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!

The Knee Jerks: WTF with Eno and Al - Episode 2: Let's talk about GOOD teams

It's Thursday, you know what that means? No, it's not time to watch The Office. No, not time to watch Louisville or Colorado State play their game weekly night game on ESPN. 

If it's Thursday, it means it's time for The Knee Jerks, a weekly chat I have with Greg Eno, the man who blogs incessantly at Out of Bounds, Where Have You Gone, Johnny Grubb?, and Spoiled Sports.

During today's chat, we touch on the good teams in Detroit, the Red Wings, Pistons and even the Shock. I do squeeze in a Lions rant as well...

Eno: Welcome to Episode Two of The Knee Jerks! How long did it take you to recover from Episode 1?

Big Al: I'm still not fully recovered, to be honest. I'm an emotional dude, you know?

Eno: Ya think? I thought you were gonna blow out an aorta over the Lions. Why do you do that to yourself? They're really not worth it, are they?

Big Al: First off, I appreciate everyone's concern. I was actually getting emails and comments from readers of TWFE worried about my health! Every year I tell myself I'm not going to get sucked in, then it all goes out the window when the season starts. I know they aren't worth it, but it's FOOTBALL!

Eno: Yeah, yeah – half of it is, anyway. The half played by the Lions' opponents. OK, where do you want to go first? Stay with the Lions or do you have other rants in mind?

Big Al: How about we talk a little Red Wings, as they are totally worth it. The Lions have a team that's barely semi-pro, and the Wings are sending players to Grand Rapids who would be playing big minutes on most NHL teams! Talk about a contrast. The Wings have an embarrassment of riches, while the Lions are just an embarrassment.

Eno: Yeah, I was in a conference call with Mike Babcock and Kenny Holland Tuesday, and the two of them are like peanut butter and jelly; they work so well together. Babcock sounded literally awestruck by the quality of players he had to "demote" to Grand Rapids.

Big Al: The Red Wings are the best run team in pro sports, bar none. From scouting, to coaching, to ownership, the Red Wings do everything the right way. First class and with smarts.

Eno: Holland started as a scout, you know. And so did Jimmy Devellano. Now they're even "grooming" scouts. Mark Howe and Patty Verbeek in the pros, and Hakkan Andersson's European staff is without peer. It's almost boring to talk about them. Can't you think of anything to complain about? That's our job, isn't it?

Big Al: Exactly. There's only so much you can say about a championship team that actually IMPROVED over the off season. It's going to make for a boring regular season, to be honest. The Wings are going to steamroll the rest of the NHL.

Eno: Holland said something interesting. He said out of 82 games, he figures the Wings will play about 70 "playoff" games, because of the bulls' eye and the parity in the league. And he says to look out for Chicago.

Big Al: The Blackhawks signing away the smartest man in hockey, Scotty Bowman, was the only downside to this past off season. Add his brilliance to the 'Hawks seemingly having the Wings number in the regular season, and their meetings will be highlights of the NHL season!

Eno: There's been speculation – and I threw fuel on the fire in Out of Bounds – that Scotty's not going over there to just be a consultant. In other words, he might have the itch to coach again. You believe any of that?

Big Al: If Bowman was 10 years younger, I would. He's not getting any younger, though. He could pass for a man 15 years his junior.

Eno: Yeah, he looks great for 75. OK, so how about the new NHL schedule, which allows for more inter-conference games this season? No longer will teams play eight games per divisional opponent.

Big Al: THANK GOD! I missed seeing the Original Six teams. The schedule isn't perfect, but it's a start. Don't get me going on the scheduling though. The Eastern time zone teams playing in the Western Conference is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves in all of sports.

Eno: I've said it many times before: put the Original Six in one division and the hell with everyone else. Can you imagine such a thing? At least put the Red Wings in the East, for God's sakes. Remember when they were gonna move the Penguins? Of course, that was pre-Sidney Crosby.

Big Al: I love the idea of an Original Six division! Too bad it'll never happen, but we can dream. As for Pittsburgh, I would have felt bad for Pens fans...for about 60 seconds.

Eno: OK, all of us want to know: will the Red Wings follow that "steamrolling" season with another Cup? Yes or no, and why or why not?

Big Al: Yes, and just because. What? "just because” isn't a good enough reason? The Wings will win because they have the most talented roster, the best head coach in the NHL (Babcock is criminally underrated; he doesn't get near enough credit), and Nick Lidstrom.

