a perfect parting gift, one last kick in the ass on the football field.

Iowa 23, Wisconsin 17

Well folks it is that time again, the moment of moments, the feature of features and the game of all games this week, the weekly:

“MOM DO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME” – Game of the Week:

Navy at Notre Dame

What do you expect, does it always have to be colleges with names that sound made up or teams that are just in a downward spiral? I mean come on here folks, Notre Dame is rolling under Charlie Weis and has beaten Navy something like three thousand times in a row! All right, it is more like 48 or something, but you get the point and I really don’t see it changing this season for sure.

ND 45, Navy 27

Upset specials of the week – the above mentioned Iowa over Wisconsin, South Carolina over Florida (the cock gives it back to his old school!), LSU over Alabama and, you guessed it, California over USC. Oh, and did I mention, I really wanted to pick Northwestern over Ohio State but changed my mind at the last second?

PRO PICK:

Arizona at Detroit

Yippee, Joey Ballgame is starting again!!!! Yippee, Chuck Rogers actually ran fast and caught the ball in practice this week! Amazing, you mean that NFL receivers are actually required to run fast and catch passes that are thrown to them, when did this happen? Is that written in the rules somewhere or is the Players Association going to be looking into this as a direct rules violation, expecting too much of its receivers? In any case, for the second week in a row, Joey is going against a QB that was looked at this last off season as a guy to come here and “push him” (last week it was Brad Johnson, this week it is Kurt Warner) and for the second week in a row the other QB will (shockingly!!!!) look better than Joey once again.

Arizona 31, Detroit 16

Well, that is it folks, luckily I have my Wolverines this weekend, whom like I said I am fortunate enough to go see in person. Last weekend there was no football being played in these parts and after the Wolverines this Saturday it looks like there will be nothing again worth watching on Sunday. That is unless you watch someone other than the Lions anyway! As always god speed and tailgate responsibly my fellow readers, the sports dude.

Monday Morning QB - for once on a Monday!!!!

2005-11-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

Well, the Monday Morning QB really has nothing new to report, nothing exciting to talk about and little enthusiasm for anything football related this afternoon. I mean look at the weekend we had here in Michigan sports – Lions lose, Spartans lose and U of M had a bye. That all being said I guess we will talk about the only good thing that came out of the weekend, U of M and the bye.

Coach Carr told his players to stay close to campus this week, none of the typical trips home during the bye to visit family or to just get away from campus for awhile. Part of his reasoning for this, as he explained last week, was because the bye week came so late in the season and he didn’t want his players to go too far out of reach. He also pointed to the fact that he wanted his players to remain close to the program to get treatment for injuries and to remain under the close watch of the training staff. Even though he won’t openly admit it I am sure that part of the reason is the fact that this week’s game against Indiana is the perfect trap game to ruin what has become a pretty impressive turnaround by these Wolverines. Sports Dude, you know that they are playing the Hoosiers right? And it is in football, not basketball, so why worry? Simply put, the Wolverines had a lot of momentum going, a really nice streak of solid and impressive football, and it is a home game against a lowly opponent before the season ending rivalry game against Ohio State. Quite frankly I would rather it be a tougher opponent this week as opposed to a bottom feeder, this young team would then be less likely to just “expect” a victory if they were playing maybe a Minnesota or a Iowa or something. Instead they have all the inexperience, coupled with the fact that the break may cause them to lose some of the momentum they had built, to look ahead to Ohio State and simply forget they have to play Indiana first. Look, if this was a team filled with strong senior leadership or a team that hadn’t already experienced enough ups and downs in one season to make the Lions look normal, and then maybe I would feel a little better about it. But alas this team is what it is and it is just enough reason for me to be a little nervous going into this game. Hopefully Carr will do what he does best and keep these guys focused, maybe all this worrying will be all for nothing, but something tells me this game will be a lot closer than it should be come the fourth quarter on Saturday. It has just been that type of season for these guys and, make no mistake about it, they need to win out to avoid this season being labeled as one of the most disappointing seasons of all time in Ann Arbor. Anything less will be inexcusable and unforgivable and I really hope these young guys get it.

As far as Sparty is concerned can has anyone checked the web for the “Fire John L.” sites yet and how many of them there are? Seriously, wasn’t it just six weeks ago these guys were 4-0 and ranked #11 in the country? They have gone 1-4 since, if my math is correct, and somewhere along the lines the coaching staff has to be held accountable right? I am sorry Spartyville, I truly am, but I picked Purdue to win in my “upset specials” section on Friday and it really was not that surprising to see it come to fruition on Saturday. All that I ask out of Sparty is that they do us a favor in Ann Arbor, much like they did last season in beating Wisconsin, and save one more victory this year for us over Penn State at the end of the season. They need one more win to become bowl eligible and they have two tough games left – on the road against Minnesota this Saturday and at home against Penn State the following Saturday. So please, get that sixth win, for sure, against Penn State for us here in Ann Arbor, if you guys can’t go to a New Years Day Bowl wouldn’t you want to at least have you fellow Michiganders go? Thanks in advance, we would appreciate it!

