Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Kwame Kilpatrick edition

I'm going to step away from sports for one post, much as Drew Sharp pulled a Little Fella and tried his hand at social commentary in today's Freep. His target? Detroit's embattled mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick.

Today's COTD is from the comments of Sharp's take down of the mayor. A Freep reader called midnight rider posts the following thoughts about a big city mayor under siege.

Time Magazine had it right back in 2005 by naming Kwame as one of the worst mayors in the US.

Here's the exerpt- The Nation's Worst Big-City Mayors (in alphabetical order):

Kwame Kilpatrick- Detroit: Equally at home in senior centers and hip-hop concerts, Kwame Kilpatrick, 34, inspired Detroit voters with his energy and determination when he rode into office three years ago. But a cherry red Lincoln Navigator has put a big dent in his reputation. After weeks of denying it, the mayor admitted in January that the city paid $24,995 to lease just such a car for his wife. That outlay showed what Alan Ehrenhalt, executive editor of Governing Magazine, calls ?a tin ear for symbolism,? given that Detroit?s $230 million budget deficit has prompted the mayor to eliminate 3,000 city positions and end 24-hour bus service, TIME reports. He denies and then apologizes

I was born and raised in Detroit and watched the fall of the inner city and neighborhoods. Coleman Young poured money into projects like the RenCen and Hart Plaza while neighborhoods, parks and city services went to hell. Seems like we have second coming of Coleman with Kwame. Detroit is the laughing stock of the US- What a joke!

This comment parrots my opinion of the quandary Kwame finds himself in. His screw-ups just confirm the prejudices outsiders have about Detroit, and it's citizens. The state, all of southeast Michigan, and Detroit, are now a laughing stock.

You'd think the controversy was a movie of the week. The honorable (term used loosely) mayor cheats on his wife with his chief of staff, fires the deputy police chief, amongst others, in covering up his actions, lies about his infidelity while under oath, ultimately costing Detroit $9 million in cash the city doesn't have, in a court judgment awarded to the unjustly fired cops. The mayor is now under investigation for perjury.

The whole sordid story breaks in the Free Press last Wednesday, Kilpatrick goes into hiding for a week, and breaks his silence in a woe-is-me-I'm-so-sorry TV speech last night.

You can see the STEAM rising from her ears. That is one pissed off wife...

Yet many Detroiters are defending Kwame. They blame the media for exposing the mayor to be a corrupt, immature, incompetent public servant. Typical cloistered, short-term, Detroit-style thinking. I should know, as I lived in Detroit for close to a decade. (Don't look at me, I didn't vote for the philandering mayor) Yes, this small town, white bread country boy got to put up with the city's bullshit on a daily basis.

I left Detroit about 2 1/2 years ago, but I didn't bail out on the city because I was driven away. My life changed, and my physical ailments meant I had to downsize my life considerably. Ultimately, I moved back home. If I had the ability, I'd still be living in the city.

Honestly, I LOVED being in the D. I lived in a very safe, full of families, racially mixed, middle class neighborhood. Yes, Detroit has those, it's not all slums and ghettos, despite people who NEVER lived in the city would have you believe. I never felt threatened or out of place. It was great being a short drive from all the cool downtown areas of Detroit, and believe me, there are plenty.

I'm amongst the first to defend Detroit. But to see what's going on now disgusts me.

The longer this used car salesman disguised as a mayor stays in office, the more we'll see of the suburbs (ie: whites) vs Detroit (ie: blacks) issues we had for the near entirety of Coleman Young's tenure. Hizzhonor drew the battle lines back in the 70's. Dennis Archer did his best to bring the area back together, with a fair amount of success. Unfortunately, Kilpatrick is doing his damnedest to create that schism between the suburbs and city again.

After watching his speech blaming everyone but himself this morning, I found Kwame's use of religion as a shield deplorable. Paraphrasing, "This is between me. my wife, and our God." Bullshit. Total and utter BULLSHIT. Not when your infidelity, then covering it up, cost an already flat broke city $9 million!

Yet, after all the lies and criminal actions, he has the absolute gall to take the moral high ground, and give the speech from a church? A CHURCH? Talk about pandering to your populace. That's all Kwame's speech was, pandering to the voter's heartstrings, their faith, and their us against them feelings when it comes to the media and suburbs.

As someone who's marriage was broken up by my wife's infidelity, I have absolutely no respect for those that do cheat on their spouses. I hold them in even more contempt when adultery is committed by someone who claims to be religious. So to say I have NO respect for Kwame Kilpatrick is an understatement.

Cheating is bad enough, though as morally repugnant as you may find it, it's not against the law. But to then lie about it under oath? Committing a felony? Trying to ruin the lives of innocent police officers? Costing your city MILLIONS? There is no defending his actions. You just can't do it.

The more I think about Kwame's past actions, his current blame everyone else attitude and what his farce of an administration is costing, not only Detroit, but southeast Michigan as a whole, in money and reputation, the more pissed off I become.

I hope Kilpatrick is brought up on perjury charges, and they throw the fucking book at him. But why do have have the nagging feeling that his former chief of staff, whom has resigned in disgrace, will ultimately be the culprit thrown under the bus, and the Teflon mayor will walk away relatively scot-free?

It's the Detroit way...

Dammit, I'm tired!

Sorry for the tardiness of my first post today. Hey, you get what you pay for, right?

Anyway, I was out late last night, visiting some in town for a couple of days relatives that like to tip a few, thus I'm dragging ass today. I don't bounce back from late nights the way I once did. Funny, when I'm on a trip, such as when I was in Vegas, I don't feel the effects much at all. But when I'm home? Christ almighty.

For that matter, when I was 18? Give me 2-3 hours to sleep and sober up just a tad, and I'll be rip roaring, ready to go, fine and dandy. Then I'll go out again tonight, and start the circle again. Where's the damn beer?!

When I was 28? Eh, 5 hours and I'll be able to get through the day. A quick nap when I get home, and I'll be ready to go! Where's the good gin? Who's got the tonic?

At 38? Shit, I'm tired. Need my 7-8 hours, and the rest of the day to recover. Now leave me alone! Where's the fucking Gatorade?

In my 40's? Fuck me, even though I didn't overindulge. I was asleep around 1:30, 8 hours in the sack. But I didn't sleep all that well. I was still feeling whipped when I drug my tired ass out of bed. I'm not even hung over, but I've been ready to nap for the last couple of hours! So give me a few days, and I'll feel somewhat normal again. At least in time for the Super Bowl...I think. Now where's my bed? Hell, I'll settle for the couch!

Moral to the story? Never, ever get old.

As a Tigers fan who's still bitter over the 1987 playoffs...

...Pardon me for not feeling sorry for Twins fans over the awful trade of Johan Santana.

Yes, I still hold a grudge over all the nightmarish experiences the Tigers have suffered in the Homer/Baggie/Hefty/Metrodome. It's nice to revel in a little schafenfreude...

But from a Tigers fan point of view, even better than delighting in the Twins misfortune is the fact the AL Central officially became a 2 team race as of yesterday afternoon.

This trade is the equivalent of the Tigers getting Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, yet not giving up Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. The Twinkies didn't even get the Mets' best prospect! The Minnesota front office out and out blew it when they didn't jump all over either the Yankees or Red Sox offers during the winter meetings.

My first though about the Santana trade? GOOD RIDDANCE!

I've said in the past that I don't buy the "We can't compete in a small market" BS. Have you ever known of any team owner that isn't personally rolling around in obscene amounts of greenbacks? This is what I said last August about Twins owner Scrooge McDuck Carl Pohlad...

Same goes for other hack owners, like small market poster boy Carl Pohlad of the Twins, who has a net worth over $2.6 BILLION, yet runs his team as if they live on poverty row. In actuality, the Twins have been one Hell of a good investment for the miserly Pohlad. He bought the Twinkies for the relative pittance of $44 million in 1984. They are now worth an estimated $288 million! That's well within the lower half of MLB, but nothing to sneeze at, either.

The cheapskate won't pay (Soon to be) free agent Johan Santana what the market rate is bound to be for a multiple Cy Young award winner, or ignore contract slotting, which would have allowed the Twins to possibly draft Santana's eventual replacement. (Because he is going to leave...)

Pohlad toes the MLB line, though he has deeper pockets than Scrooge McDuck, Hank Scorpio, and Daddy Warbucks combined. Please, I don't want to hear any "Woe is us" whining, from anyone other than frustrated fans...