Eno: Ahh, yes, but you know as well as anyone that, believe it or not, that's not always enough to win in those zany NHL playoffs. The Wings were a fluke goal away from beating Anaheim in '07, as far as I'm concerned. They would have beaten Ottawa, too. So in my mind the Wings are going for their third straight Cup – which they WILL get, by the way. I'm loathe to say that now, but the '09 Cup will make up for the '07 thing and they'll be back-to-back champs one way or another. Make sense?

Big Al: Total sense. But then again, I'm taking lots of drugs...prescribed by my doctor!

Eno: At least they're prescribed. OK, so we both agree that there'll be another Cup in Detroit. Fine. But switching gears to the court, is Michael Curry the right man for the Pistons at this time?

Big Al: If he's not, I'm sure the Pistons themselves will let us know. They have had a great time in camp throwing Flip Saunders under the proverbial bus. Curry is already scoring points in my book by moving Antonio McDyess back to the sixth man role, and putting the baby-eating man-child known as Amir Johnson into the starting lineup.

Eno: It's funny with NBA coaches. First you hire a nice guy (George Irvine) then you hire a not-so-nice guy (Rick Carlisle) then you hire a tactician (Larry Brown) then you hire another nice guy (Flip Saunders) then you hire a not-so-nice guy (Michael Curry). Then, when Curry gets the ziggy, they'll need a nice guy again. And on and on.

Big Al: Win 50 games, get the ziggy! A Pistons head coach has the life expectancy of a fruit fly, so I wish Curry luck. He's going to need it when dealing with the forceful personalities/head cases on the Detroit roster.

Eno: You got that right. Joe Dumars has a fetish for canning them after 2-3 years, on schedule. Where's Chuck Daly, the master of dealing with Type A personalities? I thought it was kinda funny how the players, especially Rip Hamilton, trashed Flip. Didn't hear that when they were going 35-5 in his first year, or after winning Game 2 in Boston. Hmmm..... Anyhow, your surprise team in the NBA this year? Or do you not care enough to give me one?

Big Al: Huh? What sport are we talking about? Oh yeah, the NBA. Surprise team? Toronto. Why? I LOVE Chris Bosh. Damn you DARKO (Milicic)! Bosh could have been a Piston! *shakes fist at sky*

Eno: That's not bad. Mine may not be a surprise, but I say look for New Orleans in the NBA Finals. They added James Posey. What else ya got on your agenda?

Big Al: TRADE ROY WILLIAMS! TODAY!

Eno: Aha! I KNEW you'd work a Lions rant in there sooner or later! OK, smarty pants, where? For what? What's he worth anymore? Even Roy says he's good for a third rounder and that's about it. And wouldn't it be JUST LIKE the Lions to trade from a position of weakness?

Big Al: At this point, I'd be happy with a first day draft pick and a six-pack of Gatorade. Williams isn't coming back in '09, and he's not worth a franchise tag. If I'm (Lions GM) Martin Mayhew, I'm calling Jerry Jones in Dallas every five minutes.

Eno: Do they NEED a WR in Dallas?

Big Al: Not really. And I know Jones told the media he wasn't making any trades. But you put Williams on a good team, where he wouldn't have to be the number 1 receiver? Roy would blow up – when he wasn't dropping passes, that is.

Eno: OK, we gotta wrap this up. I might open up a can of worms here, but...can you muster up a little shout out for the Detroit Shock, oh Mr. “I Hate Womens Sports” Guy?

Big Al: I felt bad for them. Really! The Shock had to play at EMU, about 500 people showed up for their celebration, and most of Detroit didn't even know they were playing in the WNBA Finals. If their title proved one thing, it's that Bill Laimbeer is ready for an NBA job. But good for the Shock. Congrats from this misogynistic blogger.

Eno: Wow! The Upset of the Century! OK, Big Guy...in the words of Groucho Marx: "I've had a lovely evening. But this wasn't it." No, seriously – had a great time and I'll see ya next week.

Big Al: As Groucho says, "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana!" It's been real, Eno! See ya next week; same bat time, same bat channel!

The Knee Jerks: WTF with Eno and Al - Episode 1, Lions, Tigers and zombies, oh my!

Welcome to the first meeting of the Detroit sports blogging minds known as "The Knee Jerks." It's a weekly chat I have with Greg Eno, the man behind the blogging empire that includes Out of Bounds, Where Have You Gone, Johnny Grubb?, and Spoiled Sports.

