Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Mark Schlereth has taken one hit to the head too many

Making predictions for the Detroit Lions to be successful never, ever work out.

When Dan Pompei was with The Sporting News a few years ago, he predicted the Lions would win the Super Bowl, only to have said prediction blow up in his face before the season was less than 1/4 over.

We all remember Jon Kitna's 2007 predictions of 10 wins and 50 TD passes, and how that turned out.

The latest Lions prediction destined to make the predictor look silly was in today's Freep.

The 4 Letter's Mark Schlereth didn't get the memo that the Lions are, and always will be, lousy. On yesterday's Sportscenter, possibly after taking a sharp blow on the noggin, Schlereth claimed the Lions would finish 9-7 in 2008.

As you might guess, the comments ranged from being incredulous...

9-7, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

9-7? I'll believe it when I see it. Still going to root for these guys, but I've become all too familiar with getting my hopes up only to be disappointed over and over again.

When are these idiot analysts going to realize that the Lions plain suck? With this year's schedule, I think the Lions fall to 4-12.

WHAT IS ESPN SMOKING!?!??! The Lions are a 3-13 team at best next year. And all the fans w/ season tickets will continue to fill Ford's wallet!!! Good luck w/ that

somebody has been hitting that courvoisier real hard!!!

To the cluelessly optimistic....

Lions will go 14-2 this year

the Lions are going to Win the division this year!

I love the Lions. I also hate the Lions. For that matter, I desperately want them to win, and win a ton. I also, even more desperately, want them to lose, and lose badly. When it comes to the Lions, i have more more personalities than Sybil.

Such is the thought processes of a any fan of the Detroit Lions. This dichotomy within Lions fandom always turns up in any and every article about the team. no matter how positive or negative the article is regarding the Lions, most fans just rip into the team, and into those who prefer to look at the bright side.

Then there are the few, the proud, the blindered Lions lovers, who believe the team is "thisclose" to having a winning season/making the playoffs/not embarrassing themselves. They often call out the haters as not being true fans.

Sometimes I just want to cry out like Rodney King, and say "Can't we all just get along?!"

It's never gonna happen, but it's nice to think about. The battle between those who do not believe in the Lions and those who do is as contentious a battle as the one between the Detroit suburbs against the city itself. No one is going to give an inch, both sides believe they are right, and nothing will ever change.

Much as it's nice to think about Lions fans joining in a chorus of 'Cumbya," it's nice to think the the Lions are capable of winning more games than they lose.

I guess that's my long winded way of saying it's never gonna happen. No choruses of "Cumbya," or the Lions doing anything other than breaking our hearts.

Not while the porn 'stached goon is around, anyway.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Joakim Noah has something in common with Jon Kitna

Today's Freep ran a short piece showing the Jon Kitna-level of delusion the Bulls' clownish Joakim Noah has in regard to the Pistons.

"I feel like we're different, but I feel like at the same time, with our style of play, there's no reason why we shouldn't have beat that team," Noah said. "I think Detroit's a great team, but I still feel like we're better than them, really. I feel like we're a better team."

Freep commenter dasunrisin replied much in the way I would have...

self delusion is the most powerful force in the universe.

Well, the bible thumping Kitna wouldn't agree with that assessment, but then again, I've never had a miracle recovery from a concussion.

The reason I mentioned Kitna is he would blurt out the same sort of comment as Noah's after another Lions loss. He would often say something ludicrous and totally delusional, such as, "We beat ourselves," "The plays were there, but we didn't make them," or "We gave the game away." Let's not even go into his 50 touchdown passes and 10 win predictions, or his never taking the blame.

It just goes to show that self-delusion often runs rampant in sports. Though I'd cut the younger Noah a little slack because of the following reasons...

1. Noah's a loon. He has more hair than brains. The suit he wore to the NBA draft is proof positive of Noah's loopiness.

Um, yeah. I'm supposed to take what that smilin' goon says seriously?

2. The Bulls did go 3-1 against the Pistons in the regular season. The operative words being "regular season." Noah needs to learn the regular season means 2 things to the Pistons. Jack and shit. His Bulls may match up well against the Pistons, but playing Detroit in March is something altogether different compared to playing them in the playoffs. Not that Noah is going to find out what the playoffs are like this season.

3. It's Joakim Noah, for fuck's sake.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Drew Sharp hates everything

Drew Sharp continued his mindless Big 10 bashing by calling the Michigan and Michigan State basketball programs "a joke." The Freep editors, obviously trying to rile up the fans of both schools, gleefully gave Sharp's tripe a tabloid like headline:

"Both U-M and MSU basketball programs lack basketball fire."

Regardless of the over the top headline, this column Sharp's knee-jerk, contrarian flame baiting at his very best. "Best" being a relative term, of course.

Like moths to a flame, the column attracted your usual mouth-breathers. Namely Sparty haters, Wolverine bashers, and damn near everything in-between. Amazingly, I found a mild-mannered, reasoned post amid all the shit flinging. dtw456 came through with a comment both realistic and reasoned regarding the status of both programs...

I wouldn't say both programs lack fire. There still is a flame burning for MSU, though not as intense as years previous. At UM, the fire is definitely out. It's no surprise that the fire at UM has been out ever since the Ed Martin fiasco unfolded. The UM program is still trying to recover from this fiasco, even today.

I never expected to find reason in the middle of what became a bile filled U of M vs. MSU comment thread. It's too calm for a Sharp column comment thread.

At this point, Sharp's columns have become rote. He has a totally predictable formula. Find a subject sports fans are passionate about, then just piss all over it.

It doesn't matter if the subject is actually worth debating or tearing apart. He strives to be so reactionary, so controversial, so contrary to popular opinion, that readers become enraged. His constant hating on the Big 10 conference, and baiting Big 10 fans, with the huge alumni and fanbase in Southeast Michigan, makes his job angering readers quite easy.