Lastly I would like to touch on the Lions, actually I really don’t want to touch them, I am too afraid of catching whatever disease they have. Much like the Lions season this year I think this section of my post can be summed up by one statement – let them go! As in all of us fans, let them go! As in Mooch, Joey, Charles, let them go! I would like to say let go of Roy Williams but the pussy doesn’t even play, so maybe he just needs to get his ass off of the bike and show me something, then I can fairly say let him go as well. But it clear that a huge overall sadly has to be made this off season and it starts with the coach and his entire staff. Millen needs to admit that his guy was not really his guy after all and that his teams’ last three top picks (Harrington, Rogers, and Roy Williams) quite frankly may all wash out. Throw in the fact that Mike Williams looks like he is a kid that just expects it all to happen for him without working for it or earning it and that may make it a perfect four for four. Of all the guys on this “paper” offense, Kevin Jones is the only guy that I say stick with, but that offensive line needs some work to. No offense to Scottie Vines, but the fact that the last three weeks this guy has been your best receiver should say a lot of the lack of pride (and intestinal fortitude!) of these “paper boys” the Lions have drafted the last three years! Clean house, good riddance and bye-bye!

That is all the sports dude has got to say right now, that and the fact that at least the Pistons started last week, giving us something to watch here in Detroit as far as sports are concerned. Later – the house cleaning sports dude.

Weekend Warrior - 11-04-05

2005-11-04T09:49:00.000-05:00

Yes sir, it is that time again, the moment that you have been waiting for since we last met a week ago, the laugh out loud pile of useless information that I am about to spew, the know it all of know nothing, the crazy, loopy and president of the Ron Artest straight jacket club, the weekend warrior!

Minnesota at Indiana

Could someone ask me if anyone actually cares about this game? Indiana looked good at the beginning of the season, but then the Big Ten Season started and Indiana realized that it does truly suck, no doubt about it. Minnesota, as usual, can not seem to get its act together for entire season, but they won the little brown jug for the first time in 100 years, so at least they got something.

Minnesota 34, Indiana 17

Iowa at Northwestern

This is a showcase of what many people are calling the best two QB’s in the Big Ten, Basanez and Tate. Northwestern came back down to earth last week, you know, when they played against a real defense for the first time all season. Iowa is coming off of the bye and looking forward to erasing the nightmare that still haunts them, losing at home for the first time since 1886. Funny, both of those nightmares were produced by the same team, the Wolverines, who this week have a bye themselves.

Northwestern 44, Iowa 37

Tennessee at Notre Dame

After signing a contract extension that will keep Charlie at ND until sometime in 2119, the Irish look to show all the people out there that this is not a racist thing, it is simply a “please don’t go back to the NFL” thing. Unfortunately for the Irish they suddenly decide to play like their former coaches team, you know the guy who got fired because the Irish are all racists? The players figure that if they play like crap once again it will show it was not a black or white thing but merely an overrated thing. Unbeknownst to Charlie the contract was signed in invisible ink prompting them to rethink this whole extension thing.

Tennessee 27, Notre Dame 24

Wisconsin at Penn State

Look, this game is too important to my Wolverines to joke about, so I will leave all the kidding aside. All right, I do have one joke, but I read it in the paper about this game so it is not really mine. If you look at JoPa (78 years old) and Alvarez (58 years old), who do you think is retiring at the end of the season? You guessed it, the guy that is not by all means already out to pasture, one Barry Alvarez. That being said all of Wolverine fans out there need to pull for our boys in Happy Valley to pull out the victory because Wisconsin has no tough games left after this one (home against Iowa; at Hawaii) while Penn State still has a better shot at losing at least one more (at East Lansing). You guessed it, much like last year when MSU did U of M a favor and beat Wisconsin; I am pulling for them to do the same thing again. So let’s go JoPa, win one for the Wolverines!

Penn State 33, Wisconsin 23

Illinois at Ohio State

I can’t even think of anything funny to say about this one other than to simply throw out the words “sweater vest” because I love that guy so much! Other than that this game should pretty much be over by half time, so go do some yard work or something.