During today's episode of TKJWTFWEAA, we discuss the ugly aftermath of the Tigers' season, the ongoing desperation with the Lions, a little Red Wings and Pistons, and zombies who fire head coaches with rambling, insane, rheummy-eyed soliloquies.

Let's jerk away...Uh, that didn't come out right. Just read it, OK?!

Eno: So, Big Al....lots to talk about in our first edition of The Knee Jerks, eh?

Big Al: For a couple of Detroit teams flailing about, the Tigers and Lions, they are making more than their fair share of news.

Eno: Let's start with Tigers manager Jim Leyland and his very public discontent with his contract status.....
I wrote on Johnny Grubb that I don't know where it says that a team has to keep a manager or a coach signed beyond the year that's current. What do you think of this "lame duck" stuff that everyone always wants to talk about?

Big Al: For a manager who has been around the block several times, and still appears to have the team's attention, claiming to be a "lame duck" is a bit much. The only thing this may affect is finding a pitching coach.

Eno: True that. But here's your "vote of confidence", which Mitch Albom says is lacking here: YOU STILL HAVE A JOB!! And a contract, through 2009. There's your confidence. I don't know why you need more than that.

(pause)

Big Al: I'm sorry, I was having a moment of silence for Chuck Hernandez... To continue, it's also worth noting the Marlboro Man turned down a longer-term deal a year ago. I thought he wanted to go year by year? Maybe the price of smokes has cut into his budget for 2010.

Eno: Well, I KNOW that you're old enough to remember Walter Alston....and Walt signed 23 straight one-year contracts to manage the Dodgers. Didn't seem to bother him, or the team.

Big Al: Not one bit. It's not as if the Tigers are an overly young team either. Most of the current roster has seen all this posturing before. If Leyland's contract status bothers the team that much, then they weren't all that mentally stable to begin with.

Eno: So what do you make of Leyland going public like this? Do you think it'll fracture his relationship with (GM) Dave Dombrowski, and/or (owner) Mike Ilitch?

Big Al: For it to have blown up into the mini-controversy it's become, there had to have been tension brewing for quite some time. I'd bet most of the pressure is coming from the Pizza Man, as Dombrowski and Leyland have been tight for years. If I dropped $138 million, I'd be wanting a little accountability too.

Eno: Yeah, that's a lot of dough to finish in last place. If they ever gave out an award called The SO NOT Executive of the Year, DD would win, hands down. What do you think Frick and Frack's future are with the Tigers under Mr. I ?

Big Al: I honestly think they are BOTH in hot water. I'll say this: Leyland didn't do a thing to EARN that extension, and the only move Dombrowski made that paid off was Miggy Cabrera. Ilitch is giving them a mulligan, and making '09 their do or die season. Another year like this, and Frick and Frack are applying for unemployment.

Eno: Agreed. Granted, there were things out of their control, but that works the other way, too. Lots of execs and managers who win awards get lucky, too. So it evens out -- if you last long enough. Before we leave this, were you surprised that Mr. Hernandez got the ziggy?

Big Al: Not at all. The struggles of Justin Verlander pretty much guaranteed Hernandez was toast. Someone was going to have to pay...uh, rather, be the scapegoat. The pitching coach is always first in that line. Ilitch wanted blood, and got it in Hernandez. It may have been time for some of the (pitching) staff to hear a new voice, anyway.

Eno: Isn't it funny how smart you can be when people do their jobs, and how dumb you become when they don't? I wasn't surprised, either, but nobody gave Chuck any props for the emergence of Armando Galarraga. Someone like Verlander -- he just needs to mature. Wasn't Leo Mazzone a genius when he had Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux, et al? And he wasn’t so smart in Baltimore, was he?

Big Al: Good point. Verlander said as much when asked about Hernandez getting the ziggy.

Eno: If you could describe the Tigers' season in ONE word, and you couldn't use "disappointing", what would it be? And Al, make it a word that I can use in front of my daughter.

Big Al: &*%>*#$@&;;

Eno: Funny.

Big Al: Seriously? Overhyped. We all bought into the media hype, so to speak. Hell, I thought the playoffs, to mix metaphors, were a slam dunk. Shows what I, you, and the rest of the world knows.

Eno: Hey, I bought into it, too. But if you remember, there were the naysayers out there who were worried about the pitching. I gotta take those folks to the casino with me next time!