Sharp's job isn't to generate discussion, or to report on a story. He's nothing more than a sports hit man whoring himself out to the Freep. His only job is to generate hits on the website, and sell a few papers. Period.

Unfortunately, controversy sells papers and generates page views. Even if the writer is undeserving of the immense readership. Sharp is nothing more than a hack who found a formula that has lead all the way to appearances on the worldwide leader, a part time sports talk radio gig, and, most importantly to him, the bank.

Shame on we sports fans for falling for his act.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Another day, another Buccaneer joins the Lions

The Lions signed Chub's Shaun Rogers replacement today. A journeyman tackle named Chuck Darby.

WHO? Chuck Darby? Um...Never heard of him.

Let's see what Nick Cotsonika's write up in the Freep has to say...

The 6-foot, 297-pounder played only six games last season because of a knee injury.

You're fucking kidding me, right? I guess not, as there's more.

Darby spent four seasons in Tampa Bay, when coach Rod Marinelli was the Buccaneers’ defensive line coach and defensive coordinator Joe Barry was the Bucs’ linebackers coach.

Jesus Christ, are the Lions going to sign every single washed up ex-Buccaneer on the fucking planet? Apparently, they are...

Darby is the third former Buccaneer the Lions have signed in recent days. They signed safety Dwight Smith to a two-year, $5 million deal and safety Kalvin Pearson, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet – three years, $3.5 million with $1.1 million guaranteed. Tampa Bay has until Wednesday to match.

The Lions could make it four if they sign cornerback Brian Kelly, who visited Wednesday. They already had former Bucs like defensive end Dewayne White and fullback Jon Bradley on the roster.

The Lions just signed a 32 year old tackle to a 3 year contract. They signed 2 of Tampa's safeties, giving them 7 safeties total on the current roster. I'm guessing right now that Kelly, another 30-something former Buc, will be signed as well. The Lions are cornering the market on over-the-hill former Buccaneers.

If this is a joke, it's not funny anymore!

Does anyone else think the Lions are a better team now than they were when the season ended? I didn't think so. Neither do the Freep commenters.

They are normally a testy bunch on a good day. After this latest Lions signing, the Freepers are quite vocal in their unanimous unhappiness with Detroit quickly becoming Tampa Bay North.

Great move by the Detroit Bucaneers!!!!

Great, another ex-buccaneer/player with a knee injury. You sure know how to pick em millen, you f@%^in retard

"War daddy"? Our coaches are weird. As long as he can "pound the rock" I guess.

Can we just once get someone who is NOT coming off an injury? If these guy's we are getting are so good and wanted then why do I keep hearing myself say, "WHO??????"

Hmn....Coming off injury and former Buc? The stars are in perfect alignment! Coach M. and Coach son-in-law will party hard tonight!

JESUS! How many ex-Tampa Bay dudes does this guy want?

Hysterical! I couldn't agree more.

I have no idea what the Lions are up to. None whatsoever. They are getting older with every signing. Hell, they'll need Geritol, not Gatorade, on the sidelines.

If this is the Lions' plan, signing every God damn Buc that hits the open market, we might as well write off the 2008 season now as a lost cause.

Above the fold - Columnists say the darnedest things

It being Friday, it's once again time to see what bon mots and uninformed opinion the supposed best and brightest in the newspaper world, our local sports columnists, spew in print and on their websites. Buckle up, as it's usually a bumpy ride.

At the Detroit News, lead columnist Bob Wojnowski writes about the Tigers, and wonder of wonders, his column is NOT about Brandon Inge! (Though he can't help himself, and does mention the pouty super-sub) Instead, Wojo puts together a list for us, the 5 Tigers who must, in his mind, be at their best for the Tigers to win in 2008.

His picks?

No. 5: Kenny Rogers
No. 4: Pudge Rodriguez
No. 3: Gary Sheffield
No. 2: Jeremy Bonderman

A drum roll please....THE MOST IMPORTANT TIGER IS...

No. 1: Todd Jones

Why does Wojo believe the smoke and mirrors closer from Hell, the batting practice fastball throwing Roller Coaster, Todd Jones, has to the "Most Important Tiger?"

Dave Dombrowski surely will make a move to restock the bullpen because there's no way he can let another promising season get wrecked by relievers. Jones is the only reliable guy, which makes him the one the Tigers need most. He had 38 saves last season (six blown chances), understands the pressure and almost always works his way out of mini-slumps.

Is he dominant? Nope. Is he far more effective than many acknowledge? Yep.

Is he important? Yep. The MOST important? Nope. Not even close.

I think Kenny Rogers and Jeremy Bonderman are an interchangeable 1 and 2. For that matter, the most important reliever isn't even Jones. It's Fernando Rodney. Let's make him number 3.

Closers are overrated. Saves are even more overrated. Closers normally enter with a lead, often with a multi-run cushion, with no one on base, and only need to pitch one inning. Set up men, on the other hand, more often than not, enter with runners on base, pitch more than one inning, have to quell rallies when often a stikeout is needed, and the game is still in the balance.

Ask yourself this...Could you ever see Jones pitching in the high leverage situations Rodney (or Joel Zumaya, when healthy) finds himself in. If you thought his closing was scary... But Jones as a set up man? I wouldn't last the season. I'd blow a mental gasket after his first few appearances.

When analysts talk about the Tigers' possible Achilles heel, they don't bring up Jones. It's the starting pitching. The lack of quality pitching depth in the organization means the Tigers absolutely need The Gambler and Bonderman to pitch to expectations. For that matter, let's make 4 and 5 Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson. The starting pitching is that important.

To put it bluntly, Wojo is full of shit.

For another, better, take on who are the "Most Important Tigers," check out Kurt's list at Mack Avenue Tigers. He doesn't agree with Wojo, either.