Sure, Minnesota did ink Justin Morneau (Good signing) and Michael Cuddyer ($24 million for him?) to nice extensions, but they are still relatively early in their careers, thus somewhat affordable. I think it's safe to say, going by Pohlad's penny pinching track record, they won't be Twins when their next contract comes around.

The Twins are supposedly building their team to seriously compete in 2010, when their new stadium will be ready. Thing is, who knows what will happen in 2 seasons? Twins fans best hope at least a couple of the prospects received from the Mets pan out, let alone those currently in their system don't decline, or 2010 won't mean a damn thing. There's plenty of teams who have tried the same plan, only to have it backfire.

We Detroit fans remember when the Tigers were supposedly building for 2000, and the opening of Comerica Park. Unfortunately, the young core of players they locked into long-term deals turned out, to put it bluntly, suck. (Damion Easley, anyone?) 2000 ended up as the high water mark for that core of players, finishing all of 79-83.

It was an ugly, horrific downward spiral from then on. It took another 6 seasons for the Tigers to recover...Thanks to their finally spending money. Lots of money. Money not only on free agents, but in their farm system, on draft picks, the front office, and on their own players.

The American League has become a Cold War style arms race. If you want to compete with the superpowers, you stockpile weapons. You sure as Hell don't give them away for a relative pittance, hoping that you develop fancy new weapons over the next few years.

I'm thrilled the Tigers no longer operate with the same philosophy as the Twins. They are playing to win, and win now, (Yet still keeping one eye on the future) rather than crossing their fingers, and maybe, if everything goes right, winning in 2 or 3 seasons.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

We go back to Mlive, and Killer Kowalski's commenting goons, for today's COTD. In talking with the Rod Marinelli, the Killer reports Coach Pound T. Rock claims the Lions won't waive Shaun "I've yet to met a smorgasboard I didn't inhale" Rogers.

But don't think that means Bigger Baby is off the market. The Lions are still going to entertain trade offers for the roly-poly defensive tackle. Coach P.T. Rock says it's all about getting "value" in return. As to how much trade value an obese, overpaid, underachieving, creaky kneed tackle who's one failed drug test away from an 8 game suspension has? We'll soon find out.

My guess? Biggest Baby's trade value is somewhere between very little, and nil.

As comment threads tend to do, they go off track. In debating Chubby Checker's trade value, the Roy Williams trade rumors came to the fore. Many of the trades proposed were on this side of ridiculous, that trading Williams would get two very high draft picks in return, say 1st and 2nd rounders.

Considering the Raiders got all of a 4th round pick for Randy Moss, it's delusional to think Roy Williams would get 2 high picks in return. A 2nd or 3rd round pick would be the absolute best case scenario. Even that's doubtful when you factor in that Williams is going to be a free agent after next season, and then it'll just take money to obtain him.

samebadlions nailed the true worth of the Lions much hyped wide receiving duo of Williams and Calvin johnson.

based on hype, we have a top receiving duo.

based on production...we're the lions.

Indeed.

I'm going to add a bonus COTD from the Mlive thread just because it made me laugh.

From the fine mind of Mliver JoeySuccubus came...

Pound the rock, losers.

HA! You'd think that Lions coaches would learn that their coaching platitudes don't inspire the fanbase, but only allow us to ridicule them all the more... From "Bus tickets out of town," to "Abandon ship," to "The bar is high, and now "Pound the rock," Lions coaches have been all talk, and nothing more.

Rasheed Wallace, philosopher

The blog hating Pistons beat writer, Chris McCosky, in his "blog," give we Pistons fans another reason to love Rasheed Wallace. McCosky quotes the mercurial 'Sheed after his dominating performance in last night's win against the Pacers.

When asked if he was upset about being pulled from the game late in the 1st half to avoid getting his 3rd foul, 'Sheed replied...

"That's what happens, sometimes," he said with a shrug. "I ain't trippin' about it."

"I ain't trippin' about it." The statement is brilliant in it's simplicity and wisdom. If you ask me, those are words to live by. Words we should all live by. Words entire countries should live by...

The world would be a much better place if we all took 'Sheed's wise advice. Actually, I often wish 'Sheed would take his own advice when taking out his on-court frustrations on the referees.

Get called for a ticky-tack foul? Don't get the call on after obviously being hacked? Remember your advice. Don't be trippin' over it, 'Sheed.

From now on, I'm going to do my best to live by the teachings of 'Sheed. When something happens in my life that I have no control over? Rather than let my blood pressure spike, I'll remember 'Sheed's thoughts, and say...

I ain't trippin' about stuff that happens sometimes.

Learn it. Know it. Live it.

It's Super Bowl media day!

And much like the great explorer, starship captain Jean-Luc Picard, all I can think of is...

God, no. Not this SHIT again...

I'm going to make a pledge right now. I'm going to IGNORE all the over-the-top, utterly ludicrous, mind-numbing, IQ dropping media bullshit that goes along with the 3 ring circus (Because it sure as HELL isn't about the football game!) that is the Super Bowl.

The asinine media day is is just to tip of the hype iceberg.

I'm ignoring the pissing match between the 2 most obnoxious and entitled fanbases in all of sport, the fans of New York and Boston. I'm not going to read flamebait articles by New York, Boston and national sports writers, who use nothing but clichés to compare those 2 obnoxious and entitled fanbases. Living in what the east coast media elite call a fly over state, I don't give a flying fuck about those 2 obnoxious and entitled fanbases, and 99% of the country doesn't give a flying fuck either.

I'm not going to watch the endless Super Bowl self promotion by the 4 letter. I can't even tolerate 15 minutes of Sportscenter anymore, so why would I watch a 2 HOUR version from Arizona? I haven't taken that buffoon Chris Berman seriously for over a decade, so why would I want to know who he picks to win?

The 4 letter's "personalities" are annoying as it is, but get them talking about the Super Bowl? They become unbearable. Sean Salisbury? An uber-idiot. Skip Bayless? Should be euthanized. Mike & Mike? Dumb & dumber.

I don't need every fucking ESPN show to be based from Arizona. While flipping channels, I go by the Mike and Mike (Jesus, they're fucking awful!) simulcast on the Deuce, and they are broadcasting in the God damn dark! No one is around. No one is even up in the Pacific time zone! Why bother?

I refuse to watch any of the lame ass ancillary shows. You know what I'm talking about. Concerts featuring bands I've never heard of, and would never like. Shows recapping previous Super Bowl commercials. (Which is another very overrated part of Super Bowl Sunday) Is there such a thing as "Best of" when it comes to something solely created to get us to buy useless shit? Doesn't anyone get the futility and silliness of watching an hour's worth of ADVERTISING as entertainment?

There's an 8 1/2 hour Super Bowl pregame show on FOX. They are starting their football based programming at 10 Sunday morning! Who has that kind of time? Who watches this shit? I sure as Hell won't.

For my final pledge to you, the readers, whom I'm sure feel the same as me. Fed up and pissed off...

I refuse to pay attention to the Super Bowl hype till 6-ish Sunday night, as that's when the game is about to start. And isn't it supposed to be all about the GAME?

Considering what the Super Bowl has become, the game is the LAST thing it's about.

Above the fold - Inge, Inge, Inge

Just as the always put upon Jan memorably complained about her sister on The Brady Bunch with the bitter chant "Marsha, Marsha, MARSHA!", we (being me, myself, and I) here at TWFE cry, "Inge, Inge, INGE!"

Thus the 24 hours of Inge continues at TWFE with a tour around the Tigers blogosphere.

Just like the unwashed fan rabble, the Tiger bloggers have somewhat mixed feelings over the Inge situation (I think it's safe to call it a "situation") as well. The blogging elite believes Inge is best suited for the role of super-sub, but aren't exactly happy with his crying like Nancy Kerrigan did after getting poleaxed in the knee. "WHY? Why me?!"

We start at Roar of the Tigers, where Sam is awfully upset at just the thought of Inge moving on...

Brandon Inge leaving would make ME kinda like a kicked puppy. SAD FACE.

But Sam perks up knowing that this controversy too, shall pass.

Hopefully this news about Inge agreeing to report to Spring Training as a catcher is a sign that all his sulkiness has been sulked out, and he’s ready to suck it up and be the goofball team player we all know he can be again. I don’t mind a little sulkiness in the winter. But come summer (early spring, whatever), all that junk should be purged from everyone’s systems.

Factoring in the age and injury history of several Tigers, Inge may be get the playing time he desperately wants. Even if he doesn't get 600 AB's, if the Tigers win, and win plenty, methinks Inge doth complain little... Winning cures all.

