The Knee Jerks: WTF with Eno and Al - Episode 3: The Lions do the right thing? It must be a cold day in Hell

It's Thursday, so by now you know what that means...once again it's time for TKJWTFWEAA! (Feel free to call it "The Knee Jerks.")

Every Thursday I chat with the man this blogger likes to call "Mr. Jourmalist," Greg Eno, the proprietor of the Eno Blogging Network, which includes Out of Bounds, Where Have You Gone, Johnny Grubb?, and Spoiled Sports.

Today's topics include giving out knee jerk opinions about the Michigan Wolverines and the early struggles of RichRod, the big doings at Allen Park, with the Detroit Lions actually doing something smart for the first time in YEARS, and touch on the Detroit Red Wings, the MLB playoffs and my moving TWFE to the Most Valuable Network.

As Bluto Blutarsky once said, "LET'S DO IT!"

Eno: It's Thursday, and that means it's another rock 'em sock 'em episode of The Knee Jerks. I'm Eno, also known as The Historian. He's Big Al, also known as The Potential Heart Attack Victim. How are you, Big Al?

Big Al: Better than expected, actually. Even though the past weekend definitely wasn't one of the more pleasant ones for football fans in the state of Michigan.

Eno: What? You mean Michigan State? They won, didn't they?

Big Al: Sparty? Come on, Eno. You know I'm a Michigan fan! Yes, one of those fans who MSU fans
despise, who didn't go to the school. But come on, lose to TOLEDO? 1-4 TOLEDO? No, I'm not going to lose it. I value my health too much.

Eno: What's frightening is that Toledo isn't even one of the MAC's top teams. Is that loss worse than losing to Appy State last year?

Big Al: It is, in that Appy St. could have beaten more than a few Division I (or whatever the NCAA is calling the BCS conference schools) teams. Toledo is a BAD team. Turns out, the Wolverines are a WORSE team. I knew it was going to be a year of transition, but this?

Eno: OK, what about that? How did the Wolves fall so far, so fast? And how in the HELL did that program end up without a quarterback?

Big Al: I'm not sure who to blame more: Rich Rodriguez for putting all his eggs in the Terrelle Pryor basket, or...I blame RichRod. Not that Pryor did him any favors by stringing him along well past signing day. Rodriguez absolutely has to recruit a freshman QB in 2009 who is capable of running the spread offense to its fullest capabilities. Even then, it's looking like 2010 before we have a chance to see the Michigan we know.

Eno: OK, I see that there's already a "Fire R-Rod" web site out there. But at the risk of disturbing the dead, er, the retired – isn’t Rodriguez playing with the deck that Lloyd Carr left for him? How much of this is Carr's bad recruiting?

Big Al: Some of it is Lloyd Carr's fault, of course. But we're talking the powerful Michigan Wolverines, who recruit four and five-star players. You can't blame Carr for losing QB Ryan Mallett., for example. There is talent there (at Michigan). For whatever reason, that talent isn't being used to its potential, or it’s not buying into the RichRod program.

Eno: I was thinking about this: the Wolverines are 7-6 in their last 13 at the Big House. So that mystique seems to be gone. How does Rodriguez stand up in front of his players and say, "OK, we're 2-4 -- almost 1-5 -- and just lost to Toledo at home. BUT WE'RE STILL MICHIGAN, men!" I mean, does that resonate?

Big Al: Not anymore. Which is why RichRod has his work cut out for him – getting Michigan's, well, hubris back. But it's not as if the Big House is one of the more intimidating places to play. I've always considered it overrated, and (home to) the quietest 110,000 people you'll ever hear.

Eno: Well, "transition" is a kind word. But at least Rod has some pedigree. He's not Gerry Faust, plucked from HIGH SCHOOL to coach Notre Dame. You're an old geezer like me – remember that? Remember "Oust Faust"? So Rodriguez can probably rebuild this thing; just not right away, or fast enough for the fans or alums.

Big Al: Gerry Faust? The man who was so far over his head, he makes Rod Marinelli look competent? I totally agree with you though. I'm not worried about RichRod's turning the program around. His track record says he will. But you'll never please Michigan fans, who think 10 wins and a BCS Bowl game appearance is a birthright. There isn't a fan base in college football who needed a bigger humbling. Forty years of never having a losing season tends to do that to a fan base.

Eno: Here's a sobering number: Penn State minus 23 against U-M. MINUS 23!!

Big Al: Never thought I'd see the day. With Steven Threet banged up, and RichRod playing a walk on, Nick Sheridan, minus 23 might be on the low side! (Penn State coach) Joe Paterno has to be licking his chops in anticipation of repaying U-of-M for almost a decade of painful losses.

Eno: Well, other coaches said, before the season, "Better get Michigan now, because once Rodriguez starts recruiting, look out." So others obviously feel he's up to the task. So, is it safe to say that you won't be visiting the "Fire R-Rod" web site?

Big Al: Hell, no! I'm not happy, and RichRod deserves to be held accountable to what's likely to be the worst Wolverines season since Bump Elliott was coach. [Good Lord, there are several generations of Michigan fans who are thinking, “Who in the Hell is Bump Elliott?”] But he also deserves the opportunity to fully implement his program, and that's going to take time. Down seasons have happened to EVERY national power. It's just the Wolverines' turn.

Eno: So, big news, Big Al: The Lions listened to you – imagine that – and traded your man Roy Williams. And, even more, they robbed the Cowboys blind. What gives here?

Big Al: The Lions make a well-thought out, sensible, thinking-about-the-future move? It's one of the seven signs! The apocalypse is upon us! Up is down, in is out! That's what gives! Seriously, Martin Mayhew robbed the 'Boys blind. And then some.

Eno: As I wrote in OOB, Mayhew is still interim, but not as interim as before the trade. Does this make him a player when the Lions go searching for a new front office leader? Or is this just beginner's luck? Your gut.

Big Al: Even though getting most of the Cowboys’ 2009 draft for a player who wasn't going to return next season has been universally lauded, you can't ever forget Mayhew said "I'm a 100% Millen man." He still needs to go. But knowing the Fords, I'm starting to get the feeling he may stay, along with (coach Rod) Marinelli. When it comes to the Fords, you just never know.

Eno: OMG, you REALLY think so? I'm talking about Marinelli now. You really think Mr. Pound the Rock has a chance of being here in '09? Say it ain't so, Al!! And I mostly agree about Mayhew; I don't know what on Earth the man was thinking when he made that "I'm a Millen man" remark. Kind of like saying, "I'm a Bush man," if you're a Republican!

Big Al: If Mayhew stays, and this is a big “if”, he may feel loyalty to Marinelli. Mainly because trading Williams and IR'ing a vocally-unhappy-about-it Jon Kitna, means the Lions are waving the white flag on the '08 season, when Marinelli really has to win games. It's, in a way, if Marinelli had input on the moves, a selfless act by a head coach on a VERY hot seat. I wouldn't approve, but knowing how the Lions think (Change = Bad), it's a possible scenario.

Eno: Well, I must admit that Mayhew (another MM initial guy, btw) showed me something here. He might have some potential as a GM. But if the Lions can get a high-profile, veteran front office type, they need to do that. I'd love to see Mike Holmgren get fed up with coaching in Seattle and be ready to move upstairs – with the Lions, if possible. As for Coach Rod, I think he ought to prepare himself to be d-line coach at Cal or Stanford or something.

Big Al: I agree with you totally. A Holmgren, a Bill Cowher, someone with a name and a winning pedigree is essential to the Lions’ winning back the faith of a wary fan base. I could live with Mayhew staying in the organization (but NOT as GM), as he seems to have a very good reputation in NFL circles, but Marinelli has to go. He just has to. But who in the Hell knows what William Clay Ford is thinking? That's the wild card in this mess.