Ohio State 35, Illinois 13

Miami at Virginia Tech

I know, I usually don’t like to talk about these “Florida” schools, let alone pick them to win, but this is the only real marquise match up this week. Look, as much as I am pulling for there to be a bunch of undefeated teams there at the end of the season to screw the BCS once again (when are we just going to go to a playoff people?) I just don’t see Virginia Tech pulling this one off. When you are overrated you are overrated and this is truly the first real team the “Hokies” have played all year. The defense of Miami is just too good and they get the best of “The Other Vick” on this afternoon.

Miami 27, Virginia Tech 20

Hey, sports dude, where is the Spartans game? I mean, you did all the other Big Ten teams, where the hell are the Spartans? I know you are a hater and all, but come on, don’t forget us. Well, I didn’t, you notice what else is missing my dear readers? That is right, it is now time for that feature to end all other features, the:

“MOM DO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME” – Game of the week:

Purdue at Michigan State

Remember when everyone at the beginning of the season was talking about Purdue running the table in the Big Ten? Remember when, just a few weeks ago, the Spartans were the toast of the town and Stanton was going to win the Heisman? Yeah, I remember that, the good old days, how quickly things change. The Spartans, still basking in last week’s glorious victory over the mighty Hoosiers, fall asleep on this one thinking that Purdue is a gimme. Unfortunately for this squad nothing is a gimme nowadays. Purdue had a shot at running the table in the Big Ten, as in not winning a game, but luckily they ran into Sparty this week. Sorry sports pig, I am picking the upset:

Purdue 31, MSU 23

Upset specials of the week – Miami over Virginia Tech, Tennessee over Notre Dame, Cal over Oregon and the above mentioned Purdue over MSU.

U of M update – the Wolverines have a bye, good for the fact that they get to rest some tired, sore, injured bodies and bad because, if you ask me, it creates a perfect trap game. Just when they got some momentum going, just when they started to believe in themselves, they had to stop and take a week off. Why is that so bad, sports dude, they have Indiana at home after the bye? That is exactly it, my friends, the perfect trap game, stop the momentum, look ahead to Ohio State and over look the doormat that is the Hoosiers. Hey, with the way this season has gone for the Wolverines, trust me, I can believe it all I want too and be scared as hell of it happening!

PRO PICK:

Detroit at Minnesota

Yeah, Joey is starting again! Yeah, the Lions have not won in Minnesota in 14 years! Yeah, the Lions are going to lose! Seriously, even if Joey comes out gun slinging, this is a horrible thing. Look, if the Lions pull this off and Joey suddenly looks like the great QB we all expected it spells sudden doom for the Lions. How can you say that sports dude, maybe he learned his lesson? No he didn’t, trust me, it is a trap! I will use one Carlos Pena of the Tigers as an example. Every year we say “Carlos has got it; he is the FIRST BASEMAN OF THE FUTURE”, only to quickly start off slow, fade out and we lose faith in him. Then he has a strong second half and we repeat the same damn thing the following season. Seriously, that is Joey Harrington in a nut shell folks and I for one am tired of the trap. Starts off slow, finishes strong and then we think the kid finally has it all figured out only to shit on us once again. I hope the Lions lose, I hope Joey looks like shit and I hope Joey gets a permanent spot on that bench after this week, I am tired of the traps and I am tired of his lack of skills. Harsh you say? Get over it, the guy has had three years now, it is time to be harsh with that piece of shit that doesn’t even deserve to carry my jock!

Minnesota 37, Detroit 19

That is all I got, see what happens when they say “Joey” around me? I get all pissed and frustrated just thinking about his garbage! Later and remember to football responsibly people! The sports dude.

The Pistons and the other three...

2005-11-03T12:51:00.000-05:00

This post was supposed to take place yesterday, but unfortunately my dumb ass ran out of time, so you will all have to deal with it today. The Pistons looked good last night and even though it was against a lowly Sixers team I was still pretty impressed. Yes I know it was opening night, yes I understand there was probably a lot of adrenaline and such, but none the less I was impressed with the overall look of the Flip version of the Pistons. Anyway, as far as this post goes I am going to focus on not only the Pistons but the three other teams that I think will be there at the end of the season – the Nets, the Pacers and the Heat. I said it in my NBA Preview Post and I will say it here again, the #1 seed in the East to me appears all but set to come out of the Central. The Pistons need to win their division; they need to not have any lapses or a slow start like in seasons past because with this seeding system a #2 finish in the Central equals a #4 seed. They can not afford that, they need to stay focused and look at home court not only in the East but hopefully in the Finals as well so they can avoid anymore game #7’s on the opposing teams’ court. That being said I give you my thoughts on not only the Pistons but the teams I picked to win their respective divisions (Miami, NJ) and the team that will give the Pistons a run for the money in the Central (Indiana).