At The Daily Fungo, Mike is at DEFCON 1, bunkered down and doing his best to avoid the drunken, obnoxious hordes of Massholes and New Yawkers invading Arizona for the Super Bowl. Despite the crisis in the desert, Mike emerged long enough to take Inge to task for his "woe is me," "I wanna start" attitude.

Bottom line: At 30 you’re as good as you’re gonna get. Your successor is, perhaps, approaching his peak.

You do the math.

So, leave the attitude in South Carolina and go to Lakeland with a more cheery disposition, won’t you?

I agree, enough is enough. It's one thing to complain about losing your job to someone you think isn't as good a player. But that doesn't fly when you are talking about losing your job to a young superstar like Miguel Cabrera. He would start at 3rd for all but 1 or 2 teams. even that might be a stretch.

If Inge bides his time, he'll be back in the line up as a starter in 2009. It'll be at catcher, but he'll be back in the starting 9...

Billfer looks at both sides of the Inge coin at The Detroit Tigers Weblog. After weighing both the good and the bad, Inge accepting a bench role, and the Tigers keeping him, is the best possible resolution for all involved.

As for what it means for the team, this settles any ambiguity about what will happen if Vance Wilson isn’t ready. The Tigers also have a player they can stick all over the field and get some solid defense. It also gives Brandon a chance to re-establish some value for either a future starting gig or a possible mid season trade. This is pretty much what had to happen for both sides, and I’m glad it’s working out.

The catching issues is what clinches keeping Inge for me. The Tigers have no depth behind their rapidly aging, declining and very highly paid incumbent, Pudge Rodriguez, and his 34 year old, Tommy John surgery recovering backup, Vance Wilson. It can't be repeated enough. There is no MLB caliber catching in the Tigers system. None. Zip. Nada. Nil. With Inge, even if he's not totally happy about it, there is now a catching safety net.

At Bless You Boys, Ian is all for Inge staying with the Tigers, even if Lynn Henning isn't happy with Inge never calling him back...

Somewhere, Lynn Henning is jumping up and down, and tearing papers into shreds. "What? Why didn't he tell me? I called him two dozen times! This is the epitome of rudeness, Mr. Inge! Bad form!"

Bad form, indeed! A golf clap for Mr. Casselberry please, for knocking our sometimes holier than thou media down a couple of pegs. Hopefully we'll see no more hissy fits disguised as columns from Henning.

As always, Tiger Tales looks at the Inge "situation" logically. That logic tells Lee that Inge moving back to a utility role is very good news...

This is good news as he can be a very valuable supersub filling in at catcher, third base and outfield. With his athleticism, it's also possible he could occasionally play other other infield positions. He would be especially valuable if Vance Wilson is not ready to return from Tommy John surgery at the beginning of the season. With this possibly being Pudge Rodriguez's last year as Tiger and with no replacement ready, it is also conceivable that Inge could become the team's starting catcher in 2009.

The logic of Inge's athleticism being used to it's fullest as a uber-utility man seems to have been grasped by EVERYONE but Brandon Inge himself.

That's "Above the Fold" for Tuesday, 1-29-08! It also brings to an end the "24 hours of Inge." (Well, more like 22 hours, but who's counting?)

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

The 24 hours of Inge on TWFE continues... But is there anything else going on the D right now?

When it comes to Brandon Inge and Tigers fans, there's no gray area. It's like or loathe, love or hate. There's no middle ground. You either love him more than life itself, or despise him with the intensity of a white hot sun on the verge of going supernova.

Look up "polarizing" in the dictionary, and you'll see Inge's picture.

Which is why the COTD is actually 2 comments from Jon Paul Morosi's conversation with Inge from the Freep, allowing us to see the extremes of Tiger fandom.

First up is densogirl, who wants to inflict bodily harm upon the Tiger that causes such conflicting emotions...

Brandon Inge just doesn't get it. His emotional intelligence is that of a grade-schooler. "I just want to play; it's not fair; doesn't matter how much money I make, I just want to play everyday." Give me a break, doesn't every guy want to play every day? Everyone guy in the minors or riding the pine in MLB would kill to play every day. He still can't admit that his offense is atrocious and he wants to work on it. Not a word about that weakness in his game or that no other team wants him because of that weakness and his huge salary. You don't see him offering to take a lower salary, however. Just shut-up Brandon, and put your money where your mouth is. Every time he whines like a baby, I feel like slapping him silly.

Going by the nickname, that's a fan of the female persuasion wanting to bitch-slap Inge, folks. Even the chicks want Inge to shut the Hell up, and play.

On the flip side of Inge fandom, we have higginson (Is that really you, Bobby? Where's the best strip clubs nowadays?), who takes the Inge haters to task. To the many fans upset by Inge's whiny stance to coming off the bench, higginson points out all the good things he brings to the team...

I'm fine with Inge wanting to play. If he didn't all you bashers would be griping about that. It really sounds a bit "holier than thou."

Is he selfish? He played C, 3b, OF whenever they asked him to. He felt that he established himself as a starting 3b (and based on his contract, the Tigers did too) and he was caught off guard and disappointed by losing his starting job. I don't think he's said anything that any other player wouldn't say in the same situation. I bet once he's had a chance to digest the this, he'll be fine.

Who knows, maybe being the "super utility player" will help him relax at the plate and hit better (hey you never know). But more likely he's going to be able to rest players at just about every position and if there's an injury, he'll be a very good "fill in". If Shef goes down again, Cabrerra can DH and Inge can cover 3b.

Look, the Tigers are stacked with offense...we know Brandon lacks that. But his athleticism and ability to play other positions is where his value is...oh yeah, and he seems to be a great guy in the locker room and around the community.

Keep your chin up Brandon...if you stay in Detroit, you'll be a big part of this puzzle and you'll have plenty of opportunities to contribute...this could be the role you were designed for...

Go Tigers!

All very good arguments in favor of Brandon Inge remaining a Tiger, but it doesn't matter. The Inge lovers will never convince the Inge haters. Never. They may tolerate Inge, but will never, ever embrace him.

It's amazes me that the biggest water cooler story involving the Tigers isn't the trading for Edgar Renteria, Miguel Cabrera, or Dontrelle Willis, or the purging of the farm system in order to acquire those players. It's not Detroit's payroll skyrocketing over the $120 million mark, or the extending Jim Leyland's contract.

The story everyone is talking about is the status of the longest tenured Tiger, an athletic 3rd baseman who hit all of .236 in 2007, and will be a utility man in 2008. If that doesn't show just how fanatical the fans are regarding the '08 Tigers in the D...

Pros and cons: Should Brandon Inge stay or go?

With the news that detente has been achieved between the Tigers and Brandon Inge, it appears he is now back in the their good graces for 2008. The Tigers have asked Inge to accept a super-utility role, and be paid $6 million in the process. Inge wasn't exactly happy, if you go by some of his comments to the media...

"I'm bitter, mad and frustrated"

“I didn’t ask to be put in this position. I don’t have to be happy with it.”

Despite being quite vocal in his unhappiness, Inge said he would accept a (highly paid) utility role for the good of the team. In turn, the Tigers say they will still entertain trade offers, but would rather he remain in Detroit.

After all the drama, mostly manufactured by the local media, all is again well in Tigertown. For the time being, anyway...

Personally, I like Inge as a player. I'm all for his wearing the Olde English D next season. But he's no longer the starting 3rd baseman for a reason, and not just because Miguel Cabrera is now a Detroit Tiger.

As I had such fun debating the merits of Shaun Rogers with myself last week, and Brandon Inge tends to be just as polarizing of a personality as Big Baby is to Detroiters, I felt that another round of "pros and cons" was in order. Let's begin...

Pro: For every Inge highlight reel catch like this...

Con: We see an error like that...

Pro: Inge can legitimately play all 9 positions.
Con: It doesn't make a difference how many positions you can play when you hit .236.

Pro: Inge is the best athlete on the Tigers.
Con: It doesn't make a difference how good an athlete you are when you hit .236.

Pro: Inge wears his socks high.
Con: It doesn't make a difference how high your socks are when you hit .236.

Pro: Inge is the best defensive 3rd baseman on the Tigers.
Con: It doesn't make a difference how good his defense...Screw it, you know the rest...

Pro: Inge has the best range of any 3rd baseman in baseball.
Con: Which gives him an opportunity to boot even more grounders.

Pro: Inge has the best throwing arm on the Tigers.
Con: But not the most accurate. Just ask the fans in the 1st base line box seats who take cover whenever a ground ball is hit to the left side.

Pro: Inge is a very solid defensive catcher.
Con: The Tigers had to threaten Inge with bodily harm, or a trade to Pittsburgh, to get him back behind the plate.