In the Friday catch all column "Behind the Scenes," Mike O'Hara brings up the former Lion, the round mound of Cleveland town (I know, that rhyme sucked), Biggest Baby Shaun Rogers. O'Hara compares chub's weight to the price of gold...

Rogers' new deal pays him $42 million over six years.

At the time of the deal, gold was selling for $991.50 an ounce. A 370-pound slab of gold is worth $5,869,680.

In my mind, over the last 8 games of the Lions' 2007 season, Rogers wasn't worth the price of the paper used to print a counterfeit $1 bill. He was more invisible than Jeremy Bonderman's change up. To think the Browns signed him to such a monster contract extension is the definition of insanity.

Is Rogers a good player? Yes, when he wants to be. Believe me, Rogers won't want to be, $42 million contract or not. Now if Bigger Baby was being paid in candy bars, pies, cakes and donuts? Well, that's different. Rogers would be a All-Pro...

At the Freep, Michael Rosenberg wrote about Kenyan distance runners who have taken refuge from persecution in Ann Arbor. It was a good, well written column covering an important subject we truly needed to learn more about. In fact, it was quite disturbing reading about the Hell those runners go through back home.

Well, then. I can't make fun of that, wouldn't be right. I'd be a bigger ass than I already am.

Let's move on...

The closest thing to a column at the Freep touching on Detroit sports was WDFN's Jamie Samuelson's blog post. It's about...Brandon Inge! Yes! That's something I can pick apart!

Jamie asks himself the following question..,

Jim Leyland recently said that he knows Brandon Inge doesn’t want to catch. Does any part of the Inge situation seem weird?

The answer? Yes.

Well, there was more to it...

Is this Inge’s fault or the fault of an overzealous media who seem to genuinely like him? I’m not sure. Inge would be well advised to either keep his mouth shut or just say the right thing. He’s not helping himself out. And the media would be well served by just moving on to the next story. I’d much rather read daily updates on the health of Joel Zumaya or Fernando Rodney than anything else on Inge. When he’s traded, call me. Other than that, please, can we stop obsessing about a role player?

I have to say I agree. In fact, the entire Tigers blogosphere agrees. Actually, damn near every Tigers fan agrees. Everyone who gives a shit about the Tigers agrees!

The only people who don't agree are the Tiger beat writers. They apparently find Inge fascinating beyond belief, hang on his every word, then print every pouty word in the next day's fishwrap. Enough already. Please?

I'd be just fine if we didn't hear anything more from "Mr. I Didn't Mean What I Said, It Was Taken Out Of Context" till opening day, or when he's traded, whatever comes first.

That's "Above the Fold" for Friday, 3-7-08!

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Pondering Brandon Inge and beer volcanoes

The Tigers' bullpen is still in need of healthy arms. The latest bad news regarding the Tigers' Achilles heel is about Matt Mantei's shoulder. It's sore, derailing his comeback, and likely ending his career for a second time. This has fans looking for bullpen alternatives.

With Brandon Inge whining more than a Boston fan after the Sox lose to the Yankees, fans are coming up with their own Inge trades to add set up men to the Tigers' pen. One fan being a Freep commenter named MaggsMiggyMoney, who comes up with a dream solution...

Trade Inge for 2 relievers, which is exactly what we need, and I don't mean a bunch of who's who of relievers I actually want to hear some names that are well known.

The logic is so flawed in this comment, I don't know where to start.

This MaggsMiggyMoney character thinks Inge can be traded for not just one, but TWO relievers? For that matter, MaggsMiggyMoney thinks Inge is worth not just one NAME reliever, but two NAME relievers? Two NAME relievers for a .240 hitting 3rd baseman who struck out 150+ times?

I just have to ask. Considering the dearth of quality relief pitchers in baseball, would any team be crazy enough to trade two relievers? Two that were any good, anyway... If the fantastic were to happen, that team's GM would be run out of town faster than a Lions QB.

The more I think about it, the more I like MaggsMiggyMoney's world! In fact, I love it so much, I want to live in it!

I imagine it's a happy place full of beer volcanoes, streets paved with pizza, the rivers are made of vodka, your cable has BOTH the NFL Network AND the Big 10 Network, Matt Millen is working as a broadcaster, the Lions are a Super Bowl contender, and banjo hitting 3rd basemen with $6 million a year contracts are worth 2 big time setup men in trade.

Alas, it's only a dream.

The Tigers still need a bullpen arm or two, there's no free booze and pizza, Charter will NEVER get the NFL and Big 10 Network, the Matt Millen is running the Lions into a hole they'll never crawl out of, and a trade of Brandon Inge will net the Tigers little more than a career minor leaguer.

Damn...

Need more proof Detroit's sports columnists blow? Just ask the Associated Press Sports Editors

A tip o' the hat goes to The Big Lead for pointing me in the direction of the Associated Press Sports Editors' writing and section contests. These are awards given to the best newspaper sports sections and sports writers in the country.

You'd think an important media market like Detroit would do well in such a competition. Detroit ranks as the 11th largest market in the US. In an era where 2 competing papers are becoming a rarity around the country, Detroit has 2 dailies with a full compliment of columnists. There's 4 pro teams and 2 Big 10 schools to cover. So wouldn't you expect Detroit based columnists to win some writing awards?

Yet when judged by their peers, not a single columnist from the Free Press or News received a mention. Most notably missing was the Little Fella, the Freep's star columnist, who used to win sports writing awards like so many Cracker Jacks prizes. It's to be expected when your column takes a backseat to TV appearances, a radio show, screen writing, and sappy fiction.

This is a city with a rich heritage in sports columnists, going back to Joe Falls in the 60's and 70's, and Mike Downey in the 80's, to the Little Fella, when he used to give a shit about sports (He lost his fastball a decade ago). It's a shame we are now stuck with columnists churning out some of the lamest, knee-jerk, reactionary, ill-conceived, under researched, contrary for the sake of being contrary columns you'd never want to read.