The only team that I see having a shot at knocking the Pistons off the throne in the Central is the Indiana Pacers. Artest, for all his boxing ambitions and CD producing glory, for all his clear cut insanity, he is (as he puts it) a “caged animal”. Seriously, does this guy have Mike Tyson written all over him or what? All things considered he still is a decent scoring threat and an excellent on the ball defender, not too mention he probably has a chip on his shoulder the size of Hannibal Lector! Rick Carlisle is an excellent coach (come on Detroit, admit it, he really is a good coach!) and knows how to get his guys to play defense with a capital “D”. The only question I have is how is this young roster going to respond with the lack of a true veteran presence, as in the loss of Reggie Miller to retirement? That being said here is their projected starting five and key back ups to each spot:

PG – Tinsley & Johnson
SG – Jackson & Jasikevicius
SF – Artest & Granger
PF – O’Neal & Bender
C – Foster & Pollard

Beyond the starting five, which has a weak spot in Jeff Foster, the depth is a huge question mark here. Johnson is a decent back up, no one knows a damn thing about this Jasikevicius cat, Bender is hurt more often than not but has potential, Pollard is a hack like Foster and who the hell is Granger? However, I give them the benefit of the doubt because there is a lot to prove from last year and the brawl, what they feel it cost them and I like Carlisle as a coach and what he gets out of nothing. The job he did last year with all the injuries and suspensions really tells you what kind of coach he is and I respect the Pacers more for that than anything else because this team really is about four guys (Tinsley, Jackson, Artest, O’Neal) and that is about it.

The Nets, who surprised a lot of people last year once they acquired Vince (overrated) Carter, should have no problem winning their division easily, barring injury to Kidd. Take Kidd out of the equation and that team is a bunch of lost souls searching for an answer, so as long as his knees hold up the Nets should be in the Eastern Conference Final Four. Here is a look at their projected starting five and key back ups to each spot:

PG – Kidd & McInnis
SG – Carter & Planinic
SF – Jefferson & Wright
PF – Collins & Uncle Cliffy Robinson
C – Krstic & Jackson

Look, is there any doubt that this team is Kidd, Carter and Jefferson and a bunch of other dudes? McInnis is a decent back up and I do like Uncle Cliffy, but the rest of that team makes me go “HUH?” As I stated above they are in an extremely weak division and as long as Kidd’s knees stay in one piece they should at least get to the Final Four.

The Miami Heat, the darling of the Eastern Conference, the team picked to dethrone the Pistons, the team I look at and go “Why?” I have already stated that this team reminds me more of the Lakers team the Pistons destroyed in the Finals two seasons ago than anything legit. Yes there is Shaq, who is clearly aging fast and not the Shaq of old, and there is Wade, who is every bit of everything he is billed up to be, but what about the rest of the misfits? And trust me, this group is a bunch of misfits, I kid you not. This is a paper team, an ego team, and clearly a team that Riley put together to help him kick Van Gundy to the curb and return to the bench. I mean, Riley has to know that there are going to be chemistry issue right? What better way to justify firing a fairly successful coach than to put all this “paper” talent together, watch it implode and then return to the bench with the tag line of “Look, I gave the guy talent, he just doesn’t know how to coach it.” I mean, unless there is a new rule in place, along with that ridiculous dress code, that says there are now three balls in play at once, how are you going to keep all these ball hogs happy? It is damn near impossible, so let us look at the five projected starting ball hogs and the huge egos coming off the bench to back them up:

PG – White Chocolate & Payton
SG – Wade & Kapano
SF – Posey & Walker
PF – Haslem & Simien
C – Shaq & Mourning or Doleac

All I am going to say is this, look at the point guards and I think you will agree there is trouble in ego paradise! White Chocolate (a.k.a. “You ain’t writin’ nuthin’ homeboy”), who loves to throw one ball out of bounds for every “sweet” pass he makes and Payton (my ego is the size of Shaq) as your two top guards? Walker couldn’t stand coming off the bench in Dallas, he was all but a cancer there, what makes you think he will like it now? (Don’t tell me Shaq will police it all, he couldn’t do it with the Lakers and this is no different!) The rumor out there is the only reason Finley turned down Miami was because he didn’t want to play with his old Dallas teammate once again. Turning down a chance to play with Shaq because of Walker, tells you a little something about that cat doesn’t it? I am going to leave you with this diddy and then we will be done with the pour chemistry and cancer stricken Heat, a comparison to this starting unit and the Lakers from a couple years ago:

Lakers – PG was Payton – Heat – PG is White Chocolate and Payton – same
Lakers – SG was Kobe (MJ junior) – Heat SG is Wade (MJ junior) – same
Lakers – SF was Rick Fox (defense only) – Heat SF is Posey (defense only) – same
Lakers – PF was Malone (nasty, scores) – Heat PF is Haslem (nasty, no scores) – same
Lakers and Heat – Center = Shaq.