Pro: Inge has 20-25 home run power.
Con: While striking out 150 times.

Pro: Inge desperately wants to start, and you have to like that attitude in a player.
Con: The Tigers aren't quite as desperate, as Inge hit .236 as starter.

Pro: Inge essentially replaces 2 bench players due to his versatility.
Con: While most bench players are just happy to be on a major league roster, Inge is NOT happy. Period.

Pro: Inge is a fan favorite, much in thanks to his being a survivor of the dark, dark 119 loss days of 2003.
Con: So were Mike Maroth and Craig Monroe, and we know what happened to them...

Brandon Inge, reluctant Tiger

Brandon Inge finally cleared the air with the Tigers, and spoke to the media today, much to the relief of Lynn Henning and David Mayo. An uneasy truce now exists between Inge and the Tigers, as it appears all attempts to get similar value in trade for their former starting 3rd baseman have been exhausted, and Inge has agreed to step into the super-sub, uber-utility man role.

According to the Freep's Jon Paul Morosi, Inge isn't all that happy, but won't make waves.

Inge didn’t hide his frustration at losing his job as Detroit’s starting third baseman – “I’m not happy about it,” he said multiple times – but said he would accept a super-utility role.

“I want to play as much as possible,” Inge said. “I don’t care about the money. I want to play because I care about the game and I love playing. I can’t stand sitting on the bench. I don’t care if it’s third base, first base, catcher, outfield – if anyone needs a day off, I want to get as many at-bats as I can.

Inge is looking at this the wrong way, thinking of this as a demotion. If anything, it makes him more valuable than ever to the Tigers. I'll bet that Jim Leyland treats Inge as the 10th starter, so to speak, and will play him most every day, while giving someone a day off. 400 AB's is not out of the question. The super-sub role worked well with Inge in 2004, and it worked even better with Tony Phillips in the 90's. I don't see why it couldn't work again.

I went back and looked at the positions Phillips played when he was bouncing all over the field, and doing so effectively, from 1990 to 1994. (I'd forgotten just how good Tony Phillips was as a Tiger. His lowest OBP was .364 in 1990, with a high of .443 (!) in 1993)

1991 was the apex of Phillips' maneuverability: OF-56, 3B-46, 2B-36, SS-13, DH-18, getting 564 AB's.

In 2004 Inge was quite Phillips-like: 3B-73, C-39, OF-28 (Including 19 games in CF), getting 408 AB's.

In my mind, that's an EXTREMELY valuable player.

WHAT? Come off the bench? For $6 million a season?
I'm insulted! But if you're gonna make me...

Inge will never be as good at the plate as Phillips, but he's even more versatile in the field thanks to his ability to catch. That ability may also be Inge's ticket back into the starting lineup. With backing off his previous stance, and now willing to don the tools of ignorance, I'm thinking that Inge will be the Tigers starting catcher in 2009.

Obviously, this depends upon Inge not getting traded, and Pudge Rodriguez continuing to decline, and/or pricing himself out of the Tigers plans.

It makes too much sense. Inge is still under contract for 3 more seasons. He's proved capable defensively behind the plate. His career averages of .240, 16 HR's and 66 RBI aren't acceptable for a starting 3rd baseman, but as a catcher? With today's diminished offensive expectations? That's better production than most MLB teams get from their backstops.

You have to believe if Inge remains on the roster, the Tigers are thinking exactly the same thing.

Morosi brings up another interesting topic. If Inge is on the opening day roster, who's the odd man out?

Inge’s role on the club should remain an intriguing storyline throughout spring training. Prior to the acquisition of Cabrera, the Tigers’ bench seemed likely to include Wilson, utility infielder Ramon Santiago and outfielders Marcus Thames and Ryan Raburn. Now that Inge has effectively joined that group, club officials could be faced with a difficult decision for the final roster spot.

We know how much Leyland loves the glove of Santiago, and the power of Thames. I think they're safe. Thus, 1 of 2 things will happen. Inge starts the season as the number 2 catcher, and Vance Wilson goes on the DL, as he may not be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. It's not a long-term solution, but it buys time in order to trade/send down/cut someone.

Barring a trade/injury/act of God or Leyland, the likely move, unfortunately, is Ryan Raburn starting the season in Toledo, as he has an option left. He doesn't deserve it, as Raburn did nothing but hit the ball hard in 2007. But that minor league option is something the other bench candidates don't have.

But we're getting waaay ahead of ourselves, as it will all shake out in spring training. All I can say is this...

With Brandon Inge remaining a Detroit Tiger, with all the flexibility he brings them, they are a better team today than they were yesterday, when Inge was on the trading block.

Above the fold: Detroit weekend in review

Has there been a more boring Detroit sports weekend in recent memory? The Tigers and Lions are in a state of off season limbo, the Pistons have been off since Thursday, and the Red Wings are idle thanks to the NHL being on their All-Star break.

The only sports event of interest was Michigan taking on Michigan State, as the rivalry moved from the football field to the basketball court. But that game, as we all expected, was a Sparty beatdown...

The only game going on in Michigan, other than the blow out in East Lansing, was the media playing "Where's Kwame?" When the silhouette of Detroit's slick, philandering, embattled, currently in hiding mayor being visible inside the Manoogian Mansion is big news, you know there's not much going on.

Let's break down the weekend that was in Detroit sports...

College basketball: Sparty continued their dominance over the Wolverines on the hard wood, with a 77-62 win that wasn't as close as 15 point difference.

Spartans Weblog has the game recap, and thoughts on Sparty's Big 10 chances...

All things considered, I’m feeling more upbeat about MSU’s place in the world than I was a week or two ago. We’re now one loss back of a single team ahead of us in the conference standings. IU and Wisconsin play each other this Thursday night in Madison, so one of them will pick up a loss in that game.

We need to take care of business at home against the Illini Wednesday night.

This just in, Michigan State is DAMN good, even more so with Drew Neitzel seemingly recovered from his slump. Sparty is deep, well coached, and going to do well in March. The Wolverines are a couple of seasons away from being competitive in the Big 10, and a few recruiting classes away from even thinking about being a threat to MSU. (As long as Tom Izzo is around, I doubt that's possible)

Tommy Amaker left John Beilein with 2 Big 10 caliber players, DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris (Both whom struggled against the Spartans), and not much else. It's going to be a long, hard struggle for Beilein to recruit players that actually know how to shoot, replacing Amaker's good athletes who aren't very good basketball players.

The Wolverines will improve, as Beilein's too good a coach for them not to, but I doubt the maize and blue can get the cream of the Michigan high school crop to attend school in Ann Arbor, when there's an elite program, led by a dynamo hall of fame caliber coach, up the road in East Lansing.

Detroit Pistons: With the Pistons having the weekend off, there's not a much to report. The only news tangentially involving the Pistons was word that Chris Webber, once thought to be interested in rejoining Detroit, is now close to signing with the Golden State Warriors. So much for Rob Parker's misguided claim that C-Webb and the Pistons should and would join forces.

Natalie voices exactly what I'm thinking at Need 4 Sheed.

I know many of you want C-Web back, but I'm not heartbroken. Sure he did great things for us last season, but look how our Championship run turned out. Most of you called for a change at the end of last season, so what would bringing Webber back do? That's more of a backwards step if you ask me. I'm willing to roll the dice with our youth movement as long as Saunders will actually decide to trust them.

No matter what the worst columnist in America believes, with the emergence of Amir Johnson as the 4th big man in the Pistons' rotation, and playing quite well in his 8-10 minutes, there's absolutely no need for Webber on the roster.

Detroit Red Wings: While Mike Babcock, Chris Osgood, and Nick Lidstrom were taking part in the NHL All-Star game, the local fishwraps took at look at Red Wings past, and possibly future.

The Freep ran a long feature story on former fan favorite Darren McCarty, recounting his struggles with substance abuse and bankruptcy, and his ongoing comeback attempt with the the IHL Flint Generals. You can't help but wish for the best for McCarty, who'll always be loved in Detroit for being a great blue collar role player on 3 Stanley Cup winning teams, and unforgettably pounding Claude Lemiux into a bloody pulp.

Though it's very early on in the comeback, it's looking good for McCarty, as the News' Ted Kulifan reports it's likely he will soon be taking the next step, and joining the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Kulifan says it'll be a better test as to where McCarty stands...

He's playing a lot of hockey, which is helping him get in shape. We'll get a little truer indication of where exactly he's at physically in the AHL. Certainly, it seems, a lot of fans are pulling for him.

I know I am...