Big Al: No kidding. And you didn't give your one word description. I'm waiting...

Eno: Ahhh....OK....Disjointed.

Eno: I never dreamed they'd be this out of whack. I mean, finish behind the freaking Royals??? Christ almighty!

Big Al: There's no defending finishing behind the Royals. Which leads me to this: to fix what has become literally a mess of a team, can the Tigers correct themselves in only one off-season?

Eno: Wow....
Well, they are leaking -- gushing, really, in two areas: pitching (bullpen, especially) and defense. Baseball defense is kind of like football defense; the Tigers don't have very many "playmakers" -- guys who rob other guys of hits.....it's not just how many errors you make, but how many scores you deny by making plays. And I don't know if you can just go out and get guys like that. As for the bullpen, it'll make you gag how many games they blew. You gotta go outside the organization there


Big Al: With the Pizza Man likely to at least cap salary, it's going to be hard to find that bullpen fix. It'd be nice to just throw money at K-Rod (Francisco Rodriguez), but I don't think it's in the cards. The Tigers are going to have to find a cheaper set-up guy who can step up to closing. As for defense, I hear that Brandon Inge is the GREATEST DEFENDER EVER! I'm still not sure I want a .200 hitting 3rd sacker, even if he's the next coming of Brooks Robinson in the field. And who in the Hell is going to play short? I don't know, and I don't think the Tigers do either.

Eno: Or, hey, how about catcher? And when will the Tigers find a position that Carlos Guillen CAN play?

Big Al: If only Gary Sheffield would retire, it would open the Tigers to all kinds of shuffling, and give Guillen a permanent home. Catcher? I thought Inge was the catcher of the future only a couple of months ago? So much for that plan, and most anything else Leyland "proclaimed" as set in stone this past season.

Eno: Leyland had no clue most of the year. The shuffling was embarrassing. But watch what you say about my guy Sheff. Plus, why would you shut it down sitting on 499 HR, Al?

Big Al: I know, it's just wishful thinking. I was totally a Sheff guy, but this past season really soured me on him. I'm not sure how much he has left. With 500 HRs and $14 million on the line, the Tigers have no choice but to find out.

Eno: OK, enough about that. What else is on your mind?

Big Al: What grinds my gears? Ticks me off? Well, there's the three-ring circus going on in Allen Park. We finally got our pound of flesh, Matt Millen, or as I like to call him, the porn 'stached goon. Millen is no longer running the team. But now what? The Lions are still the Lions.

Eno: Well, you know what the Eno Plan says. And so far, the Lions are following it. But they have a golden opportunity here. From what I know and have heard, there are a LOT of GOOD football people out there chomping at the bit for this job.

Big Al: Only the Lions would can a GM after three games, with no real plan as to what to do next. Your plan would be a good one to follow; even Drew Sharp thought so. But who wouldn't want to work for William Clay Ford? He pays well, has the patience of Job and will give you enough rope to hang yourself three times over. It's just a matter if Ford finds the RIGHT man for the job. His track record screams "NO!"

Eno: Floyd Reese has all but begged for an interview thru the papers and the radio. What do you think of someone like that, the former Tennessee Titan GM?

Big Al: I like his track record as a personnel guy with the Titans, but anyone who openly panders for the gig through the media would raise a red flag in my book. I'm sure it has with WCF too. If Reese wants the job, he would have been much better served to go through channels, so to speak.

Eno: You're shrewder than I thought -- good point! Hey, before we go, what did you think of the OTHER worst owner in the NFL -- Al Davis, and his ham-handed firing of Lane Kiffin?

Big Al: That was entertainment of the HIGHEST order. I was surprised Davis didn't break out the TPS Reports, phone logs and videotape. He wanted Kiffin not only fired, but blackballed. Think the Lions are dysfunctional? They have nothing on the Silver and Black.

Eno: Davis has been losing it for years now. He just does it more publicly than Bill Ford Sr. does. I thought they were going to fit him for a straitjacket when he dusted off Art Shell!

Big Al: Just wait for when he hires Matt Millen! Hey, it could happen! It's sad to see a once great owner who was instrumental in making pro football the juggernaut it is today so...so...pitifully zombie-like.

Eno: Just Pee, Baby!

Big Al: Millen's new job will be piss boy for Al Davis! I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.