That is all I am going to say about that, now on to the Pistons and their starting five along with their key back ups:

PG – Billups & Arroyo & Hunter
SG – Rip & Delfino
SF – Prince & Evans
PF – Sheed & Dice
C – Ben & Darko & Davis

Chemistry folks, it is all about chemistry, this is the same starting line up that has been together for 1 ½ seasons (completely) and, if you take away Sheed, for three seasons now. What is the biggest key to this season that was not seen last year? Depth, depth, and more depth and a coach that ain’t afraid to use it! If you look at the Pistons second unit of Arroyo, Delfino, Evans, Dice and Darko/Davis, how many teams wouldn’t want them as their starters? Can you say Atlanta? Can you say Charlotte? New Orleans? Folks, there are components in the Pistons back ups that may be the envy of the league simply because those guys could be starting a lot of other places. Come on now guys, don’t call me a slappy here, you know darn well Arroyo could start somewhere in this league (he was a starter in Utah until he fell into the doghouse!). Don’t tell me that Dice wouldn’t be a starter somewhere in this league, or that Darko (if he was on your typical lottery team) would not be starting, or even Dale Davis isn’t in good enough shape to log minutes. The only two that may not have the edge, as far as possible starters somewhere, may be Delfino and Evans, but I expect Delfino to have a far better year this year because he will be in a system that believes in him. Lastly you all know how I feel about Evans, whom I am describing (along with a lot of others!) as another “diamond in the rough” steal by your very own Mr. Joe Dumars. Quite frankly the depth on this team, along with the chemistry in that starting five (which, by the way, is still the best starting five in the NBA – go on, I dare you to find one that is better!) is the reason why I say the road to the Finals still goes thru Four Championship Drive in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Period, point blank and yes, end of story. Later – the sports dude.

The Sports Dudes (UN)Educated NBA Season Preview

2005-11-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

Well here it is, in a nut shell, the sport dudes look at all things NBA as we sit here on the dawn of the new season. Really all this boils down to is me writing a post where I get to look all brilliant and stuff but have no idea what the heck I am talking about. That being said I give you my thoughts, feelings and always expert opinions on the upcoming 2005-2006 NBA Season.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division – Boston, New Jersey, New York, Philly and Toronto

As far as I am concerned there is nothing in this division that makes me get nervous, excited or even giddy. In fact, when I look at this division I kind of have to remind myself to breath and check for a pulse to make sure I am still alive. Philly has A.I., the toughest little man in the NBA but he still lacks a partner because Chris Webber is basically running on blown tires. Boston has Paul Pierce but the rest of the roster kind of makes you go “HUH?” because there really is nothing else to look at. Toronto continues to kid itself thinking that they are an NBA franchise when they truly resemble more of a NBADL squad and New York is such a mess that (sorry Larry!) I don’t even think those guys have a clue. Seriously, for whatever reason Larry wanted his dream job he can have it, that team has no idea what defense is let alone what it means to “play the right way.” I think there will be less visits to the Mayo Clinic this year for Larry and more to the psyche ward at the local loony bin! New Jersey is the only team in this division that has a legitimate starting line up (Kidd, Carter, Jefferson and a couple role players) that even resembles a decent team at all and that is why they get my nod to win the division.

Central Division – Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana and Milwaukee

If you ask me what happens to be the strongest division in all of the NBA my answer is this, look no further than the Eastern Conference and its Central Division. When figuring out who I thought the eight playoff teams were for the East I actually just about had all five of these teams in it, but I stopped myself before I got all slappy on this division. Cleveland retooled this off season to help keep Lebron happy, adding Donyell Marshall and Larry Hughes, as well as resigning Ilgauskas. Chicago continues to have a young and exciting group of players, but the lack of defense and a proven interior scorer (Tyson Chandler does not count yet!) may end up hurting them in the end in this physical conference. Detroit is still Detroit, with what I am still considering the best starting five in the NBA period, point blank, end of story. A new coach in Flip Saunders may also help the offense be a little easier on the eyes, but this team will still hang its hat on the old “D”. Indiana is the one team in this division that will give the Pistons fits and the return of Ron Artest should help more than it will hurt this team. The man is a whack job though, already wanting to box Ben Wallace on pay-per-view (note to Artest you wouldn’t even make it out of the first round against Big Ben!) but he still is a good on the ball defender and a scoring threat. Milwaukee should be better this year now that T.J. Ford has returned and his health could be the key to that team and its success or failure this year. The division winner, however, will come down to either Indiana or Detroit, if I could pick a tie I probably would, but I'll give it to Detroit only because I love my boys, but I think it will come down to the seasons final week.