As for future Red Wings? In their (mostly successful) attempt to slowly drain Sweden of all their best hockey talent, the Wings may be the favorites to sign Swedish Elite League star, and NHL free agent, Fabian Brunnstrom.

The Wings are one of five teams that have made contract offers to Brunnstrom, a 22-year-old forward, an undrafted late-bloomer who has become a star playing for Farjestad in the Swedish Elite League this season. Detroit, Toronto and Vancouver are believed to be the frontrunners to land his services.

Reports are mixed as to where the wooing of Brunnstrom stands, as the Freep implied that he will be a Wing, while the News is saying, "Not so fast!" As the Wings have 35 guys whose names end in "strom" on their roster, and the 2nd biggest population of Swedes in the western world, I think the odds are damn good that we'll be learning to correctly pronounce "Brunnstrom" sooner, than later. Let's hope he has as hot a girlfriend as Henrik Zetterberg...

Detroit Tigers: The only news over the weekend was broken, once again, by the Freep's Jon Paul Morosi. (The "Winter of Morosi" continues) The Tigers have begun preliminary negotiations with Curtis Granderson's agent, hoping to sign him to a long-term contract extension. The Tigers blogosphere is already speculating over possible contract terms...

Bless You Boys: Where would the two sides start? Maybe with the six-year, $31 million deal Troy Tulowitzki signed with the Colorado Rockies last week.

D-Town Baseball: It will probably be closer to Grady Sizemore’s 6-year $23.45M deal signed before the 2006 season when his situation was pretty much the same as Granderson’s is currently.

Mack Avenue Tigers believes this is just another sign of the Tigers commitment to compete at a high level.

A heady player who decided he had to cut his strikeouts down and did, I expect we’ll see Granderson make adjustments as need be and continue to be an upper tier player.

This is just continued confirmation the Tigers aren’t going to have a dropoff anytime soon with this management team in place.

Personally, I'm all for this, as Granderson could be the next Yzerman, Sanders or Trammell, Detroit's "It" player. If I was going to pick the face of the Tigers for the next several years, it's unquestionably Curtis Granderson. Yes, even over Miguel Cabrera...

Breaking news: Brandon Inge will report to Tigers training camp with the pitchers and catchers. From all accounts, Inge is back in the Tigers plans for 2008. A very interesting development in the Inge saga, to say the very least. I'll have more thoughts on this later...

Detroit Lions: Not God damn thing. The Lions are quieter than Matt Millen would be on Jeopardy.

That's "Above the Fold" for Monday, 1-28-08!

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

If there is one thing worse than commenters in internet forums, it's commenters in internet forums after a college rivalry game. Trolling is everywhere, and the subway alumni come out in force.

The Freep commenters are no different. In the comments to Michael Rosenberg's column about the Michigan State beatdown of Michigan, MSU fans bait the U of M fans with the usual taunts. Little sister, Michigan Mountaineers, and the old standby, you suck!

One Michigan fan stood out for his reasoned response. DTownFanInChicago realized, rivalry game or not, these are 2 programs on the opposite sides of the spectrum.

What's the big deal? Everyone knows that MSU is better than Michigan in basketball. They were expected to win. Now, if Michigan had beaten MSU, then that's a story. No shock here.

Exactly! What's the big deal? This game was over before Michigan even took the Breslin Center court. Sparty is to Michigan football, as the Wolverines are to MSU football. The Spartans are a national power, the Wolverines would have trouble competing in the Horizon Conference. MSU has a legitimate shot at the Final Four, while Michigan has a legitimate shot of making the NIT...Next season.

I don't blame the often ridiculed Sparty's for celebrating a big win in a rivalry game. But to make more of the win that is actually was, that being a glorified exhibition against an undermanned team, is silly.

The only thing that should matter to the Spartans is winning the Big 10 tournament, and getting themselves a high seed in the Midwest region of the NCAA tournament. If Tom Izzo can get the Spartans to the Sweet Sixteen at Ford Field, they will make the Final Four.

Sad to say, the Wolverines are just a bump in the road on the Spartans' trip to the NCAA's...

Stupidity is contagious

Being bored out of my mind due to the lack of football (Thanks to the God damn NFL and their God damn bye week before the God damn Super Bowl), I was surfing around the web. I hit the Oakland Press website, for the lack of anything better to read. After Drew Sharp's flip-flopping today, I wasn't sure if a columnist could match him in stupidity. Turns out I was wrong...

Pat Caputo regals us with the following deep, deep insight... (To save you 5 minutes of your life, I'll give you the cliff notes version of his column)

Michigan State basketball is really, really good.
Tom Izzo is really, really good.
Michigan basketball is really, really bad.
The Fab 5 were loved, then disgraced.
The Ed Martin scandal was really, really bad for Michigan basketball.
Michigan fans think football is king.
Southeast Michigan is Wolverines country.
Southeast Michigan is not Spartans country.
Thus, few in Southeast Michigan care about college basketball.
Caputo thinks that is really, really bad.

In other breaking news, the sky is blue, Shaun Rogers is fat, Rob Parker blows as a columnist, Matt Millen is a moron, the Oakland Press is a second class paper, and Pat Caputo is a hack.

Drew Sharp flip-flops like a fish out of water

Honestly, I don't ask for much from the local columnists. If you read our fishwraps on a daily basis, you know why. All I ask from a columnist is to be consistent in their views, even if those views are, more often than not, idiotic. That's not hard, is it? From what I read in today's Detroit Free Press , it is that hard.

First, we need to go 2 weeks back, when a Drew Sharp column in regard to the Wolverines had the following headline...

Michigan coach must beat Ohio State to nation's No. 1 recruit Terrelle Pryor

Flash forward to today, and the headline has Sharp talking out the other side of his mouth...

Michigan landing super recruit Terrelle Pryor would be an overrated victory

Um...WHAT? Terrelle Pryor is a must get player, but he's also overrated? Does that make any sense to you? Let's look deeper into the scrambled thought processes of a big market columnist...

In today's article, Sharp calls ranking college recruiting classes the equivalent of grading the Lions draft before anyone hits the field. "Winning" in the draft or recruiting doesn't guarantee wins.

But landing Pryor would give the Wolverines a big "win" in February.

Hasn't everyone learned how truly overrated these "victories" are, especially when you consider Ohio State has consistently had lower-ranked recruiting classes than Michigan the past five years, but the Buckeyes have accomplished much more during that time.

Sure, I admit that makes sense. Yet 2 weeks ago Sharp was claiming that Rich Rodriguez NOT landing Terrelle Pryor would be absolutely disastrous...

He must keep Pryor away from Jim Tressel.

He must do whatever it takes.

Failure is not an option.

In fact, Sharp went as far to say that it is "essential" Rodriguez gets Pryor to commit, no matter what it takes...

But it's essential that he get Pryor, even if Rodriguez must guarantee him the starting job this fall, no matter the problems of playing a true freshman.

Hold on a second. I'm more than a little confused. 2 weeks ago Michigan desperately needed Pryor, but today Michigan is bigger than one player? You can't have it both ways, though Sharp tries his damnedest.

Sharp originally claimed in order to get off on the right foot as Michigan's head coach, "Rodriguez nonetheless must bring him to Ann Arbor." That has the tone of Michigan being in desperate straits. Sharp describes Pryor as the difference between beating the Buckeyes, both in the eyes of the fanbase and on the field, or continuing to be dominated by the sweater vest.

Yet 2 weeks later, Sharp is braying that recruiting gives "18-year-olds an inflated sense of self-importance." Considering Sharp has devoted 2 columns in 2 weeks to the recruiting of an 18-year-old Pryor, is it any wonder that no nothing, snot-nosed teenagers have inflated egos? Isn't it obvious to Sharp that the media, including himself, is a big part of the reason why?

Sharp can't bitch and moan that the recruiting process gives kids an overblown sense of self, when he is also calling an 18-year-old high school QB the be all, end all, the linchpin to the Wolverines' recruiting class. It's as if the first column was never written. Sharp must believe readers have the brains of a gnat, and a memory to match.

As silly as it may sound, you'd think a featured columnist would actually read his own columns. Apparently, Drew Sharp doesn't, or we wouldn't see such polar opposite opinions, on the same subject matter, within 2 weeks of each other.

Keep this in mind the next time you read the tripe spewed by one of our "esteemed" fishwrap writers. When it comes to the columnists in Detroit, I keep my expectations lower than Brandon Inge's batting average. Why? As long as you keep your expectations low, reality will always exceed them.

Over the past 2 weeks, Sharp has managed to lower my already diminished expectations.

Catholics are full of it...