Eno: But back to the trade real quick. I think of Roy-Roy as a guy who can excel in a better environment. He was never going to get any better in Detroit; he topped off here. I just hope the Cowboys know that they got themselves a fumbler and a dropper of easy passes, to go along with those occasional spectacular grabs. Guess we'll never see that Drew Stanton-Roy Williams rapport here. *SIGH*

Big Al: I believe I said in an earlier edition of TKJWTFWEAA that Williams would "blow up" on a good team. With the Cowboys, Roy will have Terrell Owens on the other side of the field, drawing double teams. He'll make hay, so to speak. But Williams also has issues with focus (re: dropping catchable balls) and diva tendencies (showing up QBs and celebrating 1st downs while three scores behind). The Cowboy fan base, considering what Jerry Jones gave up to get Roy, won't be very forgiving if Williams pulls some of the stunts in Dallas that he did here in the D.

Eno: Well, it's a deal good for all parties, really: Williams, the Lions, and the Cowboys – because Jerry Jones says so! As for the other biggish news, QB Jon Kitna is “no longer” as far as 2008 goes, having been placed on IR. Your thoughts? He's done as a Lion, right? Even though he's under contract for 2009.

Big Al: Kitna's done. He's already burning bridges, having gone to the press, claiming he could play. There must be more to it. If Kitna wasn't hurt badly enough to miss the rest of the season, why not just demote him to 2nd or 3rd string? Obviously the Lions thought Kitna would become a locker room cancer (if he wasn't already) if he was no longer starting. We'll probably never know the entire truth.

Eno: Ahh, so you think they IR'd him as a way of performing cancer surgery? Interesting take. So who's the QB for 2009, oh sage one?

Big Al: Well, it's like taking a cleaver when you should have used a scalpel, but a good analogy. As for next season? I want to say Drew Stanton, but his unnecessarily missing a season on IR (in 2007) is still biting the Lions in the proverbial ass. No one knows if he can play. There's also the fact that if a new GM is brought on board, he may want his own guy under center. The '09 starter isn't on the roster. In other words, it'll be some veteran free agent.

Eno: Ahh, another Dave Krieg in our future! So, speaking of the Lions, how about those officials in Minnesota on Sunday, eh?

Big Al: You mean the guys wearing stripes who were on the Vikings’ payroll? It was one of the worst officiated Lions games in recent memory. The Lions "wuz robbed!" But bad calls have been abound in the NFL this season. It's become an epidemic. Maybe it's time the NFL went to full-time referees, instead of using insurance agents who have the weekend off!

Eno: I felt bad for (CB) Leigh Bodden. He actually played pretty well, then was victimized at the end there. I don't even know if that ball was catchable. The zebras obviously thought Calvin Johnson didn't have a chance at his pass near the end zone earlier in the game when Megatron was mugged. Johnson was jobbed, too (later in the game on a fumble call). I thought that Court of Appeals known as the Replay System was supposed to correct the wrongs done on the field.

Big Al: Yeah, right. And the NFL also says reviews are only supposed to take one minute. But as I said on TWFE, bad teams don't get calls. The Lions have rarely been given the benefit of the doubt by the refs. It's the same in all sports: good teams and good players get calls. The Lions aren't good, and their good players are few and far between.

Eno: True that. So what do you make of an NFL QB (Orlovsky) who runs out of the end zone like an electric football player? If Gus Frerotte would have done that, at least he would have run right toward the nearest wall and banged his head against it! Orlovsky didn't even give a reaction. He just kept running, right to the sideline. Didn't toss his hands up, didn't slap himself on the helmet, nothing. It was weird.

Big Al: Maybe Dan-O wanted a hot dog and a beer? I've never seen that happen before. Orlovsky just plain didn't realize where he was on the field. I've NEVER seen such a lack of field awareness from an NFL QB – and I use that term loosely.

Eno: At least when Jim Marshall ran the wrong way (for Minnesota in 1964), he was just a dumb old defensive lineman! He can't hear me, can he?

Big Al: You best hope not! At this point, nothing the Lions do on or off the field will surprise me. Even pulling a “Marshall”.

Eno: Hey, did you see Ty Conklin the other night? If the Red Wings get goaltending like THAT from their "backup", then there's no stopping them.

Big Al: Getting Conklin for essentially pocket change may be the best free agent pickup the Red Wings made this past off-season, even bigger than signing Marian Hossa. Just more proof that Ken Holland is the best GM in sports.

Eno: (The Red Wings) are just so much fun to watch, because of their puck possession style. At least once per game they get a goal as a result of tic-tac-toe passing. They're the anti-Lions. Plop-plop, fizz-fizz. So I've been dominating the discussion. Anything else on your mind?

Big Al: I've got nothing.

Eno: Well, other than you're going all hoity-toity on us and moving your act to MVN. I'm glad you're at least stooping to chat with a serf like me!

Big Al: Well, I'll always have time for the little people. Just talk to my people, first. You're no serf, Eno. You're more like a peasant. Seriously, I'm looking forward to moving to a big network like MVN. It should be fun. I'll be able to reach out to a bigger audience, and even better, I won't have to worry about design or the back end stuff. But nothing will change, content-wise. I'll still hold up my part in being a knee-jerk, profane blogger!

Eno: The thought of you having "people" is terrifying! But good luck with MVN and just don't forget the people you stepped on, on the way up! One more quickie: who's winning the World Series this year?

Big Al: Thanks for the kind words! As for the World Series, I'm picking the Phillies. If there is a city that needs a champion, it's Philly. The (Tampa Bay) Rays fans don't deserve a title, and don't get me going on Boston and their elitist, “It's all about us” fan base. Who's your MLB pick to click?

Eno: Well, if you wander over to Johnny Grubb and/or OOB (I posted it both places), I roasted the Rays fans. They averaged 22,000 per game – less than 50% capacity and 26th in MLB. That's pathetic for a first-place team. Take their team away!! I like the Red Sox. They're battle-tested. The Phillies are the Cubs, plus one. In my mind, 1980 (when the Phillies won the World Series) is the only thing that separates the Phillies from being even WORSE than the Cubbies, who at least have won more than one title in their history. So Bosox in six over....LA. Yep – the Dodgers will rally. Any team (the Red Sox) that has Stephen King rooting for them in the stands is OK in my book – no pun intended. So see you next week, Big Time, I mean Big Al!

Big Al: I'll be here, Mr. Journalist! See you next week!

Eno: Ah, touche!

Apparently the Michigan Wolverines won't be winning the MAC this season...

...or any other conference.

How do the Wolverines lose to one of the MAC's bottom feeders, the Toledo Rockets? Pretty easily, as it turns out. The MAC's worst team beat the Wolverines 13-10 in a game only that close thanks to Toledo repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot.

The torches and pitchforks will be out in A2 tonight. I'd expect nothing less after losing to a MAC team for the FIRST TIME EVER! This is an embarrassing loss for the program, possibly even worse than the Appalachian St. game.

It's time to face facts. I don't see this Michigan team having a winning season, God forbid make a bowl game. The offense is Sam McGuffie and nothing else, the defense is a HUGE disappointment. The 2 QB's, Threet and Sheridan, are more inaccurate than a political attack ad. This is one poorly coached team, without the talent it needs to run Rich Rodriguez's highly specialized offense.

I still think RichRod is a good coach. He proved it at WVU. You don't win at a school like West Virgina if you can't coach a little. Actually, a lot. But with the Wolverines at 2-4, and likely to finish in the bottom half of what is a lousy Big 10, RichRod will quite deservedly get raked over the coals....repeatedly.

I wasn't expecting a Rose Bowl this season, but 7 wins should have been the bare minimum with the talent on hand. I could have lived with 6 wins, just because of the circumstances surrounding the coaching change. But I can't see the Wolverines winning more than a game or two more the rest of the season.

Next up are Penn St. and Sparty. They have to be licking their chops, taking out YEARS of frustration upon their now down on their luck nemesis. I can easily see the Wolverines going into the tOSU game with a 3-8 or 4-7 record, then getting pounded to within an inch of their lives by the bucknuts.

Christ, I'm not sure how to handle a bad Michigan football team. This is uncharted territory for most fans of U of M. I've been a Wolverines fan since I was 7 years old, and I've never had to live through a losing season. EVER.

That's about to change, and I'm not happy.

10 things you know I know I know, you know?