Look at some of the out and out crap we've seen spewed by the fishwrap's best and brightest recently. The was Drew Sharp's hack job on the Red Wings' Ken Holland, and his hilariously writing 2 polar opposite opinions over Michigan's recruitment of Terrelle Pryor within a 2 week period. Jerry "Tough Tomatoes" Green cluelessly defending the indefensible Matt Millen, and his clumsily calling your humble blogger out over a perceived, yet truthful, slight. Don't forget Lynn Henning's embarrassing public whining over Brandon Inge not returning his phone calls. Then there's the worst offender of all. I can't forget to mention the entire output of Rob Parker, the consensus worst columnist in America.

I'm just scratching the surface here, but our local columnists have been on a roll when it comes to churning out tripe.

There's only 2 columnists in Detroit worth reading, Michael Rosenberg of the Freep and the News' Bob Wojnowski. But their output is far from being consistently good. Rosenberg too often goes for the funny (with varying degrees of success) than giving any actual opinion or analysis, and Wojo is so wrapped up in playing the dumb guy in his radio career, that his News column suffers for it.

According to the AP sports editors, there are is some quality coverage going on at out local fishwraps, it's just not coming from the columnists.

Even though the "stars" were ignored at award time, the Freep and News did have some winners, thanks to their reporters. Jon Paul Morosi, who's been often praised by TWFE, was one of the winners in the "Game story" category. Jo-Ann Barnas, Shawn Windsor and Mark Snyder won in the "Breaking news" category.

The Freep received an honorable mention in the 250K circulation category for their Sunday sports section, and a Top 10 in "Special," whatever that may be. The News won for their daily sports section in the 100K - 250K circulation category, and an honorable mention in "special." (I had no idea their circulation had dropped to that level)

The fact local reporters were honored for their grunt work, along with the sports sections as a whole, makes the columnists being snubbed all the more glaring.

Then again, news of our local columnists being shut out by the APSE shouldn't be surprising when outright hacks like Rob Parker and Drew Sharp, and washed up used-to-be's like Jerry Green, are gainfully employed by our local fishwraps.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the the day - Anyone but Lilja

In a Freep piece about the Red Wings' injury depleted defense, the arrival of Brad Stuart, and the return of Niklas Kronwall, a spirited debate broke out in the comment thread. When the top 4 defensemen return to health, along with the addition of Stuart, the question becomes which of the young defensemen will be left out of the 3rd pairing?

The consensus answer? Anyone but Andreas Lilja. A commenter named oregonwingsfan echoes what most Wings fans are thinking...

Who is in the future? Meech is the D-man of the future for Wings. To me, he has out played Lebda. I have been very impressed with his pin point passing and decision making. He is like a young Rafalski, he can certainly develop into a guy who can run the PP for the Wings. Lebda hit his ceiling a year or so ago and he is what he is now. I agree with other poster here...keep Quincey and Meech, work them in the balance of the regular season and expect them to be on roster next year.

The excellent play of Derek Meech Tuesday night in Edmonton, combined with Lilja's mistakes essentially costing the Red Wings what would have been much needed victory, closed the book for Wings fans. They've seen enough of Lilja's turnovers and mental lapses.

Any remaining goodwill Lilja may have had with fans disappeared the same moment the puck sailed into the stands for a delay of game penalty late in Tuesday's game. His mistakes were even more glaring when compared to the great game played by Meech.

At this point, I just want to see the Red Wings get healthy. That will fix most of what currently ails the Red Wings. Think about it. If fans are intensely arguing over essentially the 6th and 7th defenseman, your team is in pretty good shape, injuries or not.

There's one more thing I wanted to bring up in this article. There was one glaringly odd statement from Helene St. James, one that Bill at A2Y picked up on first thing this morning...

Meech will be in a four-man battle with Chelios, Andreas Lilja and Brett Lebda for the last two openings on defense.

This line makes absolutely no sense, even less so when coming from a beat writer. If Chris Chelios is healthy, Chris Chelios is playing. Period. It's a 3 man battle between Meech, Lilja and Lebda.

The fans want Meech, but your guess is as good as mine as to who Mike Babcock favors.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Overreact much?

One of my favorite types of forum commenter are the those who want to waive/trade/cut/bench damn near an entire team, never mind any extenuating circumstances or a team's overall record.

One such fruit loop is a Freep poster calling himself baseball. In an article about Red Wings' GM Ken Holland investigating different trade deadline scenarios, and also negotiating a contract extension for Dan Cleary, this "baseball" character would prefer it if Holland...blew the whole team up?

To Ken Holland: Dont sign McCarty and Federov, the Wings are not having an old timers game at JLA just before the playoffs......release Maltby and Draper today.....they are doing absolutely nothing to help the Wings and havent been for some time......tell Hasek to hang onto this stick, tape or wire it to his stick hand......find out why Chris Osgood cannot stop a beach ball on some nights and find out why Huder, Fillipula, Datsuk and Zeetterburg cant take the very rough play. Chris Pronger will bullwhack those guys all series long if they play the Ducks......Go out and sign some beef or find out why Dallas Drake has regressed to nothing.....Big Mike

Dude. Get a grip. Look at what you're saying.

You want to cut 2/3 of your checking line, let alone very valuable penalty killers, and dump both your goalies? Um, yeah. That's realistic.

Then you complain that small skill forwards (like "Zeetterburg") have trouble with bruisers. Well, duh.

McCarty is just minor league depth at this point, as Aaron Downey is handling Mac's old role just fine. If he does make it back to the NHL, it'll be due to his being able to contribute to neutralizing the rough play you complain about, dumb ass. As for the Fedorov trade, it's nothing more than a rumor at this point, not worth getting your panties in a bunch over.