If you read my going off on Jon Kitna and his "it was a miracle" quote, and aware of my struggles with severe arthritis (which I specifically mentioned in that post, and a few other times), you know that I have issues with religion. Or more accurately, those who throw religion around as a weapon, or as a moral high ground.

I was born and raised Catholic. I attended Catholic school for a couple of years. I'm baptized, had first communion, and confirmed. My marriage ceremony was a full Catholic mass, though it was more for the sake of my (now ex) wife and family.

In fact, for reasons I'm struggling with, I still call myself Catholic. It's more out of guilt than anything else, though I'd never call myself religious. I'm as far from being religious as Rob Parker is from being a good writer.

The older I get, the more I realize I disagree with many of the church's policies. Just call me a heretic!

At this point of my life, I think it's safe to call me a lapsed Catholic. Maybe even a recovering Catholic. Being divorced, I'm not in the good graces of the Catholic church anyway.

I'm glad that I've seen the proverbial light in regard to my religion, and happy in my decision to not blindly follow Catholicism, but question it, when I see what's happening to Rick Majerus and Dana Jacobson.

Majerus' job may be in jeopardy, and he is catching a ton of shit from the St. Louis Archbishop (who's a known hard ass), for being pro-choice, though he coaches at a Catholic school, St. Louis University. Since the Catholic church, as we all know, is pro-life, and basically anti-everything, I guess that means Majerus can't give his personal opinions. At least the ones that don't jibe with the church.

I'm sure if you read Deadspin or The Big Lead, you are very aware of the Dana Jacobson story. The "First Take" morning show anchor is being hung out to dry by the evil overlords at ESPN. The hypocritical Catholics are free to take shots at her for getting piss drunk at the Mike and Mike roast (I still don't get the popularity of their boring ass show, it's as milquetoast as it comes) and saying "Fuck Notre Dame," Fuck Touchdown Jesus," and "Fuck Jesus" while at the dais. (I thought about censoring F*** like so, but I don't want to be as hypocritical as my religion)

Let's party! Seriously, I want to party with Dana Jacobson!

Fuck Notre Dame? God damn straight! If you ask me, Jacobson's a chick I'd like to have a few drinks with!

Was what she said offensive? To some people, sure. Being it was said at a roast, are offensive jokes par for the fucking course? Most definitely. Has Jacobson been apologetic? Totally. Is a suspension from the 4 letter punishment enough? She didn't deserve it, but considering the situation, and the suits at ESPN being soulless corporate bastards, yes.

Yet some religious groups want their pound of flesh.

The bat-shit insane, knee jerk, eye for an eye, our view is correct, all others are wrong religious zelot types like the oddly named Christian Defense Coalition (Christians need to be defended in AMERICA?) are calling for her head on a platter.

I mean, come on, a prayer vigil? Get real. Aren't there more important things to worry about in the world, rather than protest the drunken mutterings of an ESPN anchor? Accept the damn apology, and be done with it. Instead, they'd rather put on a show for the media. They are nothing more than attention whores.

All this makes me ashamed to call myself Catholic.

Growing up (and having moved back 11 months ago) in a area where Catholicism is the dominant religion, I have first hand knowledge as to how hypocritical Catholics can be.

Most Catholics I know are religious when it's convenient. My favorite show of that convenience is the early evening Saturday mass, so you can then go out, party your ass off that night, and not have to worry about getting up on Sunday morning. Because you did do your time in church!

Another example is when I go to my old Chruch's summer festival, which is closer to a bacchanalia than anything remotely religious. Just how do they raise money at the festival? With a massive beer tent (where I drank without fear when underage), bingo and a gambling tent.

Every year, I see the same scene. The congregation walking in the front door of the church for Saturday night mass, then piling out the back door and straight into the beer tent to tie one on after mass ends.

Now that's Catholicism in a nutshell. Sin like Hell during the week, and recant at confession. Then you're good to go for another week!

So don't go all holier than thou over someone who made a drunken mistake, or just voiced an honest opinion. They should look in a mirror instead. They might not like the intolerant person that's looking back at them.

Above the Fold - Columnists say the darnedest things

Friday is the time on Sprockets when we dance the day on TWFE when we take a tour of the Detroit columnists. They are in //sarcasm on// fine form //sarcasm off// today.

The only columnist active at the Freep is Michael Rosenberg, who says everything the Detroit blogosphere said about the Jose Canseco blackmailing Magglio Ordonez story yesterday. As always, the fishwraps are a day late, and losing money hand over fist...

Naturally, many people forgot that Jose Canseco is a gossip-mongering, media-craving, steroid pusher. But Canseco has done his best to remind us.

Canseco keeps doing what he does best: naming names. And because he was right about McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, he continues to garner more credibility than he deserves.

The truth is that naming names is easy. I can do it myself: Barry Bonds, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, Henry Chadwick. So what? The hard part is providing evidence.

Canseco and Ordonez were teammates briefly, in 2001, with the Chicago White Sox. Astute chronologists will note that 2001 occurred exactly four years before 2005, when "Juiced" was published.

If Canseco has something on Ordonez, why didn't he mention Ordonez in his first book? Ordonez was a big name then, too.

Rosenberg is an excellent writer, the only columnist at the Freep I enjoy. As his compatriots are the maudlin Little Fella, and the contrary for the sake of being contrary Drew Sharp, that's not saying much, but still...

In reading over his column, Rosenberg covers the exact same points Billfer, Ian, Samara and myself did on Thursday. It felt like I was reading a rehash of day old news that had already been covered, and covered well. Well, to be honest, I was.

Just because a columnist is in print doesn't mean that he is the only person that can intelligently break down a story, and point out the holes and inconsistencies. The blogosphere can do so as well, and do it quicker, as the Tigers bloggers did Thursday.

At the News, Bob Wojnowski finds himself in the same boat as Rosenberg, save for his subject is the Lions. Guess what? Wojo thinks there is no hope when it comes to our Detroit NFL frnachise! Really, Wojo? Well, no shit, Sherlock.

The Lions have no discernible strengths, no obvious plan and no sure stars, although I'll grant linebacker Ernie Sims is a riser. They have nothing they can count on, except for a nice stadium and tragically loyal fans.

The Lions have a clueless owner in William Clay Ford Sr., who continues to employ Millen for reasons that defy logic. Millen is completely culpable yet refuses to resign, unwilling to abandon the disaster he created, like a crazy squatter protecting his rickety shack.

The Lions blogosphere has been saying much the same things well before the season even ended. Wojo's column is nothing more than a laundry list of the same old Lions issues. Old QB, bad drafts, no talent, senile owner, moron GM. On the web Wojo, we've been there, done that, and already wrote the post.

Much to my surprise, the worst columnist in America had a column today, and just like Rosenberg, he rehashes the Canseco brewhaha. For example, Parker closes his column with the following...

Sadly, Canseco now comes off as simply desperate for money, apparently willing to do whatever he can to get some.

So, it now appears as if people were right about him. He never had the game's best interest at heart, just his.

Here's how I closed my Canseco post yesterday...

But he's no hero, as steroids just happened to be the dirt that would allow him to make big money, and keep his name in lights. And that's ALL Canseco cares about, not the good of the game.

Awful similar conclusions, don't you think? I'm not accusing Parker of anything, I'm just showing another example where the blogosphere can be just as capable, if not more so, as the writers in print when it comes to commenting on a story.

Considering Parker brags that he went to the big time and very influential Columbia Journalism School, and I attended a piss ant community college, yet we can come to the same exact conclusions, it doesn't say much for the writers that journalism schools churn out...

In their weekly Behind the Scenes column, Vartan Kupelian and Mike O'Hara break out the same old chestnut we read before EVERY Super Bowl, that current Pistons and former Lions (who's sorely missed) play by play man Mark Champion voices the Disney World Super Bowl commercials.

Champion, the radio play-by-play voice of the Pistons and former Lions' radio announcer, has been the voice of DisneyWorld Super Bowl commercials for the last 21 years.

I know I said it earlier, but I can't help myself. NO SHIT, SHERLOCK! Is there ANYONE in Detroit that doesn't already know this fact about Champion? Christ, I hate it when columnists write down to their readers...

The breakout of asinine columns continues at the Oakland Press, where Pat Caputo writes a glorified advertisement for a new baseball training facility. (Pat also needs to talk to his copy editors, as they missed his typos)

Secontine and business partner Jim Weissenborn have opened the Varsity Shop Training Center in Bloomfield Township.

A converted warehouse on Franklin Road, it is an indoor baseball training facility. Huge. Massive. State-of-theart.