10. I'm not going to get overtly political here, but I have only one thing to say about John McCain's campaign pulling out of Michigan. If this now means we no longer have to suffer through an endless amount hateful, pushing the absolute borders of the truth, pound you over the head with the sledgehammer of spin, all out negative advertising from BOTH parties, then THANK FUCKING GOD! I've had more than my fill of political advertising, of any kind, thank you very much.

Michigan being considered a "battleground" state (till yesterday afternoon, anyway) meant both parties were pummeling we Michiganders about the head and face with with political ad after political ad during every local break on TV and radio. (you ex-pats should consider yourselves lucky!) Personally, I find these ads insulting. If you make your decision on which candidate to vote for based on TV ads, you're a moron. A fucking moron.

No matter if you are a Democrat, Republican or independent, please do a little research before you vote. I honestly think people invest more time into which new TV series they are going to watch, than whom is going to get their vote. It's shameful more people don't care about the political process, unpleasant as it may sometimes be.

That's as political as I'll allow myself to get... Let's talk sports.

9. You know the MSM is scraping the bottom of the barrel for ideas when you read the "bad team in one sport should talk to the good team's GM in another sport" piece. The Freep has gone over the top with this tripe.

First, Jamie Samuelson wrote the Lions need to hire Red Wings' GM Ken Holland. (though I do agree with his assessment that Holland is the best GM working in sports) Then Michael Rosenberg (who should really know better, as he's the best columnist in town) penned a piece saying the Lions should hire Pistons' GM Joe Dumars as the porn 'stached goon's replacement as Lions' president.

What? No love for Dave Dombrowski? Nah, I'm sure the Pizza Man has him on double secret probation after this fiasco of a season.

With the DD shout out out of the way, I have one comment for the both of them...

Get. A. Fucking. Grip.

Personally, I don't want the poisonous Lions, who destroy careers, not make them, anywhere near two of the best run franchises, in not only Detroit, but in all of sports. And who's to say their managerial skills would transfer over to another sport, anyway? We've actually had an example here in the D. Bo Schembechler's tenure as Tigers' president could best be described as an EPIC FAIL. Sure, he was handicapped by the insane ownership of Tom Monaghan, but Bo didn't distinguish himself, either. His years are best remembered only for the firing of God Ernie Harwell.

Yes, I know it wasn't Bo's decision, and he took the heat for both WJR and the Tigers. But no matter who made the decision, it was MASSIVELY bungled by everyone involved.

I'm a little off track, but the point is made. Should the Lions ask the Red Wings and Pistons for advice? Sure, it couldn't hurt. But attempting to hire a non football guy to run the team makes as much sense as a TV broadcaster taking over...

8. Speaking of Rosenberg, during today's interview with The Big Lead, he nails what is so good about living in the metro Detroit area.

Yet many of the people who live in southeast Michigan absolutely love the area. There is a ton of stuff to do, especially in the summer, and the cost of living is reasonable. There are two things you need to understand about Detroit. One is that it’s not a great place to visit, but it’s a great place to live. Once you know the landscape – once you know which bars to hit, where to catch a concert, where to sit outside and have a good meal – you’ll have a great time. The other thing you need to understand is that it is not cool to live here, so anybody who is preoccupied with being cool stays the hell away, leaving a vibrant, exciting part of the country for the rest of us. There are very few phonies in Detroit.

Word.

I love it when Rosenberg, talking about the time involved in writing his book about Bo and Woody, takes a back handed slap at local writers who spend more time spewing hot air on the radio, than writing a decent column.

But the difference is that I didn’t have to be in a radio studio for four hours every day when I should have been in the Tigers’ clubhouse or at Pistons practice.

Fucking word. He doesn't name names, but I will. The Little Fella, Wojo, Sharp, Foster, Caputo and The Worst Columnist in America.

As usual when TBL talks to MSM'ers, the interview is an excellent read.

7. I have to mention another columnist. Good friend of TWFE, and someone I consider a friend, though we've never met face to face (he's an internet buddy!), Mack Avenue Tigers' Kurt Mensching, was named top sports columnist (for his newspaper class as determined by circulation) by the Michigan Press Association. Here's the scoop from his newspaper, The Mining Journal:

The Mining Journal won three awards in the 2008 Michigan Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, including a first place for sports columns.

Mining Journal sports writer Kurt Mensching won the top award in the category for three columns on topics as diverse as the beginning of baseball season, Northern Michigan University football and high school sportsmanship at the Superior Dome.

Judges said Mensching's writing was "funny" and "stood out as very clean."

Unlike my writing, which is highly snarky and stands out as fucking filthy.

Seriously, job well done, sir. The Detroit blogosphere is as proud as punch!

But now that you're done winning awards and honors and stuff, get back to work on MAT, stat!

6. There are few sure things in life. Death, taxes, every Wobb Parker column will be awful, and the Wisconsin Badgers football team being total and utter frauds.

Last Saturday, I was thisGoddamnclose to writing off the Wolverines' season during what was possibly the worst half of football ever played on this, or any, planet.

To paraphrase The Comic Book Guy: "That was, without a doubt, the worst. Half. EVER. Rest assured, I was on the internet within minutes, registering my disgust throughout the world."

But the Badgers, as is their wont, couldn't put an imploding Wolverine team away in the 1st half. Hell, Wisky should have been up 35-0, instead of only 19-0, at the half.

We all know what happened next. Michigan finds a rudimentary offense, the defense became scary good, and the Badgers ended up losing another heartbreaker to the not-so-mighty Wolverines.

Wisconsin was, is, and always will be, pretenders. Why should you think any different when they couldn't beat what still could be the worst Michigan team, in not only years, but in decades?

5. As for Sparty, they will go as far as Heisman candidate Javon Ringer takes them, maybe even the Rose Bowl. Really? Really! There's no juggernauts in the Big 10, so why not Sparty in Pasadena?

But if my math is correct, Ringer is on track for approximately 875 carries this season, so I expect body parts to be falling off of him by late October. That best not happen, as Ringer can win games. The only thing Spartans QB Brian Hoyer can do is lose them.

4. I have the White Sox-Devil Rays playoff game on at the moment. I sooooo thought it would be the Tigers representing the Central instead. Now that I've once again had the taste of October baseball, I need more. Christ, this season blew.

The Tigers won 88 games in 2007, which we all thought, well, sucked. But 88 wins would have won the division this year, so it's all relative. But there's no defending what happened this season. Which is why Jim Leyland better can his "I want an extension" bullshit, ASAP. He was as awful as his team in 2008. The Marlboro Man is on double secret probation, too.

3. What's the only thing worse than watching teams other than the Tigers in the MLB playoffs? Having to endure the ENDLESS promos for "FrankTV" during the MLB playoffs. For some stupid reason, TBS believes running a "FrankTV" promo every fucking half inning is going to make us want to watch.

Memo to TBS: At this point, after having Frank Caliendo shoved down my throat for two consecutive Octobers, I'd rather stab forks in my eyes than watch "FrankTV." Hey, it may be the funniest show on TV, but I don't care. Force feeding me more promos than McCain/Obama ads I see on a daily basis combined is only doing one thing. IT'S PISSING ME THE FUCK OFF! ENOUGH! STOP! NO MORE!

Please, no more...no more...I give up. I'll do anything. Just stop with the "FrankTV" ads.

2. There is one redeeming quality to TBS's broadcasts, though. Curtis Granderson. He's a natural broadcaster. Grandy's going to have the networks throwing big money contracts at him when his career is over. I hope that won't be for another 10-12 years or so...

As bad as it looks for the Tigers today, not many teams have as young and talented of a core to build around as Granderson, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander. Which is why Dombrowski is getting a mulligan for this past season. But he's getting only one.

1. At the top of the Freep's online sports page is the following headline:

"Lions' Ramirez will get his first offensive start Sunday"

YESYESYESYES! Why the excitement, you ask? I can finally use "It's just Manny being Manny" during my live blog this Sunday. I can see it now...

The ref flips on his mic, and says, "Holding, number 63!" Then I get to write "Holding? Hell, it's just Manny being Manny!" Good times, good times.