Southeast Division – Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Orlando, Washington

Atlanta got Joe Johnson in the off season to help boost its offense, but can one ball hogging money hungry guy that just wants it all to be about him really make that much of a difference? I am guessing from my comment right there you can figure out my answer is no. The only silver lining for the Hawks is that the Charlotte Bobcats are in this division so there is actually a team there that is just as bad, if not worse off, then they are. Miami had the Pistons on the ropes this past season in the Eastern Conference Finals only to take a look at the whole thing and say “Screw team chemistry, let’s blow it all up and put together one of the most dysfunctional starting five of all time.” When your starting five is shaping up to be White Chocolate, D-Wade, Shaq, Haslem and Walker there is only one thing you can ask – how the hell are you going to make that work? Plus don’t forget another “shoot first, second, third, fourth and pass last” guy is coming off the bench, one Gary Payton. It is a nightmare waiting to happen in Miami, but I will get to that conspiracy theory of mine later. Orlando is still searching for an identity as the curse of trading Ben Wallace for Grant Hill continues to bite them in the ass and Washington will take a few steps back this year, but not many. By default I have to pick a winner for this division and I pick the dysfunctional bunch known as the Heat, but not by as much as they won it last year.

Player to watch in the Eastern Conference – Maurice Evans of the Pistons, another one of those diamond in the rough finds by Joe D.

Most overrated player in the Eastern Conference – I could just about pick anyone from that Miami Heat Roster, but I will give it to none other than Vince Carter, one of the most overrated players of all time.

Most surprising thing to happen in the first half of the season – Pat Riley returns to the bench after firing Stan Van Gundy and trades Antoine Walker before it gets too late.

Best record in the division – central champ, either Detroit or Indy (central runner up will have the second best record, but get the #4 seed because of seeding rules).

Eight teams that make the playoffs – Detroit, Indiana, Cleveland, Milwaukee (yes, there are the four of the five from the Central, sorry Chicago!), Philly, New Jersey, Miami and Washington.

Final Four – Detroit, Indy, NJ, Miami

Eastern Conference Finals – Detroit and Indy

Eastern Conference Champs – Detroit (sorry, until someone even looks this deep from 1-12, has a better starting five or more team chemistry I won’t pick against them and I don’t see how anyone else can either).

Western Conference

Pacific Division – Golden State, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Phoenix, Sacramento

The biggest stories in this division to me are the remarriage of Kobe and Phil in Lakertown and the Phoenix Suns loss of Amare Stoudemire for the first half, if not all, of the season. Can Kobe and Phil coexist? Can the “run, gun and fun” style in Phoenix survive without its most electrifying player? Luckily for both of those teams the answer is yes because the other teams in this division did little to improve themselves in the off season. The Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers still remain “those other California teams” out west and have little or no chance of doing anything significant again this season. Kobe and Phil should get along just well enough to help bring some respect back to “Showtime” but it will do little to help the Lakers overcome some of the other bigger guns now in the West. Phoenix, even with the subtraction of some key players (Stoudemire, Johnson and Richardson) should still be exciting enough to watch because as Nash goes so does that offense, the key will be if those guys ever learn to play some “D”. Sacramento did little, if anything, to improve their roster but should still fair much better than the above mentioned other teams in sunny California. That all being said, and everything else taken into consideration here, I give my division nod to the Phoenix Suns because the other four teams really have not shown me anything at all.

Southwest Division – Dallas, Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, San Antonio

The Spurs, still basking in their glory from last years title run, added a key component this off season that will only make them that much stronger – Michael Finley, as well as sharp shooter Nick Van Exel. The Mavericks, with coach Avery Johnson now ready for his first full season at the helm, may actually do something never heard of before under previous coach Nelson, that is play a little “D” from time to time. Houston has one of the most over rated players in the league in Tracy McGrady and the lack of a true point guard will eventually catch up to them again this season. Memphis has a shot at being competitive but a roster full of some aging veterans like Damon Stoudamire and Eddie Jones may not be enough to help them survive a full season in this division. New Orleans is young and coupled with the fact they really have no “home” this season leaves little shot for these guys to finish anywhere but the cellar of this strong division, therefore I am going to give the division title to San Antonio in this case.