Caputo continues with a piece that is essentially an unpaid (?) endorsement...

This type of facility is the future of baseball. Specialized training. Big indoor facilities in the northern sections of the country. It should help even what has been an unlevel field leading to the majority of elite baseball players coming from the warmer regions of this country.

You have got to be kidding me. A story about a for profit training facility? This is supposed to be an opinion column, correct? It reads more like a late night infomercial! I could see this story in a local section about business openings, but as an opinion piece from your lead columnist? Amazing...Just amazing.

That's "Above the Fold" for Friday, 1-25-08!

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

The COTD is from a Freep article quoting Kirk Herbstreit from Douchebag Cowerd's talk show. Herbie pisses off the Wolverines faithful with the following retort to Cowerd's 8 win prediction...

KH: I think it's a six-win season for MIchigan next year, I really do. I'd like to see Michigan do well, but really, if you look at the schedule, you look at the quarterback situation, you look at the offense and the fact that they lost all of those players, The Big Ten is going to go through this again next year.

Do I think Michigan will only win 6 games? Come on! The Big 10 and Notre Dame are awful beyond words. The Wolverines should win 8 games accidentally.

But is it possible? Sure, considering the losses from graduation and transfers, along with the growing pains caused by a steep learning curve for Rich Rodriguez's schemes. I think 8-4 sounds reasonable, 7-5 being the worst case scenario.

Anyway, enough about my thoughts. Today's example of how the internet allows idiot mouth breathers to fearlessly foist their limited vocabulary and thought processes upon the masses is a comment from Freepster MU20.

HERBSTREIT YOUR AN ASS-CLOWN... WELL ATLEAST HE AINT BIAS JUSS LIKE LOU HOLTS.. BUT ANYWAY.. GO BACK TO ****** COLUMBUS......

LOU HOLTS!? Hysterical!

I'd like to think that is a comment intended in jest, but considering the the use of correct grammar, spelling and cognitive thought is totally optional, and usually discouraged, in the Freep's forums, I tend to think MU20 is, God help us all, serious.

MU20 is your typical Wal-Mart Wolverine, who's only exposure to higher education was from watching "Saved by the Bell: The College Years."

After wading through the Freep forums, I'm actually concerned for the future of mankind. We're on the downhill slope, folks.

Why fans are fed up with the MSM: Brandon Inge edition

Over the past week, MSM writers David Mayo and Lynn Henning bitterly called out Brandon Inge for his total silence since the news of his trade demand broke. They both wrote whiny, bitchy, pissy little columns complaining that Inge wouldn't speak to the media at a Grand Rapids "FAN" meet and greet. The obvious word being "FAN" and not "MEDIA."

For example, Henning writes in the Detroit News...

Just to put some ongoing discourtesy in clearer perspective, Inge has been on the receiving end of more than a dozen calls -- personally made to his cell, to his home, and elsewhere -- since October, many weeks before the Cabrera trade displaced him from his job as starting third baseman.

When he never heard from Inge, rather than back off, he became even more aggressive...

After the Cabrera trade left him in limbo, leading to a more aggressive flurry of calls

Oh, the fucking humanity, Inge just wouldn't return his calls! The guy is as intrusive as a bill collector or a telemarketer, though with less personality. I bet Henning calls at dinner time as well...

In the middle of his fine whine, Henning actually answers his own question as to why Inge won't call him back.

If Inge believes the situation is sensitive and he prefers not to talk, then fine, that's his prerogative.

Oh, you know why Inge isn't talking? So why waste my time, and yours, by killing several trees worth of newsprint with what is essentially a hissy fit?

TWFE has exclusive shots of Henning...

And of Mayo after being snubbed by Brandon Inge...

Mayo's bitch fest in the Grand Rapids Press was just as pitiful as Henning's...

In lieu of a players-only room in the clubhouse to hide in, which is Inge's usual trick, he orchestrated Friday's media boycott long before his arrival. The Griffins, citing information gained from Inge's agent, sent out an e-mail informing media the player would not grant interviews.

So you knew Inge's appearance was "FANS ONLY" well ahead of time, yet you decided to, for lack of a better word, ambush Inge anyway? Why on earth would you expect him to talk?

Mayo then calls out Inge for his 2007 performance, implying that Inge wasn't very talkative during the regular season, either...

We've seen this lack of accountability before. It was on full display during Inge's ridiculously bad second half last season, when he hit three home runs after June 12.

A few things to keep in mind. One, what does Inge's 2007 season have to do with his not talking now? Other than it being one of the reasons the Tigers made the Cabrera trade, nothing.

Two, that Inge was supposedly uncooperative is news to anyone that follows the Tigers. I've never read or heard any of the beat writers complaining about a lack of cooperation from Inge.

Three, the MSM bitches about bloggers calling out players and journalists with no accountability. When Mayo calls Inge "ridiculously bad," we see a columnist, whom I'm guessing rarely, if ever, covers the Tigers in person, just do what bloggers are accused of doing. Mayo comes off as having an ax to grind, and he sure as Hell furiously grinds away...

Are the fans curious as to why Inge wants a trade? Of course. Is it there a divine right that we need to know why? Not that I know of. I'm not saying that Inge is totally in the right. Dealing with the media is a big part of his VERY well paid job. Inge could have made everyone's life a little easier if he had called the reporters back after the 50th call. Even the 100th.

Still, I have to ask...Are we living in Nazi Germany? (First time I've ever invoked Godwin's Law in a post!) Communist Russia? I took a quick look around, even went outside, and far as I can tell, the Cold War is over, we won, and this still the U.S.A. Free speech include having the freedom not to speak. Inge doesn't have to talk if he doesn't want to. In fact, it damn obvious he doesn't. Period.

Spring training is in 3 weeks. If Inge isn't traded, and it's looking more and more like he won't be, I'm positive that the subject of the trade demand will be brought up almost immediately by the Tigers, and Inge will finally talk. Praise be, and thank fucking God, Inge will finally have to answer Henning's and Mayo's questions.

And we won't have to read any more self-serving, whiny tripe from writers that should know better.

Above the Fold - Did Jose Canseco attempt to blackmail Magglio Ordonez?

Late last night a New York Times story hit the wires, claiming Jose Canseco has been accused of "encouraging" the Tigers Maggilo Ordonez to invest in a movie project, in return for keeping his name "clear" of Canseco's upcoming steroids tell-all sequel to "Juiced." In other words, clear = edited out of the book, and encouraging = extortion/blackmail.

Four people in baseball confirmed that referrals were made from Major League Baseball to the F.B.I. regarding Canseco’s actions relating to the six-time All-Star outfielder Magglio Ordonez, who was not mentioned in Canseco’s earlier book or in any other report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. All four insisted on anonymity because they said they didn’t have authority to speak about the events.

The F.B.I. did not open a formal investigation because Ordonez said he did not want to pursue the complaint.

It's turned into a he said, he said argument, with Canseco denying any such thing happened, and Ordonez not want to talk, other than to say, "I don’t want any problems. He is probably desperate for money. I don’t understand why he is trying to put people down."

There's something to the story, as Ordonez thought it serious enough to inform the Tigers of Canseco's supposed threat, with Dave Dombrowski passing it along to the Commissioner's Office, who in turn involved the F.B.I.

When the Feds get involved, your first thought is that there's fire somewhere in all the smoke. The Feds aren't exactly ones to fuck around.

Personally, I'm somewhat torn. Despite being a juicer himself, damn near everything Canseco wrote in "Juiced," and told Congress, was verified in the Mitchell Report. (As for the veracity of the Mitchell Report, that's another post) To the surprise of all, he wasn't blowing smoke out of the ass in which he was also injecting 'roids.

But you cannot deny that Canseco is also a slimy opportunist, a sleaze who would sell his soul, mother, and reputation for any amount of cash and would do anything and everything to stay in the limelight. More damning was his ghostwriter, Don Yeager, taking a pass on writing the 2nd book saying "I had a chance to review the Jose Canseco (material) that he provided me. I don't think there's a book there."

Canseco is telling all and burning bridges not for moral reasons, but strictly for money. So there's plenty of reason to be skeptical.

Still, there's also the fact Ordonez managed to fully recover from what was considered a career threatening, and likely career ending, knee injury. He went from being a near cripple in a great deal of pain, to AL batting champion, in 3 seasons. At the very least, you have to admit some suspicion.

There's questions left begging, and they're big ones. They did play together with the White Sox in 2001. Was Ordonez involved then, or if at all, was it after the knee injury? Is this just hearsay, or does Canseco have proof? Most importantly, if Ordonez was cycling 'roids or taking HGH, and Canseco has known about it, why wasn't that included in "Juiced?"