Hey, what of it? I need stuff like this to get through what's going to be another Lions loss.

Why Detroit sports talk radio blows: Reason #399

I'm going to paraphrase a pair of ridiculous statements I heard Pat Caputo spout within a few minutes of each other on WXYT tonight.

Caputo on the Detroit Lions: You can't fire Rod Marinelli yet, as the Lions would have to rebuild again from scratch.

Caputo on the Michigan Wolverines: If Rich Rodriguez only wins 5 games, he should be fired!

One word came to mind: WHAT?!

The conundrum of a supposedly knowledgeable sports talk radio host so brazenly speaking out of both sides of his mouth caused my head to explode. Seriously, brain matter shot out my ears...

This picture could not reflect my feelings any more succinctly:

I only ask of one thing from sports talk hosts. Think before you speak. That's all. I don't believe that's too much to ask. I suggest Caputo and his ilk listen to the advice of a very wise man...Biff Tannen.

Think, McFly! Think!

Truer words have never been spoken. The world, and especially sports talk radio, would be a much better place if we would only listen to Biff.

A special "Cripple Fight" edition of pros and cons: RichRod

It being time for "Cripple Fight 2008," as the esteemed MGoBlog is calling Michigan - Notre Dame, I felt I needed to do some sort of commentary on the Michigan Wolverines.

I haven't written much here about my favorite college football team this season, as most of my gnashing of teeth and wailing in despair has taken place in my Twitter feed instead. My grief and anger over the Wolverines' struggles has been spewed out in short, barely lucid, highly emotional, 140 character bursts.

Does this look like the face of a

snake oil salesman to you? Don't answer that...

Rather than try to break down today's game, as it would be an exercise in utter futility considering how badly both teams have played this year (they both looked lousy in their wins, for chrissakes), I thought I'd break out the old TWFE standby, pros and cons, in regard to Joe Tiller's favorite snake oil salesman, Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez. (After 40 years of God Bo and his lineage, that still sounds strange to me. Damn strange.)

So let's look at the pluses and minuses of the man known as RichRod (DickRod to the Sparty faithful), the wunderkind given the reins of one of the most storied, successful and frustrating to watch football programs in college history.

Pro: Tired of 8-9 win seasons, RichRod was hired to move the staid and ultra-conservative Wolverine football program, kicking and screaming if need be, into the 21st century with his state-of-the-art spread option offense.

Con: Nebraska thought they needed to join the 21st century as well, and hired Bill Callahan to shake up a similarly stuck in the past program with his NFL style west coast offense. Instead of joining a new century, Nebraska joined the also rans at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Cornhusker fans would now give up their first born and left nut to have a 8-9 win season.

Pro: West Virgina's former favorite son is the highly acclaimed guru of the "hot" offense of the day, the spread option.

Con: Hot offense? So were the run and shoot, the west coast, the wishbone, the veer, the triple option and the wing T at one time. Coaches gradually learned how to defend those fancy offenses. Those offenses, and the coaches who ran them, aren't "hot" anymore.

Pro: RichRod has claimed he can adapt the spread option to any sort of situation. He can make it either run or pass heavy, depending upon the type of personnel on hand.

Con: I'm still waiting to see ANY kind of offense from Michigan after 2 games. Run, pass, I don't care. I just want to some touchdowns, you SOB!

Pro: RichRod's protoype spread QB is Pat White, who wasn't a highly ranked recruit out of high school. Meaning he can make the spread work without top tier recruits.

Con: Highly recruited or not, White could run and pass with equal effectiveness. As we've painfully seen, Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan aren't Pat White.Hell, they aren't Danny, Whizzer or even Barry White, for that matter. Threet and Sheridan have shown they are equally bad at both running and passing.

Pro: As an assistant and head coach, won big at schools (Tulane, WVU) where it was tough to recruit, often having to make do by taking in known troublemakers in order to compete at the highest level.

Con: Michigan ain't West Virginny. Recruiting the ilk of Pac Man Jones won't fly at the Harvard of the West. Recruiting risky kids will royally piss off the uber-conservative, wine and cheese eating, extremely wealthy, elitist old Blues, whose idea of a big time troublemaker is anyone of color, under 25, with a tattoo. Actually, you only need to meet one of those three criteria to be on the old Blues' shit list.

Pro: Recruiting shouldn't be an issue for RichRod, as Michigan recruits itself.

Con: If Michigan recruits itself, going by this year's Wolverines team, you'd never know it.

Pro: RichRod has a long track record of winning and winning big.

Con: Remember WVU - Pitt last season? RichRod wins plenty, but has never been able to finish, to win the "big one." Wait a sec...What was I thinking? That would mean the snake oil salesman fits right in at Michigan! Never mind.

Pro: The last coach to take over the program who wasn't a "Michigan Man" was that God amongst men, Bo Schembechler.

Con: Bo didn't infuriate an entire state when he left Miami of Ohio to coach the Wolverines, just Woody Hayes.

Hell yes, I'm a "Michigan Man!"

Says it right there in blue and yellow, so it must be true!

Pro: Bo's first team got off to a slow start too. They started the 1969 season 3-2, losing decisively to both Missouri and Sparty. We all know how that season ended...With Woody more pissed than ever.

Con: Bo's '69 team had a decent QB, and a talented O-line. RichRod...Not so much.

Pro: This is Michigan we're talking about, who haven't been under .500 in most of our lifetimes. If you are a Wolverines fan under 50 years old, winning seasons and going to bowl games are a given, if not a birth right.

Con: Uh, I don't want to go there. Seriously, I don't wanna. This world we live in is screwed up enough without having to deal with the unthinkable...A bad Michigan team that doesn't go to a bowl game. Holy shit, I got the shivvers typing that...

As for Cripple Fight 2008? I'll say it ends Michigan 17, NBC's corporate puppet, 13, fans of quality football, disgusted.

But I sure as Hell wouldn't bet on the Cripple Fight. God, no! I still have a smidgen of common sense. I wouldn't bet on this game if life, limb and Charlie Weis' next dinner depended on it.

Uh...not so fast. Now that I think about it, I might take the under. Neither team has an offense that could score on a Pop Warner team. The under should be the LOCK of the century.

RIP "Michigan Replay." You will not be missed

Word came today that Rich Rodriguez was changing another long standing Michigan tradition. That being the elimination of the 33 year old Sunday coaches show, "Michigan Replay." Rather than a weekend review show, RichRod will have some sort of mid-week preview show.

All I can can say is...it's about God damn time.

"Michigan Replay" was, much like the football program itself, an anachronism. A product of another time and place that has long passed by. When fans were lucky to see Michigan 2-3 times on TV a season, and Bo Schembechler ruled Wolverines football with an iron fist, the existence of "Michigan Replay" made perfect sense. But in the 21st century, with highlights, commentary and news available 7/24/365, it made no sense.Coaches shows are a waste of time for both the coaches and the fans, a Mickey Mouse Sunday morning highlights/review show even more so.

The vast majority of coaches shows usually have lower production qualities than cable public access. The coaches NEVER say anything inflammatory or of import. The only news made in any coaches show...Hell, there's never any news made in a coaches show. The next time one makes news or gives the fans vital information will be the first time.

I hear/see any college football head coach speak to the media, I immediately move on. They guard their words and thoughts so closely, they speak in little more than platitudes and clichés. I have better things to do than hear RichRod, or any other other coach, for that matter, say inspid tripe like "Neither team deserved to lose," or the phrase Rasheed Wallace once used to make a point how useless most post game pressers can be, "Both teams played hard."

There's no need for a big time college football coach to make nice on TV for 30 minutes a week on a show only the most outright fanatical of fans watch. Let alone a coaches show that was taped a few hours after the end of a game. With the advent of cable and the interwebs, we've already seen game the highlights 10X over, and processed all the news and information 100X over, making shows like "Michigan Replay" redundant.

The cancellation of "Michigan Replay" is one Wolverine tradition that should not be mourned. Just say "good riddance," and move on with your day. Though considering the backwards looking, living in the past, change aborrhant, stick-in-the-mud nature of much of the Michigan fanbase, I'm sure we'll see have to deal with the typical bitching and moaning from the Wolverines' aged blue-haired fans.