Northwest Division – Denver, Minnesota, Portland, Seattle, Utah

Denver did little to change its roster this off season, but having worked with George Karl as coach for most of last season and now for a full season should do this squad some good. Minnesota is all but trying to reinvent its identity and build, once again, around Garnett, but about the only thing the fans have to look forward to is no longer listening to Spreewell complain he can not “feed his kids” on 10 million a year. About the only significant thing Portland did this season, besides getting them a no nonsense coach, was dump some dead weight and start to look towards the future. Seattle may have lost its coach, ironically to above mentioned Portland, but it kept an extremely underrated Ray Allen to give it some hope. Utah, although Coach Sloan is one of the greatest in the game, really has no shot in hell this season at doing anything significant, and that is all I am going to say about them. Since I have to pick a winner I will give my nod to the Denver Nuggets, but I think Seattle will still give them a run for their money.

Player to watch in the Western Conference – I stated it above that I think Ray Allen is one of the most underrated players in the conference, so for this section he gets half of my vote. The other half goes to Kobe and how he reacts to the return of Phil, whom he really loved in the first place, right?

Most overrated player in the Western Conference – take your pick, I am going to give you the first three names that pop into my head, Kobe, T-Mac and Dirk Novitski.

Most surprising thing to happen in the first half of the season – Kobe and Phil both coexist, but Phil is actually forced to coach for the first time in his career because he is on a team that does not have the NBA’s best player. Come on, the dude rode MJ and the dude rode Shaq, are any of you going to tell me this man has ever coach a day in his life?

Best record in the division – San Antonio, does anyone doubt it?

Eight teams that make the playoffs – Suns, Kings, Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, Rockets, Sonics, Nuggets

Final Four – Suns, Spurs, Mavs, Lakers

Western Conference Finals – Spurs, Mavs

Western Conference Champs – San Antonio Spurs

NBA Finals – San Antonio against Detroit, and no I am not just recycling my post from last season! From all the things that were done this off season, as in what other teams did to improve so they could surpass these two, I saw nothing and no one that even came close to matching either of these teams depth, talent, but most importantly, CHEMISTRY!!

NBA Champ – not going to do it this time, see you all in June with that prediction!

Thanks for reading and my close up look at the Pistons will come tomorrow, later! The sports dude.

Monday Morning QB

2005-10-31T10:03:00.000-05:00

Well, what a strange and exciting weekend in sports! Well, maybe not really, but I came close on two of my three upset specials. I got the Georgia game right, came up way short on the Ohio State/Minnesota game and was geeked for three quarters with my Texas pick. Anyway, here is a quick wrap up of the weekend in sports.

The Wolverines, my Wolverines, looked pretty darn impressive there in Evanston this weekend if I do say so myself. The depth at running back continues to amaze even me and I can honestly say that the bye week comes at an opportune time. If nothing else it should give Mike Hart enough time to rest and recover fully because we may not need him in two weeks against Indiana but we sure as hell will need him against Ohio State. Yes the depth is nice, but the running game is that much better when Hart is in, make no mistake about it. Henne continues to seem like he is in a daze at time, although his hail mary interception at the end of the first half really doesn't count in my book too much. He spread the ball around to a decent number of different receivers, but he really needs to brush off whatever funk he is in before the Ohio State game in three weeks. He has what I like to call "John Navarre Syndrome", as in he locks onto Jason Avant and doesn't throw until Avant is open. Navarre was infamous for locking onto one receiver and Henne has the same trait. In his defense I am sure it is still holdover from last year when as a freshman he was told to "just throw it up for Braylon" but he does need to learn to not lock his gaze on one guy so often. He still is only a sophomore so I give him the benefit of the doubt, I think he will still only get better. The defense looked really solid once again and I can now say that they survived to this point against the spread offense and are now 3-0 against it this season.

The Spartans got a much needed win against one of the Big Tens perennial door mat teams, the Indiana Hoosiers. They needed a band aide to stop the bleeding that was coming out of Lansing and they got just that. I can not comment too much on this game because I was at my nephews birthday party so I really did not watch it, all I saw was the final score later in the day and it looked like the Spartans had their way with the lowly Hoosiers all afternoon.

The Lions lost in OT on a poorly throw pass from Jeff Garcia which resulted in an interception returned for a touchdown. The defense seemed to play decent enough all afternoon, but yet again the offense did little to back it up. I know, you are expecting the sports dude to be singing the mighty Garcia's praises here, but he took a gamble and it failed in OT. Plenty of blame to throw around on offense everywhere, but the bottom line is they are still not getting it done. Huge loss here because now they must finish with a better overall record than the Bears which is something that I do not see happening at this point in time. I also think it is safe to say that there won't be a wild card team coming out of the JV North Division here, so this was a huge loss for that reason as well. Bottom line, however, is the sports dude will still take Garcia over Harrington all day, even with that piss poor pass in OT. I am a Joey hater my friend and I still am waiting for that glorious day when Andre Ware Jr., I mean Harrington, gets ridden out of town on the first bus the Lions can find.