As for Dallas Drake? Well, I'll give you that one.

Still, this is a damn hilarious comment. If Holland takes this doof's advice, he'll have to trade for 2 goalies, an entire checking line, a couple of penalty killers, and a replacement for Drake. OK then. Anything else you think the Wings need? Oh yeah, you forgot the obvious, being a secondary scorer, and a top 4 defenseman.

Let's get real, "Big Mike" or "baseball" or whatever the Hell you call yourself. Holland will be lucky if he can even find a trading partner, let alone pull the trigger on any sort of trade, God forbid a blockbuster. (For what it's worth, I don't see anything close to a blockbuster deal happening, no matter the situation) No one in the NHL wants to help the Wings, and if a team actually does talk trade, they are going to want a king's ransom in return.

As nice as it would be for the Wings to obtain a scorer, or a big time d-man, via trade, the cost is going to be prohibitive. Keeping that in mind, for better or worse, the Red Wings we see now (at least when fully healthy) will be the Red Wings we see in the playoffs.

To be honest, that's OK by me.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - I despise bandwagon fans

In a short Freep article about Rod Woodson's statements from the NFL Network, saying Mike Martz is being scapegoated by the Lions, some clueless ass calling himself slyde734 wrote the following...

The real problem is that people actually still care about the Lions. After 50+ years of futility, hasn't anyone come to their senses yet. This franchise is awful and the pathetic Lion lemmings that follow along hoping for a winning team are equally as pathetic and delusional. Do yourself a favor, pick another team to root for, it will ease the pain. I picked the San Diego Chargers long ago, during the Fouts/Winslow/Jefferson era, and I've had plenty to cheer about. Since then...the Lions, well, they still blow.

This is nothing but tripe from your typical blowhard, bandwagon asshole who picked the Chargers because they happened to be good at that specific period of time. Going by the time frame in his picking the Chargers, this clown is probably a fan of the Lakers, Oilers and Mets, rather than the Detroit teams. This douchebag is a fucking coward. Not tough enough to stay with the Lions, huh?

I have tons more respect for fans who stick with their teams, for better, or in the Lions case, catastrophically worse. I can respect those who can be critical of their team, and demand change, yet still remain loyal. Those who just give up, and decide to root for whatever team is the flavor of the month? For them, I have nothing but contempt. Fuck 'em.

Fans who continue to root for their team despite adversity are to be commended, not derided. This guy is the pathetic one.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Are 6 straight losses just a slump, or something much worse?

Is it time to push the panic button in Hockeytown? The Red Wings lost their 6th consecutive game Sunday, 1-0 to Dallas, wasting a stellar effort from Jimmy Howard in goal.

Freep commenter obrianm may not be ready to push the proverbial panic button. Not yet, anyway. But he does believe the Red Wings brain trust needs to do something, and do it soon.

Bottom line now is Holland needs to make a move. Tomas Kopecky is probably going to be the trade bait since he is still young and has a moveable contract. Lebda is also a posibility.

The real funk is the attitude of the team. Three weeks ago the Wings were finding ways to win; now they are finding ways to loose.

Too bad this was a great effort by Howard

First, every team goers through periods of listlessness. It's a much too long season, and the Red Wings are in the true dog days, biding time for the playoffs to start. Just because they are currently playing worse than the "Darkness with Harkness" era Red Wings, doesn't mean their attitude is bad. It means they are in a slump that's exacerbated by several crippling injuries. There's no need to worry, as the Wings are still a lock to win their division, and a near lock for the West number 1 playoff seed.

I agree the Wings aren't playing well, but it looks even worse thanks to their being severely undermanned. The Wings are down 2 of their top 4 d-men (Rafalski and Kronwall), their number 1 goalie (Hasek), and a gritty 2nd line scoring forward having the best season of his career (Cleary). How many teams in the Bettmanized, salary capped, depth challenged NHL could survive losing so many important pieces to injury? You can't name one.

Do the Red Wings need to make a trade deadline deal? I think so. Before the rash of injuries, we all knew the Red Wings could use 2nd/3rd line more scoring punch, and a big d-man. Those needs became a tad more glaring thanks to the sudden rash of injuries.

You only have so many chances to win a championship, the future be damned. I honestly believe the Red Wings are in such a position. If acquiring a scoring forward and/or a bruising blueliner means giving up some good young prospects and draft picks, then that's the cost of winning a Stanley Cup.

That's a cost most Wings fans are more than willing to pay.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - 1 loss won't be the end of the world

Today is the first day of Tigers spring training workouts. The Freep's John Lowe has an interview with Jim Leyland, peppered with quotes aplenty. The most news worthy quote was Leyland talking about Brandon Inge, and saying a trade is "a strong possibility."

Even though there's not all that much considered newsworthy in the interview, it brought the commenters out in force. DetFaninOrlando happens to mention one of my biggest pet peeves.

My sincere hope for myself and the fans on this board is that we can truly enjoy and appreciate the Tigers this year. The danger is that there will be those that will JUMP to crap on the team this year when every little thing goes wrong.

Rodriguez struck out again? Crap...
Cabrera missed a ground ball to 3rd? Crap...
Bonderman gave up 2 runs in the first? Crap...
Grilli couldn't make it out of the inning? Crap...
Jones blew a save? Crap....

PLEASE keep this stuff to a minimum. TRY and enjoy the good things that this team is able to accomplish and TRY to remember that every team has it's problems to.

Just try and enjoy the ride

Let's add a few, shall we?

Miguel Cabrera has a 4 K game? He's overpaid and overrated!
Edgar Renteria commits a couple of errors? He sucks!
Dontrelle Willis has a bad outing? They never should have traded Jair Jurrjens!
Jacque Jones misplays a fly ball? WORST TRADE EVER!