I ask the blue hairs, please, for everyone's sake, let "Michigan Replay" pass on into the ether from which it came. Just let it go, folks. Let it go...

Drew Sharp continues to flip-flop like...Drew Sharp

For those of you keeping score, the Freep's Drew Sharp has, once again, flip-flopped his opinion in regard to Rich Rodriguez's (failed) recruitment of Terrelle Pryor.

Let's look at Drew's scorecard... (The columns are no longer archived, so I've linked back to my post about Sharp's first 180 on 1/27)

January 14, 2008:

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

January 27, 2008:

Michigan landing super recruit Terrelle Pryor would be an overrated victory

March 20, 2008:

Jim Tressel 1, Rich Rodriguez 0

Sharp has gone from "ZOMG, Michigan must land Pryor," to "Pshaw, it's not that big a deal," and back to "ZOMG, Tressel wins again!" My neck hurts from the whiplash!

Let's look at Sharp's money quotes from his 3 wishy-washy columns.

Pryor column #1:

He must keep Pryor away from Jim Tressel.

He must do whatever it takes.

Failure is not an option.

A bit over the top, and totally far-fetched as Michigan wasn't even on Pryor's radar till Rodriguez was hired in mid-December. Michigan was, at best, a long shot in the Pryor sweepstakes. At least it's an opinion, asinine though it may be.

Pryor column #2:

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.

I thought "Failure is not an option?" I haven't seen someone change their minds so fast since certain Democrats voted to invade Iraq, then got called on it.

Pryor column #3

Should Pryor's performance prove remotely close to the hype that follows him, Tressel's winning streak over Michigan could double.

Damn, tUOS is going to beat Michigan 4 straight times with Pryor?

Nobody wants to imagine this, particularly on a full stomach, but Pryor could prove to be the wild card in ensuring Ohio State a third straight appearance in the national championship game.

And make the National title game again?

Drew's gone and lost it. He's channeling Beano Cook and his "Ron Powlus will win 4 Heismans" prediction, saying tUOS landing Pryor has tipped the scales in the rivalry for the next 4 years, let alone the scales in the national title picture. Sharp must have figured if you are going to flip-flop so dramatically, you may just as well predict total disaster for Michigan while you're at it.

I have some advice for the columnist we all love to hate, and hate to read. If you are going to be the designated hatchet man for a fishwrap, at least be consistent your slandering. Readers, and for that matter, this blogger, have longer memories than you realize...

Terrelle Pryor picks tUOS! Whatever, dude...

After drawing out the recruiting process to the point utter ridiculousness, Terrelle Pryor finally announced what school he was going to attend. His choice?

The "University of Ohio State." (His words, not mine...)

That Pryor picked tUOS is just another in a feather in CheatyPants McSweaterVest's already overly feathered cap.

It being a month past signing day, fans of all the schools involved (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon) were to the point of no longer giving a shit what school the kid chose, just as long as he made a decision. I'm not cheesed off Pryor didn't pick the Wolverines. Far from it, in fact. I'm fucking glad I don't have to hear or read anymore stories about an 18 year old kid milking his time in the spotlight.

From altercations with fans after basketball games, the rumormongering over totally phantom recruiting violations, to breathless daily headlines in the Detroit fishwraps about Pryor pandering to the scary recruitniks, has there been a more glaring example of what is wrong with recruiting? With college sports in general?

In my mind, the idea of adults making a very lucrative living scouting and charting high school kids, in some cases following a recruit's exploits since grade school, is disturbing. There being fans so desperate for this information that they are willing to pay for it? That's not just disturbing, it's fucked up.

It's funny that two stories exposing the ugly underbelly of major college sports (something we do our damnedest to ignore), the Pryor recruitment and the attendant media coverage, along with the Ann Arbor News' "expose" regarding the academic policies of Michigan athletes, coincides with the two best days of the sports calender. The couch potato heaven known as the 1st round games of the NCAA Tournament.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to express in that last paragraph, other than to say we place way too much importance college sports. Let alone the excessive pressure on kids barely old enough to vote.

Hell, I'm as guilty as anyone. Like most of us who grew up in this state during the Schembechler years, I treat Michigan football as a life or death event. It's silly, as I never had the opportunity to attend U of M. But I care deeply anyway. Hell, we're all hypocrites when it comes to big time college sports. I want Michigan and Michigan State to win...Just don't tell me how.

Which is my way of saying none of this ever going to change. Too many people care much too deeply about what school an 18 year old athlete attends. More often than not, all the angst is in regard to a school they never attended in the first place.

When it's put that way, you realize all the attention given to Terrelle Pryor's announcement is God damn absurd. And more than a little scary...

Above the fold - Michigan is being drug through the mud...again

From reading the comments left in the wake of the A2 News' "expose" on Michigan athletes and their academic records, I now have a splitting headache from all the arguing. You can break down the commenters into 3 categories.

1. Irrational haters: Michigan is a FRAUD! I used one of the shorter comments, as most of the "haters" wrote novel length diatribes. Here's a brief thought from a commenter named ndifranco.

I think many of you are hilarious. Your sole defense for Michigan's actions is "Everyone else is doing it too." That's some solid, solid footing.

It's good to see the high road goes nowhere through your town.

2. Those wearing maize and blue colored glasses: Michigan does no wrong. EVER! The Ann Arbor news should never have gone forward with this! The not ironically named cartythehack says...

Nobody else even dignify this blog with a response or even a view. I'm about to cancel my A2News subscription do to this unbearably biased Carty and his squad of HACKS. If you really want to do something about this, cancel your AANews subscription or don't even read tomorrow's "smoking gun"

Congratulations Carty, you are officially the most biased and uninformed "journalist" I have ever wasted my time reading.

3. Those with common sense, who realize this is not a U of M issue. It's an NCAA issue. Athletes get help at EVERY D1 school. Here's the thoughts of a w2j2.

I do not think these articles indict UM as much as they point out the universal student-athlete dilemna.

I think these articles help detail some of the history of this issue at UM, and call for a re-emphasis on helping these students.

The university should continue to focus on and help these students earn their college degree. If that takes special tutoring, monitoring, and/or independent study, then do it.

These kids physically train 42 hours per week for the univeristy. The university should, in turn, provide whatever help it takes for them to succeed academicly.

Personally, I find the irrational haters the most entertaining. He who never took the occasional very easy classes in high school and/or college, and did so voluntarily, can cast the first stone. Otherwise, can the self-righteousness.

Add me to the common sense category. Is this really as big of a deal as the A2 News is making it out to be? Not really. To think the athletes at ANY school competing at an elite level (The Big 10 is definitely elite, no matter how ugly the hoops were during the post season tournament) don't get vast amounts of help in completing their studies, sometimes pointed towards easier classes, is being delusional. To also think that the athletes at said school should be expected to complete their studies without help is being delusional.

When it comes down to it, the kids playing major college sports are working full time jobs, with plenty of overtime. It's a 40+ hour week, with a ton of travel, and plenty of nights and weekends involved. If you ask me, I don't know how those athletes simutaniously train, attend classes and study, no matter how easy or tough the classes.

They should get all the credit in the world for taking full advantage of a system (independent study, one on one with professors, academic advisers) that is essentially taking advantage of their athletic ability. If they walk away with a degree from Michigan in any major, they are off to a good start in life.

Is Michigan guilty of arrogance? To a fault. Do they claim to be an academically advanced school? Most deservedly, but not because of the athletes. Is Michigan breaking any NCAA rules? From what I've read so far, no. Are there exceptions to the rule? Of course. I'm sure there are plenty of Michigan athletes who, when looking back, may have done things differently. Christ, so does EVERYONE who's ever attended college at any level.

Big time college sports is a massively flawed system. NCAA athletes are professional in every sense of the word, save for one. They don't see any of the monstrous amounts of money their efforts generate. If any one is to blame, it's the NCAA, and the member schools, themselves, save for their scholarship. ("Scholar" being slightly exaggerated) The schools quite like getting large suitcases filled with cash from the TV networks, and don't want the exposure, or the spigot of consistently flowing cash, to stop.