Later, and check back for my Pistons preview coming sometime tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on when I get off my lazy ass and get it done. Peace! The sports dude.

2005-10-28T09:33:00.000-04:00

Well folks, here you have it, another week down and another post to go! It is, yet again, time for the all knowing of know nothings, the wacky, zany and self professed sultan of the sofa, the weekend warrior.

Indiana at MSU

The wheels have come off, the ship is sinking, the season is in the tank, “we are now just playing for pride”, etc. – did I cover them all? It barely seems like yesterday when the Spartans were the toast of the Big Ten, Stanton was on the Heisman watch list and there were talks of Pasadena on our tongues. Unfortunately for the Spartans, the coaching staff got in the way because that blocked kick against Ohio State really was the needle that burst their balloon. John L. Smith himself has decided this week to put duct tape over not only his mouth but his eyes as well because not only can he not afford to say anything stupid he can no longer bare to watch. Place kicking duties have now been given to a walk on, or was that a former member of the band, I can not remember. The only relief in Spartanville this week is the fact that it is clear now Stanton will all but return for his senior season and not bolt after winning the Heisman, that and the fact that this is Indiana, so the Spartans should win easily, right? RIGHT?

MSU 38, Indiana 24

Ohio State at Minnesota

The sweater vest himself puts on a big smile and his fanciest turtle neck from the closest this week, proud to proclaim that his Buckeyes finally have arrived on offense, after putting up over 400 yards this past weekend. Unfortunately for the vest, someone reminds him that it was against Indiana and he should have been able to do that using his marching band and saving his football players.

Minnesota 27, Ohio State 21

U of M at Northwestern

History was made this week in Ann Arbor, not only did Lloyd Carr win his 100th game but the Wolverines finally won two games in a row for the first time this season. Lost in all of this was the simple fact that not only did they do it on the road, they did it in Kinnick Stadium where the Hawkeyes had won 22 straight games. Unfortunately for Lloyd Carr and his band of “what is your name again kid because you were not even on the depth chart at the beginning of the season and now you have to play because of injured starters” players, this is a stadium and team that has not been friendly to U of M in the past and that trend will probably continue this week. Sorry coach, you will get your 101st victory this season, but it has Indiana written all over it, not Northwestern.

Northwestern 42, U of M 35 (get over it, I love them but I can pick against them!)

Purdue at Penn State

Remember when everyone was talking about how great Purdue was going to be this year because they had all these returning players on defense and how they had the easiest schedule in the Big Ten? Yeah, what happened to that? Purdue is going nowhere fast and going to Happy Valley (man, I love that name, I wonder when they are going to change it, it really just doesn’t fit a football town, you know?) is not going to make things easier on Joe Tiller and his over rated bunch. I also remember, when asked at the beginning of the season, one Purdue player saying about the easy schedule something like “Well, maybe it should be the other way around, maybe those teams should be glad they aren’t playing us.” Well, something tells me U of M and Ohio State would love to be playing you right now; they need all the easy victories they can get.

Penn State 31, Purdue 16

Finally, here it is, the moment that you all have been waiting for, bar the windows, put your hands over the children’s eyes, it is time for the:

MOM DO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME” – Game of the week:

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Florida International Golden Panthers

There is only one reason why I picked this match up - isn’t that about the two longest names for any football teams you have seen? No other reason then that folks and it is my pick so I can do whatever the hell I want!

Florida International Space Station Elite Golden Panthers 124, Middle Tennessee Southern Northwest Blue Raiders 101

New feature here, just some games that I think may be upset specials of the week and they are as follows:

Oklahoma State over Texas
Minnesota over Ohio State
Florida over Georgia

PRO PICK:

Chicago at Detroit

Damn it all to hell, if I pick the Lions does that jinx them and mean they are going to lose? Can you actually believe that this embarrassing game for first place in the J.V. Division known as the NFC North between two 3-3 teams is actually for first place? Can you also believe that it is most likely the most significant game yet played at Ford Field by these Lions of ours? How unbelievable is that crap? Injuries continue to mount for these Lions, as now the best member of their secondary in Dre Bly is out for a few weeks. Luckily for the Lions they are playing against the second coming of Joey Harrington himself, one Kyle Orton, so Bly really should not be needed this week. I think the offense will look better this week and I think the home crowd will give the Lions just enough of a boost to come away with a win.

Detroit 31, Chicago 23

That is all I got here folks so as always please drink you fill as your football away this weekend, but do so safely! Later – the sports dude.