You know it's going to happen...

This comment nails my thoughts about the "Chicken Little" fans. The fans who think 1 loss is the end of the world, 1 bad game is an irreversible trend, and are ready to trade/waive/cut/bench/dispose of a player after a bad performance. The Chicken Littles have more mood swings than Britney Spears, and more knee-jerk reactions than a pissed off sports blogger.

With the expectations being sky high, we are going to see more bandwagon fans than ever following the Tigers. Which means more fans than ever who don't know the ebbs and flows of a baseball season, who don't realize that slumps and losing streaks happen to every team, no matter how good they may be.

Every team in MLB are guaranteed to lose around 60 games. Good, bad or ugly, you can chalk up 60 losses. Especially in the powerful American League. What's the old saying? (Paraphrasing from memory) You are going to win 60 games, and lose 60 games. It's what what you do with the remaining 42 that determines your season.

Let's hope those remaining 42 go well, or the bitching from the peanut gallery will be unbearable...

(Edit: God damn, am I out of it today or what? 62 games? Uh, it's 42 you dumbass.)

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

The Freep has a weird fascination with Terrelle Pryor, as they run a piece on the kid every day he doesn't make a decision. Today's cut and paste job is lifted from the Buckeyes' mouthpiece, the Columbus Dispatch.

ESPN ANALYST: 'Every day that Terrelle Pryor doesn't commit to Ohio State is not good'

Will the insane recruiting coverage EVER end? It's a rhetorical question, as we already know the answer. It's an emphatic, disgusting, creepy NO!

Freep commenter TeeItUp agrees...

Enough is enough.

I still don't think he's coming to Michigan, but the coverage has got to stop until he decides.

Fuckin' A.

I understand in our world with totally fucked up sports priorities, Pryor's recruitment is a story. Is it a story worth continually beating readers over the head till we bleed from the ears? To sane college football fans, no.

But in the strange world of recruitniks, who must get off on this like other fetishists get off on BDSM, midgets, clowns, or feet, they just can't get enough breathless coverage. Coverage of a 17 year old kid whom I'm guessing, if he's anything like me or my buddies were at that age, more worried about getting laid, or getting carded at the party store, than what college he's going to attend.

I now know that it would be impossible for me to be a college coach, as I could never. ever resort to begging an immature kid (and his often clueless parents) to play ball for me. And that's exactly what recruiting is, a glorified form of begging. 40 and 50 something football coaches selling themselves to teenagers is so...so...unseemly and undignified.

There's one word for it...Ewww.

Money can make up for having to suck up to know-it-all high schoolers, but it comes at the cost of self-respect.

No wonder most grown men can't or won't stay in college coaching for the long haul, decade after decade, like a Bo or Woody. You can only take for so long that your livelihood, and possible future success, is in the hands of brain-dead high school kids.

To catch a recruitnik

As if we haven't had our fill of MSM articles about college football recruiting, and the media couldn't stoop any lower, the Freep comes through, and lowers the bar. The headline says it all...

2009's TERRELLE PRYOR?: Dual-threat QB Russell Shepard has U-M at the top of his list

You've got to be kidding me. Signing day was less than a week ago, hyped to no end, and here we have an fawning article about a possible 2009 recruit? Worse, it compares him to a 2008 recruit that hasn't yet committed? Just kill me right fucking now.

Shepard, a lifelong University of Texas fan, visited the Longhorns over the weekend. But even though he got a scholarship offer from his favorite team, he told the Austin American-Statesman that he may have a different favorite than many would think.

“I would say Texas is still up there, but Michigan is really at the top of my list, especially if they don’t get Terrelle Pryor,” he told the paper. “I feel like I could go there and play right away. I’m also looking at Florida and LSU. Both of those schools have pretty good depth-chart situations for me.”

The kid hasn't even played his senior season, and he's getting major ink from the MSM. They should be ashamed. Then again, has the MSM ever shown any shame? They would rather pander to the recruiting zealots, who eat this shit up to no end, and have major issues of their own.

If this odd fascination with high school kids keeps up, we'll see an episode of "Dateline: To Catch a Predator" focus on the delusional yahoos who actually spend time and money paying close attention the outright bullshit slung by the likes of Rivals and Scouts, Inc.

Tell me your 40 time. Oooo, that's sooooo cool! How much can you bench press? How many reps? Oh my. I'm really hot to hear more! Can we meet? I'll tell you all about my school. It'll be soooo much fun!

Next thing you know, these recruitniks will be asked to sit down and chat. A certain Mr. Hansen would LOVE to talk with you...

Are you here for Russell? Let's sit down and chat...

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say these recruiting fanatics are one small step removed from meeting Chris Hansen face to face. All that's missing is their knocking on a recruit's door with college catalogs in one hand, and a six pack in the other.

We're headed into stalking territory with these young football players. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it's CREEPY to be so captivated by the recruiting of high school kids.

Above the fold - Columnists say the darnedest things

It's Friday, and you know what that means?

It's the end of the week? Well, DUH. But that's not the answer I was looking for, people. Lost is on? Uh, that was last night, dude. You missed a kick ass episode. The latest Matthew McConaughey flick hits the the theaters? Who the Hell cares? The last flick of the naked bongo player's I enjoyed was "Dazed and Confused." He's never been better than playing Wooderson...

"All right, all right, all right."

"That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age."

"Let me tell you this, the older you do get the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin' man, L-I-V-I-N."

That's DEEP stuff, man... But I digress.

It's Friday, which means we take a tour of the local fishwraps, and see what Detroit's best and brightest asinine and clueless columnists have to say.

Let's start at the News, so we can get it over with. "It" being the latest tripe spewed from the worst columnist in America. The functionally retarded Rob Parker, who makes the mentally challenged Skip Bayless look like a MENSA member during their painful exchanges on the 4 Letter, writes about the most pressing issue in Detroit sports today!