If you want to see more complete dissertations of the A2 News' and Jim Carty's hatchet job, head to the Wolverines-centric blogs...

MGoBlog:

Any school other than Duke or Vandy or Stanford will take any player who meets NCAA minimums that, on a non-athlete application, would be laughed out of the admissions office, and Duke and Vandy and Stanford (and the Ivy leagues) all bend their admissions standards severely. The NCAA has instituted punishments for schools that do not keep their players in school and on track for a degree.

Varsity Blue:

Brief Synopsis of Carty's Arguments:
1) There are easy classes at the University.
2) Some athletes take these easy classes.
3) Academic advisors help athletes pick their classes.

All of these points so far are like, duh. He is actually trying to criticize advisors for doing their jobs, which... what?

Michigan Sports Center:

I'd like to thank the Ann Arbor News for pointing out the obvious. Maybe Monday they'll run a series about how water is wet and the grass is green. Also, I hear that the sun might rise tomorrow. Any truth to that?

That's "Above the Fold" for Monday, 3-17-08!

Above the fold - Stupidity reigns in the fishwraps

Stupidity reigns in the Detroit newspapers. Today is no exception...

At Mlive, Steve Grinczel makes possibly the dumbest statement I've ever seen in print or on the web.

If Michigan State could guarantee it would win the Big Ten Tournament by agreeing to take a loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament would you take it?

I think if I'm the Spartans I would.

On second thought, I have to say that is the dumbest statement I've ever seen in print or on the web.

Winning a made for TV event, one that doesn't mean much of anything in the big scheme of things (Does anyone remember who won it last season? Or even care?), is more important that a long run in the only tournament anyone with 2 functioning brain cells cares about? If there is someone out there who ranks conference tournament titles over NCAA Sweet 16, Elite 8 or Final Four runs, I've yet to meet them. Well, until now.

Conference tournaments do little more than line the pockets of the big time colleges with cash. Lots and lots of TV network cash. Having a banner in the rafters saying you won a made for TV tournament means jack shit. It doesn't prove you are the best team, just one that is hot at the right time. If anything, winning the regular season title is the true measure of a team, not winning 3 meaningless games when you are already assured a NCAA seeding.

For all the talk of how "important" conference tournaments are, the only one that EVER carried that sort of import was the ACC's. (Grinczel does mention this) Even then, in my mind, giving the conference tournament winner the automatic bid to the NCAA's was, and still is, silly.

Back in the day, some very good regular season champs were kept out of the NCAA's thanks to the ACC's asinine rules. But back then, only 1 team would get in, thus the importance of winning the ACC tournament. Today, the winning the ACC tournament still holds some cache', but not nearly as much as it did 30 years ago.

So to claim winning an overblown Big 10 tournament title should be the Spartans' priority, when Tom Izzo's program is actually measured by their performance in the big dance, is flabbergastingly stupid.

Later in the article, Grinczel tries to back away from his stupidity...somewhat.

winning the BTT gives them a better chance of making a decent run in the NCAAs because it would uncover the resolve they've heretofore demonstrated on precious few occasions.

He plays the overdone "it'll show they have heart" card. Please. I HATE the use of that cliche', as he's essentially saying the Spartans lack heart, they don't have the "grit" (Another overused cliche') to win. It's ridiculous to make such a claim about any person or team from afar, and even more so about 18-21 year old kids.

I have to say it again, as it cannot be reinforced enough. Grinczel's stand was dumbest I've ever seen a writer take in print or on the web.

Not that the Freep's Drew Sharp is far behind Grinzel in hackery, as the hit man takes another swipe at Michigan and the Big 10 today.

Where else but the Big Ten could a team go scoreless for 10 minutes -- and still maintain a double-digit lead?

I'm sure I've seen the Pistons do something similar during their lock down defense days under Larry Brown. Just sayin'.

"It's a sign of progress," Michigan coach John Beilein implored.

It's a sign that there was no discernible difference in the garbage stockpiled at the bottom of the conference standings this season.

I think it's more of a sign, at least when it comes to Michigan, that Tommy Amaker left Beilein with a roster absolutely barren of Big 10 caliber any talent, save for Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims. God forbid Amaker recruit a couple of players who could nail an open jumper.

More than anything, it shows just how badly the university administration allowed the basketball program to atrophy. John Beilein walked into a buzz saw of suck at Michigan, and it's going to take time and patience for him to lead Wolverines basketball to respectability.

But Sharp doesn't take any of that into account, just that Michigan didn't play up to his high standards. (I had to stifle a laugh there. Sharp and high standards? Is that an oxymoron? Or just moronic?)

As bad as they were, Iowa proved far worse.

And that's progress?

In Michigan's case, YES!

The dumbass seems to be forgetting one thing. The Wolverines WON THE GAME! I don't care if it was uglier than watching 40-somethings play a half court game at the Y. They won a game in the Big 10 tournament, something Amaker was rarely able to accomplish. For that matter, you could see the Wolverines improve as the season went on, something Amaker was NEVER able to accomplish.

Sharp also felt the need to give Beilein a timetable for extracting Michigan from the morass...

If Beilein cannot break U-M's more than decade-long NCAA tournament drought within his first three years, then he becomes as much a failure as Amaker.

No one will be as big a failure as Tommy Amaker. No one. But I will admit that Michigan claiming a NCAA berth by 2010 sounds reasonable. Going by Beilein's track record as a head coach, I don't think it's too much to ask.

But it's insulting to compare Beilein, who's done more with less than damn near every coach in America over his career, to Amaker. Amaker has coasted on his Duke and and Coach Kzerfgjerski ties for years. He has major conference programs (Seton Hall and Michigan) handed to him, and did zip with the opportunities.

On the other hand, Beilein had to work his way up from being a high school and community college coach, while making his won name and developing his own system along the way. He's 10x the coach Amaker can ever hope to be. But try telling that to hacks like Sharp and Rob Parker, who were Amaker apologists.

Sharp appears to favor style points in winning, and doesn't think much of the win.

When you've won as infrequently as U-M this season, you accept any victory regardless of its grotesque appearance. But quite frankly, there's little valor in the wretched getting the better of one of their fellow cellar-dwellers.

But isn't a win a win? Even if it's ugly as all Hell? It is in everyone's world but Sharp's. There will be a W in the record books, there won't be any qualifiers attached. You ever see "Ugly W" instead of "W" in the standings? Me neither.

Michigan ended up losing to Wisconsin today, scoring only 34 points, ending their season. Though Sharp may not agree (In my mind, that's a good thing), but despite some of the disappointing losses, for the first time in years, I actually feel better about the Wolverines' future in hoops.

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.

Above the fold - Detroit sports weekend in review

Michigan and Michigan State basketball: Both teams are playing good ball, as Sparty and the Wolverines won this weekend.

On a day Jalen Rose was honored by the university, the Wolverines beat the Illini 49-43. As always, UMHoops has the breakdown.

A win is a win and Michigan has to learn how to win the tough ones like this because they aren’t all going to be easy. But man I hope we can start hitting some shots. There were ALOT of wide open shots today and very few of them went down. Good physical gutty effort. Another note, saw Jordan Morgan was there, not sure if any other recruits were in the house.

The Wolverines suddenly have the look of a team that could spoil someone's Big 10 tournament. They are a long ways from being a contender, but this is the first time since well before the Tommy Amaker era where Michigan has IMPROVED as the season progressed. Amaker's teams were never playing well going into March, while John Beilein has the Wolverines playing their best ball of the season. It's nice to see...

Michigan State is finally back on track, thumping the Hawkeyes 66-52. The game was over early, as Iowa didn't get their first field goal till nearly 10 minutes into the 1st half. Spartan Weblog has the scoop, while bringing up a big milestone for Tom Izzo.

Big picture stat: Tom Izzo now has 300 wins in 13 seasons. That’s 23 wins per season. Prior to Izzo’s tenure, Michigan State had a total of just 8 seasons in which they reached 20 wins, let alone averaged that number. So three cheers for Tom Izzo–the greatest single figure in the 100+ year history of Michigan State basketball.