Between you an me, Canseco doesn't come across as the brightest bulb around, and with "Juiced" being so through, you'd think he shot his entire information wad with that book. To leave Ordonez, who you have to admit is a star, and would have been one of the biggest names sullied by steroids, out of "Juiced" makes absolutely no sense at all.

That's reason alone to remain very skeptical.

The Tigers blogosphere remains unconvinced. At Bless You Boys, Ian looks into the extortion side of the story.

Asked whether Canseco's alleged actions constitute extortion, Daniel C. Richman, a professor at Columbia Law School and a former federal prosecutor, said it would be a hard case to prove. "A demand for an investment isn't as obvious of a threat, and a jury may be less likely to see it as extortion compared to a demand for hard cash," he said.

Something else to consider is how this affects the veracity of the Mitchell Report. For one thing, Canseco obviously didn't tell George Mitchell everything he supposedly knew. And Mitchell apparently didn't know of Canseco hitting players up for money, nor any F.B.I. investigations into the matter. At least such information isn't in the report.

We're into some murky water here, with Canseco possibly withholding information from the Mitchell investigation. I just don't know if Canseco is canny enough to keep enough in his hip pocket just in order to write another book. Then again, he may have consul that is bright enough.
We've heard Canseco claim A-Rod is on PED's, and nothing more has been heard of that since his denials on "60 Minutes." It leaves me to wonder if Canseco is grasping at straws in order to have enough ammo for another book.

At The Detroit Tigers Weblog, Billfer brings up a very pertinent point, "If Ordonez wanted this to just go away why report it at all?"

We also know that Ordonez took his claim of extortion to the FBI. In fact that’s the only part of this whole story that is confirmed. And me thinks that going to the feds isn’t something that is done on a whim. It’s also likely to be the only part that will be confirmed. Canseco will continue to make his allegations regardless and he got himself some more publicity - which is really what it’s all about. Canseco will also deny the contact with Ordonez, but the fact that Ordonez went to the authorities tends to make me want to believe Maggs a little more than the guy who is pimping a book. The fact that Ordonez isn’t pressing charges may raise some eyebrows in that he doesn’t want what the FBI finds to become public knowledge. At the same time he just may not want the distraction of a federal investigation either. By the same token, if Ordonez wanted this to just go away why report it at all?

It bears repeating, you don't get the Feds involved unless you you seriously believe there's some sort of threat. Why else would Ordonez report the "extortion" attempt? Once he did so, he knew it would go public sooner or later. Guilty people don't go to the authorities.

A woman scorned is a force to be reckoned with, and Sam unloads both barrels of her scorn for Canseco at Roar of the Tigers.

Telling Magglio that his name will be linked to steroids if he doesn’t do Canseco’s evil bidding is, in the world of baseball today, definitely a threat: it’s a straight-up threat to Magglio’s good name and thus to his career and livelihood.

So hey! Jose Canseco! Throw up the names of my players alongside steroids if you think it’ll keep you above the poverty line a little longer. Go ahead. It’s happened to practically every other team out there.

But seriously, sinking to extortion? Way to reach all new levels of sleaze-baggery, you enormous irritated ferret rectum.

I would have used douche-baggery and ferret asshole, but Sam's much nicer and more polite than yours truly will ever be. But the point is made, Canseco is sleazy. He's all about Jose, and no one else. As I said, he's not motivated by a sense of duty, a sense of right or wrong, Canseco just wants to get paid.

It's time that baseball eradicated PED's once and for all, and Canseco deserves credit for bringing MLB's PED problems to the fore. But he's no hero, as steroids just happened to be the dirt that would allow him to make big money, and keep his name in lights. And that's ALL Canseco cares about, not the good of the game.

That's "Above the Fold" for Thursday, 1-24-08!

Should Shaun Rogers stay or go?`

It was reported Wednesday that our favorite dysfunctional franchise, the Detroit Lions, are no longer willing to deal with their talented, yet out of shape, often injured and underachieving defensive tackle, Shaun Rogers. The unconfirmed word from Allen Park is Rogers will be cut or traded before the April 2008 NFL draft.

When asked for comment, Rogers replied,
"UHHH...UHHH...UHHH...hack...hack...
urrrgh... need...whew...UHHHH...need..
UHHH....need...UHHH...oxygen!"

With the rumors swirling around Rogers' status, it seems like a good time to being back a staple from the early days of TWFE, "pros and cons."

"Pro" are reasons to keep Rogers, "Con" is why he should be sent on his roly-poly way. Let's begin our exercise...

Pro: He's undeniably talented.
Con: He's undeniably fat.

Pro: Rogers is under contract for the next 2 seasons.
Con: Which means he'll play hard in 10 of the 32 games.

Pro: The Lions will take a cap hit if Rogers is released.
Con: The Lions have taken so many cap hits over the years, they already have them budgeted into their salary cap.

Pro: Has made the Pro Bowl.
Con: No one cares about the Pro Bowl.

Pro: Rogers often attracts double teams, giving his linemates a chance to go one on one.
Con: His linemates suck. The next time one takes advantage of Rogers being double teamed will be the first time.

Pro: Rogers is the few Lions considered an impact player.
Con: If you are talking about all you can eat restaurants, police reports and strip clubs.

Pro: The Lions have too many roster holes as it is, why create another by letting Rogers go?
Con: When you already have 21 holes to fill, what's one more?

Pro: Rod Marinelli has claimed Rogers could be the "Next Warren Sapp."
Con: Unfortunately the Sarge was referring to the Sapp who is 35 years old, a part time player, beat up, overweight, and now retired.

Pro: Has a cool nickname, "Big Baby."
Con: It should actually be "Bigger Baby." How about "Biggest Baby?" I know, "400 Pounds of Baby!"

Pro: Rogers is one of the few players drafted during the Millen era that you could consider to be a good pick.
Con: That's not saying much. When compared to massive busts like Joey Harrington, Mike Williams and Charles Rogers, any pick that manages to stay on the Lions' roster should be considered good.

Pro: Rogers lead the Lions with 7 sacks!
Con: He lead the Lions with only 7 sacks.

Pro: Rogers was playing despite sore knees, thus making him ineffective for the 2nd half of the season.
Con: The best rehab for his injuries would be pushing himself away from the dinner table, which Rogers has shown he is unwilling to do.

Pro: Rogers' is prime fodder for bloggers who like to make fat jokes.
Con: I'd rather the Lions win games, than have an opportunity to make more Shaun Rogers fat jokes.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

The Lions continue to make news thought their season has been over for 3 1/2 weeks. (Their final game of the season feels as if it was months ago, though it's only been 25 days) Between Shaun Rogers status, and Kevin Jones' knee, the Killer has been busy at Mlive.

The Killer talks to Jones today, who's quite adamant in saying he'll be at full strength for the 2008 season, despite having to rehab an ACL tear that ended his season prematurely.

Jones, who rushed for 581 yards and scored a team-high eight touchdowns last season, said the situation is not the same as last year and the Lions don't have any holes at running back.

"We have other issues (in free agency) and running back isn't one of them," Jones said. "As far as injuries, yeah. But as far as talent and getting the job done, no."

Strong words coming from someone who has proven unable to stay healthy for a full season. His track record says it all. Jones has never played all 16 games in a season, and in the past 2 years, Jones has suffered severe, season ending injuries that required extended rehab. That alone tells me the Lions can't into into next season expecting Jones to be able to carry the full load.

Killer's acolytes feel the same as I do, and as always, are quite vocal in their assessment. Mliver NetRat says it all in regard to Jones' "I'll be back" Terminator impression...

It's called depth KJ. You may not last the season (you haven't yet).

Quoted for truth. As of now, the Lions depth chart at running back consists of Jones, the total flop that is Brian Calhoun, and 400 pound blocking fullback Jon Bradley. Everyone else is a free agent. Sucky free agents.

The only back I'd consider bringing back is TJ Duckett. After letting him rot on the bench for majority of 2007, why on earth would he want to resign with such a dysfunctional organization?

I'm glad Jones thinks he'll be healthy by September. He's also on the last year of his contract, so he has several million reasons to come back strong, and prove his worth as a 1st round pick. But if I was a betting man, and deep down, I am, I'd bet the farm that Jones will miss games in 2008 due to injury.

The NFL is becoming a league where 2 backs share the load. If anything, that could keep Jones healthier, thus more effective. I'd hope the Lions believe the same thing, and will find another capable running back to join Jones this offseason. I can tell you right now that back is not named Aveion Cason or Tatum Bell...