Say goodbye to Swin Cash.

Cash, a Detroit Shock forward for six seasons, will be traded within the next two weeks.

OH MY GOD! I can't believe it! This news is horrib...Uh, wait a second. This column is about who? Swin Cash? Of that basketball team that is deep in their off season? The team no one watches or cares about? In that league the NBA tries to force feed down our throats every summer?

The trade is inevitable because of a feud between Cash and Shock coach Bill Laimbeer. The two just didn't see eye-to-eye the last couple of seasons.

I guess it is. Well then. No one gives a shit, Parker. Literally no one. Even you should know that...

Now, Cash will play elsewhere.

And Parker should write elsewhere. Anywhere. Actually, nowhere would be best for all concerned. Let's wash our hands of this waste of newsprint, and quickly move on.

It appears Lynn Henning has gotten over his Brandon Inge hissy fit of a couple of weeks ago, as he chimes in today with a column about Inge, and where he would be best used. Unfortunately, Henning rehashes ideas that the Tigers blogosphere brought up...2 weeks ago.

The Tigers will want Inge to return as their starting catcher, given that Pudge Rodriguez is almost certainly into his final season in Detroit. Inge will continue to want to play third base -- here, anywhere.

Will there be a market for him? Probably not, unless Inge hits up a storm in 2008 as a super-sub, which figures to be his role.

Sure as shit, this is old news.

After telling us nothing new about Inge, Henning also conjures up numbers for a possible Miguel Cabrera long-term contract.

The thought advanced here is that they will probably talk about a deal somewhere in the vicinity of five years for $100 million or six years for $125 million. They will argue, as they did successfully in the case of Curtis Granderson and his renewal, that free agency can still be an option for Cabrera at a young age, say 30 or 31.

Nothing ground shaking here either. For quite some time it's been damn obvious any Cabrera deal is going to start in the $20 million per season range. Henning is just wasting our time...Again.

In the Freep, Michael Rosenberg delves into a subject few have been talking about...Rich Rodriguez and Terrelle Pryor. At least Rosenberg is honest about the
Pryor fatigue we are all feeling...

As Terrelle Pryor waits to --

No! PLEASE tell me you're not writing about Terrelle Pryor! If I read one more word about this kid I'm going to de-commit from the planet.

If he doesn't move on from this over-covered subject, I'm de-committing from this column!

Anyway, this is not about West Virginia v. Rodriguez.

Thank fucking GOD!

This is about a theory that many of the e-mailers espouse: the Pat White Theory.

OK, I'm still reading...

I find the Pat White Theory interesting for two reasons. First of all, I don't buy the conclusion. It's one thing to rip a coach for losing with a great player, quite another to rip him for winning with a great player.

This reminds me of the people who say Lloyd Carr never would have won the national championship without Charles Woodson. So what? He had him.

Actually, I think many feel that Michigan, and Woodson, won the national title in spite of Lloyd's unimaginative coaching. But that's not what this column is about...Let's see where Rosenberg is going, shall we?

Rodriguez seems smart enough to adapt if he doesn't get Pryor. As he says, he likes to win too much to not adapt. If Rodriguez does not land Terrelle Pryor, he can plug in one of his other quarterbacks, or maybe shift running back Carlos Brown to quarterback, and have some success.

But to produce the kind of offense he wants, the kind Michigan hired him for, Rodriguez needs that special athlete at quarterback. Rich Rodriguez doesn't need Pat White. He needs the next Pat White.

That would be nice, but unless lightening strikes with Pryor, Michigan is not getting their system QB this year. What Rosenberg forgets to mention is Rodriguez has run a version of the spread with a QB who wasn't near as mobile as White. Shaun King threw for a ton of yards at Tulane while RichRod was the offensive coordinator.

Rather than the run first WVU offense, I'm guessing we'll see some sort of hybrid spread, alternating dropback QB Steven Threat and whatever run first QB stands out, much in the way Urban Meyer did with Chris Leak and Tim Tebow in his first season at Florida.

At this point, I don't really care. I'm just praying for Pryor to just make his damn decision already, so we can all move on!

In a column I won't pick apart or make fun of, The Oakland Press' Pat Caputo touches on the sad, pitiful tale of former Tiger broadcaster Lary Sorneson. He doesn't say much of his recent arrest, getting popped for his 7th DUI, while blowing a .48 BAC (They're both jaw dropping numbers). Instead, Caputo writes of past experiences with Sorenson while both were covering the Tigers. He doesn't pillory him, or cast blame, he just feels sorry for Sorenson's sickness and nearly hopeless situation.

Look at this guy. A former major league player. Had a much-coveted broadcasting job. By all accounts, his family life was good - except for his drinking. And now he's left with nothing but press clippings of shame.

I know there are people who don't - and won't - feel sorry for Lary. I don't blame them. Many people - way too many - have lost loved ones because of drunken drivers. It's one of the great curses on society.

What else is there to say? Sorenson needs to be kept off the roads, as it's clear he's a vehicular homicide waiting to happen. Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't killed someone, or been killed. Considering he's a habitual offender, do you lock him up, and throw away the key? Or do you try to get him the help he so desperately needs, as he's not a menace when sober. Sorenson needs the sort of treatment he probably won't get in a state prison. That's for the courts to decide.

It's an awful, ugly, sorry story all the way around. A story I doubt will have a happy ending.

That's "Above the Fold" for Friday, 2-8-08!

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Recruiting news is creepy

I'm quite happy I was away from both the web, and the media in general, yesterday. When I logged into my Google Reader last night, I was overwhelmed by the massive amount of recruiting news in my RSS feeds. It was both disturbing and funny. Then again, the whole fascination normally sane adults have in college recruiting is creepy.