23 wins a season? Wow! We tend to take Izzo, along with MSU making the NCAA's every season, for granted. He's an elite coach who has built a monster program in East Lansing.

Detroit Red Wings: Another game, another loss. The latest being 4-1 to Vancouver, though the Wings did not embarrass themselves. They are just running out of healthy bodies. When you add being extremely shorthanded to a road trip to places well west, it equals a struggling Red Wings team that is 2-7-1 in their last 10 games.

There's no panic from the fanbase, for a few reasons. The Red Wings had built a huge cushion in the standings before players started dropping like so many flies, and it's come in handy. Their division lead is still very safe. The Stars are only 6 points back of the Wings for the West's best overall record, but Detroit has 2 games in hand. To be honest, who really cares if the Red Wings are seeded 1st or 2nd? I just want them healthy.

As for other reasons not to worry? No injury has been of the "out for the season" sort, so the Wings should be at full strength going into the playoffs. And there is a HUGE amount of confidence in the GM skills of Ken Holland, in that he'll make the appropriate moves.

Not that Holland's genius has stopped bloggers from voicing their opinion as to what the Wings should do by tomorrow's trade deadline.

Yzerman is God has debuted his "Deadline manifesto," a post of epic length, and with several ideas as to trade options. Here's just one of MANY.

My Favorite
Hudler, and a 2nd for Antropov
-honestly, I have no idea what Hudler or Antropov's market value is. This is a guess, but I really think Antropov would be an awesome addition.

To Pete's credit, the deals he proposes aren't of the crackpot sort you see on message boards and hear on sports talk radio. There is actual thought and reasoning put into the various deals. An amazing post.

On the flip side, you have Hockeytown Todd, who thinks...Well, I'll let HT Todd say it in his own inimitable way...

Wings should stand pat

Pass out some temporary "A's" until our top 4 defensemen return.
Last night proved no worries on D (I told you so).
Offense will always struggle against hot goaltending, that is just hockey.

DO NOT TINKER
(what you have is the envy of the entire NHL)

In other words, leave Brittany the Red Wings alone!

We'll know in a little more than 24 hours whose advice Holland took.

Detroit Pistons: The Pistons treated Shaq and the Phoenix Suns to a nationally televised spanking Sunday, 116-86. If the Suns are one of the teams to beat in the west, then the Pistons and Celtics are licking their chops anticipating the NBA Finals.

Oh yeah, on Friday night, they destroyed the Bucks, 127-100.

What more is there to say about the Pistons? After losing their first 2 games coming out of the All-Star break, they've found their stride again, and are 12-2 in their last 14 games. The young bench is coming around nicely, while getting plenty of PT, the starters aren't playing an excessive amount of minutes, and there are no injuries to speak of. //knock on wood// The Pistons are on cruise control, waiting for the playoffs to start.

They can't come soon enough.

Detroit Tigers: Spring training is officially under way, and there hasn't been much news to speak of, save for Fernando Rodney's balky shoulder.

There was one story of note. It was announced that Pudge Rodriguez gracefully went to Jim Leyland, and said he'd be fine with batting 8th in the order. Well, as gracefully as a once great, now aging, superstar could be, considering he should have been bating 8th or 9th in the lineup for the past 2 seasons, but thanks to a manager quite aware of his (former) superstar's massive ego couldn't have handled it, remained higher than he should have been in the batting order.

At The Detroit Tigers Weblog, Billfer took a look at various lineup possibilities with his jaundiced eye, hoping to determine where in the order Pudge should be batting, 8th or 9th. His conclusion? It doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

Essentially it makes very little difference how those remaining spots shake out. That’s not to say there aren’t some things Leyland is likely considering. With Pudge batting 8th, it means that he’ll have back to back left handers in either the 6-7 positions for 9-1 positions. My guess is that Jones bats 7th because Carlos Guillen’s ability to switch hit will prevent an opposing manager from doubling up with a left hand reliever. Plus Leyland frequently batted Guillen and Casey back to back last year. Conversely, Marcus Thames coming off the bench could provide such a deterrent in a 9-1 scenario as well.

As long as Pudge's under .300 OBP ass is lower than 7th in he order, I'm cool.

Detroit Lions: There's this other blog I know of where you can get a whole lot of Lions snark, and a little bit of analysis.

The only real Lions news from the scouting combine surrounds Shaun Rogers, and, not if, but when the fat ass will be traded. The ideal trade, as Pride of Detroit says, would be for the Jets' middle linebacker, Johnathan Vilma, who appears to be on the outs in New York.

If I had to predict where Rogers would end up, my bet would be in New York as a Jet for a couple reasons. The first and biggest reason is that a trade with the Jets just makes sense. NY is looking for a 3-4 defensive tackle, and Rogers would fit that role pretty well. At the same time, a trade with the Jets is a strong possibility because middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma is on the trading block, and he is a perfect fit for the Lions.

The trade makes so much sense for both sides, so if you go by Lions logic, it probably won't happen. Which means Matt Millen will end up getting a 4th round draft pick in trade for a Pro Bowl caliber player. That pick will then be cut during training camp.

That's "Above the Fold" for Monday, 2-25-08!

Detroit fishwrap comment of the day - Old Blues are one cranky bunch

Old Blue's never let go of the past. Every transgression against the University of Michigan is taken personally. In Michael Rosenberg's Freep piece on Jalen Rose being honored at Crisler Arena this weekend, the holier than thou Wolverines come out in force in the comments.

RReaganRules (With a moniker like that, I shouldn't be surprised at his anger) gets his panties in a bunch over Rose's appearance.

I have to side with Old Blue on this one. The $280,000.00 that Webber got from Ed Martin didn't come without a serious price tag. Martin was also running a large illegal gambling ring. So I wonder what the logic behind Webber running the offense during the most crucial part of the National Championship game against North Carolina. Why Webber commited the most blatent traveling right in front of the NC bench. And when it wasn't called why Webber called a non existent time out. Maybe it was time for Webber to pay up so Martin could profit from a U-M loss. How many other games did the Fab Five point shave?

Well, to be honest, it wasn't exactly a "big time gambling ring." Ed Martin was involved in "numbers" games, that were conducted, for the most part, in auto plants. Still, there's no arguing Martin made a lot of green, and it was illegal as all Hell.

As for point shaving? Where did that come from? The story was Webber took the cash from Martin as a loan, which he never paid back. The rest of the Fab Five were never implicated, though Webber's actions stained them all, along with the university.

Michigan will always be walking on eggshells when it comes to the Webber years. Even though the Fab Five records have been wiped from the record book, they can never be wiped from everyone's memory. Rose will make sure that never happens.

If U of M ever cares enough to make hoops relevant again, they have to acknowledge that era, and some of their more famous (and not as tainted by Martin) players. So I can understand the Wolverines wanting to honor Jalen Rose, who has been nothing but an upstanding citizen during his NBA career, and as a broadcaster.

I've taken more than my fair share of potshots at the Steve Fisher era, but of my bile was directed at Webber (And the Little Fella for ignoring the Webber/Martin relationship in his book), not the rest of the Fabs. Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson don't deserve the same treatment.

Were they controversial? Hell yes. Are there rumors that they saw some of the cash? Sure, but nothing was ever proven, save for Rose saying he got a small amount of carrying around money from Martin. Did those 4 players disgrace the Wolverines? Looking back, I don't think so. It's all on Chris Webber.

Actually, the Old Blues need to be just as upset at Fisher's next Michigan hoops class, the totally clueless Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock, who all took a shitload of cash from Martin. They, along with Webber, are the players who truly brought down the program.

So let Jalen Rose have his moment. Keeping Rose close to Michigan basketball is in the program's best interest. That being if the university administration want hoops to be anything more than an afterthought. Unfortunately, there's plenty of old school, aristocratic Blue's who would be more than happy to keep it that way.

Above the fold - Detroit sports weekend in review

Michigan and Michigan State basketball: This past weekend we were witness to teams heading in opposite directions. Sparty is a good team that is playing horrifically (By Spartan and Izzo standards), and the Wolverines, who are going nowhere (Unlike the tournament bound MSU), but getting better by the game.

Sparty was outright spanked 80-61 by an Indiana team that was reeling from the latest NCAA infractions committed by the man who's never seen a phone he wouldn't make a call from, Kelvin Sampson. MSU has pissed away any chance at winning a Big 10 title, and are dropping from a high to a middling seed in the NCAA's. Spartans Weblog is trying to look on the bright side, and comes up with 10 reasons why...

1. There are only a handful of college basketball fan bases in the land that can feel despondent about a team with a record of 20-5 . . . and we’re one of them.

This is not to say we shouldn’t feel despondent. It’s only to say we should actually feel good about the fact we’re despondent.

I hope Tom Izzo has something up his sleeve, as this group of Spartans suddenly has the appearance of a one and done NCAA team. But we are talking about Izzo, so my money would be on his turning the Spartans around by March. He's earned the benefit of the doubt...

On the flip side is Michigan. Now on a 3 game winning streak, the Wolverines may have played their best game of the season in beating tOSU 80-70, in a nationally televised matchup. The Maize Rage bum rushing the court after the victory capped what was the definite high point of what has been a trying season overall for John Beilein.

Michigan is still a long way from being even a top tier Big 10 team, and a couple of seasons away from competing for a NCAA berth. But the 3 game winning streak has shown that Beilein's system is finally beginning to take root. At MGoBlog, Brian touches on the sudden hoops turnaround...

What happened to the clueless team from earlier in the year? Well, with Harvard spiraling its way towards last place in the Ivy League we can safely assert that it takes more than a couple months to organize a system at maximum entropy, and it takes more than a couple months to turn the smartest basketball team in the land into a confused gooey mess. The progress Michigan was decidedly not making from the Amaker era -- at points during the first Ohio State game the offense was indistinguishable from the random, purposeless ball movement of yore -- has all come in a rush.

So for now the future is bright. Check back in two weeks.

Considering Michigan basketball had hit rock bottom under Amaker, it doesn't take all that much for things to be looking up for the Wolverines. It also helps that a legitimate talent like Manny Harris is around to brighten Michigan's future. It's not bright enough yet to wear shades, but wearing a billed cap wouldn't hurt...

Detroit Pistons: It being All-Star Weekend, other than Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton (Uh, Rip...Look at the 3 point line next time, K?) making token appearances, and 'Sheed treating the game with all the respect it deserves (That being very little), there's little to report.

The NBA's All-Star Saturday Night, save for a few Dwight Howard and Gerald Green dunks, was a total snoozefest. The same can be said for Sunday's All-Star Game itself, which is a showboating, no defense, crapfest. (And I have to say "What the fuck?" when it comes to the All-Star unis. They were ugly to the eyes, and confusing as all Hell during the game) I'm glad the overrated weekend is over, and the Pistons can get back to much more important issues, such as preparing the playoffs. Moving on...

Detroit Red Wings: 6 straight losses. I didn't see that coming. The Red Wings have built themselves a big enough cushion in the Western Conference that the losing streak has barely put a dent in their lead. So I'm not worried...Yet. If the struggles continue for another couple of weeks? Well, let's not talk about what would currently be a hypothetical. I'm in a wait and see mode. Wait till the injuries heal, and then we'll see...

I do think that a trade or 2 will be made by the deadline. The Red Wings are too good (When 4 of their top players aren't sidelined by injury, anyway) , and too close, to not go all in for a run at the Stanley Cup. Could Darren McCarty be one of the pieces to help put the Wings over the top? Going by his first game with the Griffins, I wouldn't bet against it...

The Wings play the Nordalanche tonight. Now is the time to turn things around, as there's very little better in life than the Wings beating down on that team in Colorado.

Detroit Tigers: The following describes all Tigers fans going into this season...

Workouts have begun! Pitchers and catchers have reported! Full workouts are almost here! 6 weeks till the season starts! Pennant and World Series, here we come! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! //head explodes//

It's all happiness and good feelings in Lakeland, save for the Brandon Inge "situation." It's become the story of the spring. Everyone is saying the right things, but it's obvious Inge wants out, and the Tigers are doing their damnedest to oblige. Ian takes at look at possible suitors for Inge, few they may be, at Bless You Boys.

I'll toss out some more arbitrary speculation, playing off a post that ran on MLB Trade Rumors the other day. San Francisco has been circled as a possible landing spot for Inge ever since Miguel Cabrera took over his position. Meanwhile, the Giants are looking to deal pitcher Noah Lowry. That got me wondering if we could have a match. Lowry's under contract for two more seasons, along with a club option for 2010, that would total $13 million. (Without the option, Lowry's owed $6.75 million.)

I have a nagging feeling the "situation" is going to drag on for quite some time to come, and Inge is going north as a Tiger. Thus, the Tigers will occasionally showcase their disgruntled former 3rd baseman to teams in need, and will continue to troll the league for trade partners.

It's become clear it may be easier to finds takers of Inge, and his big contract, if he shows some pop in his bat over the first few months of the season. Inge is will be biding his time as a super sub till the July 31st trade deadline.

Detroit Lions: I hear there is new Lions blog in town, and is worth checking out...

Other than that HUGE news, there's not a peep coming out of Allen Park. At Mlive, the Killer thinks there's some sort of "Curse of Bobby Layne," which is utter bullshit. The truth? It's the "Curse of William Clay Ford," period.

That's "Above the Fold" for Monday, 2-18-08!

It's Valentine's Day...

...but I didn't get what I wanted. No, I'm not in a relationship right now, so I'm not talking about that sort of romantic Valentine's gift. Love is a battlefield, and all that... (Though a box of chocolates or a Vermont teddy bear would be nice)

I want a heart shaped box for Valentine's Day!

What would be the perfect Valentine for the Detroit sports blogger? More hits? That's cool, but not necessary. A giant flat screen TV? I'd die and go to Heaven, but let's be realistic, it's not happening. A keggerator? Nah, they are way cool, but I wouldn't drain a pony keg fast enough. A laptop? It's on the "get one someday" list, but I can survive just fine without it.

So, as a Detroit blogger and sports fan, other than the chocolates and teddy bear, just what do I want for Valentine's Day?

Matt Millen's moronic, unemployed head on a fucking platter.

For the senile old coot William Clay Ford to...to...Well, you know what I mean.

Miguel Cabrera to have a 1.000+ OPS.

Justin Verlander to win 20 games.

The Tigers bullpen to be decent. They don't have to be great, decent is just fine.

Rasheed Wallace named NBA Finals MVP. (Wouldn't that be FUN?)

Nick Lidstrom to win the Hart Trophy.

Dan Cleary to come back from his broken jaw without missing a beat.

Not a single wide receiver to be taken by the Lions in the NFL draft, or signed in free agency.

For Jim Leyland to never change.

Rod Marinelli to come up with a new platitude to replace "pound the rock."

Flip Saunders to not be out coached in the playoffs.

Mike Babcock to stop talking in circles.

Rich Rodriguez and WVU to both move the Hell on already.

Matt Millen's moronic, unemployed head on a fucking platter.

The Wings to kick some Ducks ass.

The Pistons to kick some Celtics ass.

The Tigers to kick everyone's ass.

The Lions not get their asses kicked.

Terrelle Pryor to sign a LOI. At this point, I really don't care where, even join forces with CheatyPants McSweaterVest, just fucking sign with someone already.

Tom Izzo to get Sparty's act together in time for the NCAA's.

Rob Parker to leave Detroit. I don't care about the destination, but the farther, the better.

Bernie Smilovitz to go with Parker.

Mitch Albom to give up writing about sports, and to join Parker and Smilovitz .

Matt Millen's moronic, unemployed head on a fucking platter.

I'd ask for more, but I'm no Valentines Day gift pig! But if I could have only one thing for my Valentine's Day gift? I'd want Matt Millen's moronic, unemployed head on a fucking platter.

You couples out there enjoy what's left of Valentine's Day, I'm going to drink my loneliness away. (I'm kidding, I'm going to watch Lost! Then I'll drink...)

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.