The Freep has an ENTIRE section devoted to signing day. A Freep commenter named tater responds to an article detailing Rich Rodriguez's thoughts from his signing day presser.

Recruiting Florida is a great thing. USF has become a sorta top-25 program by recruiting kids from Florida who didn't get serious offers from top-25 schools.

The best recuiting story for this year comes from Florida:
EIGHT Miami Northwestern players signed en masse with Miami yesterday. This is even better than the seven from Lakeland who signed with Florida last year. The quality is slightly higher and the players are staying home.

Who has the energy or the need to track college football recruiting this closely? Why would you even care? I barely know, or to be honest, give a shit, whom Michigan signed, let alone what's happening a continent away. Those whom are so into recruiting they can tell you the 40 time some some bumpkin kid from Backwater, USA? They have issues.

In the early, primeval days of TWFE, I wrote that one of my biggest pet peeves was the coverage of college football signing day, and the recruiting process in general.

I have NO IDEA who these kids are and why I should be excited. None. I honestly believe that the so-called recruiting "Experts," such as Tom Lemming, Rivals.com, Scouts Inc., and others of their ilk, don't either. They are just making it up and slinging player BS as they go along. It's pure guesswork on their part. Highly paid NFL scouts and front office people have trouble projecting how well a much more mature college player's ability will translate to the next level. The Lions' drafts are a prime example. Take a look at the crapshoot that is the MLB draft, the success of high school players are basically a flip of the coin, and it's not much better for college players. The NBA have washed their hands of high school kids altogether. So I'm expected to take the word of some wannabe working out of his basement projecting the skill level of 17 year old high school kids? That takes a level of disbelief that I just don't have.

I wrote the preceding diatribe 2 years ago. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. If anything, it's gotten worse.

The Free Press seemingly leads with the latest in the Terrelle Pryor saga every God damn day. The college blogs and message boards post every and any sliver of unsubstantiated gossip regarding recruits. The 4 letter made a day of it, with breathless coverage on The Ocho ESPNU. I have Detroit sports talk radio on in the background, and a day later, they are STILL talking about the results of signing day.

It's all bullshit.

"Experts" are dissecting 17-18 year old high school kids who aren't even close to being physically and emotionally mature. Yet these kids are being hounded like Britney Spears after her latest meltdown. They are stars before they even set foot on campus.

This is what bothers me the most about what's become a big business. If highly trained and paid scouts from the NFL, MLB, NHL, and the NBA have trouble projecting the skills of these kids, how can you believe the rankings of some self-designated high school recruiting "expert?"

For all anyone knows, Terrelle Pryor may not be the next Vince Young, and end up as the next Ron "He'll win 4 Heismans" Powlus. There is no sure thing when you are talking about HIGH SCHOOL KIDS!

Recruiting coverage is nothing more than a sideshow full of scary geeks, all desperate for attention.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

The COTD is in the wild and woolly Freep. I could have gone for one of the many trolling comments in the pissing matches between Wolverines and Sparty. But that's too easy, and to honest, going through those threads are annoying as all Hell. Instead, I went for someone who is apparently sane. At least not blinded by their over the top hate for a specific school.

The comment was taken from Jon Paul Morosi's article recapping the Curtis Granderson signing, and the commenter is DetFaninOrlando. This comment stood out from the Freep's outrageous norm because it didn't bash anyone or anything, it wasn't flame bait, contained no spelling or grammar errors and was quite lucid. Amazing for the Freep!

Ok, I want to hear ANYONE say this was a bad move. NO CHANCE.

Good job DD.

DetFaninOrlando makes a very a good point. No one thinks the Tigers extending Granderson was a bad move. Unless you are a fan of another American League team. It's rare when you see a long-term contract that's good for both sides. This is one of those rare win/win instances.

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...

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.

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day

It's after 11AM, and Mlive has nothing new posted on their site. The latest dated stories are from Sunday. Taking MLK day off? Your guess is as good as mine...

Thus, I venture over to the Freep, and wade into their forums. Their forums are populated with commenters whom are balancing on the razor's edge between sanity and insanity. It's like moving from junior high to high school. It's definitely a scary step up in crazy when compared to the more mild mannered Mliver's. Wish me well... If I'm not back in an hour, call the authorities.

I struck gold at the Freep, as the lede in the sports section is the "WVU is racist" claims by Rich Rodriguez's assistant head coach, Calvin Magee, and supported by their agent, Mike Brown. As you might guess, the comments in the Freep story are mean spirited, knee-jerk, poorly researched, totally biased and borderline racist.

But one comment stood out for it's brevity (The Freep commenters write freaking novels), humor, and for being dead on point. Extra credits are given for correct grammar and spelling, which both seem to be optional at the Freep. "Michigan ex-pat" hits the proverbial nail on the head...

This is why Michigan tries to hire from within.

As they say on the tough, hardscrabble streets here in Monroe County, true dat.

This is the story that won't go away, the thing that wouldn't leave. No one on either side, WVU or Rich Rodriguez (And now one of his assistants), is willing to step back, while U of M gets muddied head to toe, thanks to their being the closest bystander.

I thought it might finally die down, till the Magee racism story hit the wires on Sunday. The agent for Rodriguez and Magee is scheduled to make the media rounds in Detroit, to give more of their side of the story. That's going to extend the pissing match, a match no one will win, for another week or so.

At this point, WVU has little reason to remain engaged in this war of words. We've heard nothing more about the supposed shredded documents. Yet they appear willing to continue undercuting the reputation of their school, as Stewart Mandel wrote at SI, by acting like a psycho, stalking ex-girlfriend in regard to their former coach.

Christ, Michigan hiring Carr crony Mike Debord is looking better and better in hindsight, for one reason only. He wouldn't win many games, but we wouldn't have to suffer through a fucking soap opera.