Eno: Nice.
OK, your uber-quick take on the Red Wings and Pistons, and make it snappy -- we're running out of room and our readers' attention spans!

Big Al: Red Wings and Pistons? Wake me when the playoffs start! Honestly, the Red Wings are the best team in hockey. The Pistons are in the top 2-3 in the East., and they'll fall short again. I doubt adding Michael Curry as coach and Kwame Brown up front will get them over the conference finals hump.

Eno: I think it's amazing that the Wings not only kept everyone in tact, but ADDED a Marian Hossa. How DO they do it? The Pistons, I think, will make it back to the ECF again. Talk about a mulligan -- the Pistons are on their fourth one by now.

Eno: Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you: if The Knee Jerks are a success, it was my idea. If it doesn't work out, you talked me into it.

Big Al: I'm just hopping on theEno bandwagon., and going wherever it takes me.

Eno: See ya next week, oh Al of Bigdom....

Big Al: I'll be here, Mr. Eno. Later.

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

I'm thinking this "10 things" bit may become an every Friday thing. We shall see...

10. I found it funny, and pretty damn telling, when Deadspin touched on Matt Millen's clueless vote of confidence of the current coaching regime in today's Blogdome, they linked to another "national" site (AOL's Fanhouse) rather than get the local view from the numerous Detroit blogs who also commented upon the ongoing lunacy in Allen Park.

It's just another reason why I find myself reading Deadspin less and less as of late. It's not because Will Leitch left, as my issues with Gawker's site go back for quite some time. I rarely visit the Deadspin proper anymore, preferring to check out posts in my RSS reader of choice. The site design leaves something to be desired. Don't even get me going on their commenters. For every smart, witty and funny comment, there's a dozen more that aren't worth the time it took to type them out. If I want forced, badly done, pop culture referenced humor, I'll read the Sports Guy instead. (Speaking of which, what has happened ESPN.com's Page 2? It used to be a daily must read. Now? I can't remember the last time I went there to read anything. What a damn shame.)

In fact, what I just said about sports blogging's 800 pound gorilla, also goes for the Fanhouse, With Leather, Sports by Brooks, The Sporting Blog, The Big Lead, the usual suspects. (Though I find TBL the best read of the bunch) The problem with these blogs is that they all write about the same damn thing. If I've seen a specific story on one of of the big sites, you'll see it, much sooner than later, on ALL the big sites, with pretty much the same (snarky) opinion.

If one of them finds a "wacky" You Tube video (Often after a smaller site had dredged it up), you know the other big sites will soon post it as well. Whatever the sports blog meme of the day happens to be, all the "big" blogs write about it...endlessly. It's gotten beyond tiresome.

The big sites are much more alike than they'd ever care to admit. Which is why I find myself drawn to more sport specific blogs (Like those at Yahoo), along with city and team centric blogs. They don't feel as rote and by-the-numbers as the Deadspins of the world have become.

9. My thoughts on the Ryder Cup?  

USA! USA! USA! Beat the Euros! 

That's all I really have, as I know so little about most of the Americans playing. I mean, Boo Weekely? Boo? I'd like to make a "To Kill a Mockingbird" reference here, but it's already been done...

8. If there is a man who showed all the signs of being on the edge of batshit insane, it's Jim Leyland. He was all but mentally off the hook when dealing with the umpires in Texas. If Leyland had been given the opportunity, and gotten to within arm's length, I swear he would have cold cocked a couple of men in blue. His actions were enough to result in his getting suspended for the Cleveland series, starting tonight.

But come on, can you really blame the Marlboro Man? If you were stuck using gas cans like Kyle Farnsworth as your set up man, and Fernando Rodney as your closer, you'd be ready for a few days of forced rest too.

If anything, Leyland going postal might have been for the best. From all appearances, he was close to burning out. A 65 year old man losing his shit isn't a pretty thing...Much like this entire Tigers season.

7. Joe Dumars said he tried to make a deal this summer, but didn't get an offer he thought would make the team better. I can understand why he didn't make a deal. The Pistons, as currently constructed, are a playoff team. Blowing up the Pistons for the sake of just blowing them up might have felt good, but accomplished little. So I don't blame Joe D for standing pat. Unfortunately, naming Michael Curry head coach and adding Kwame Brown to the front line aren't moves that have me believing this coming season will be any different than last.

I do like the idea being floated by Curry of moving Antonio McDyess back to 6th man status, where he's more comfortable and won't be the 5th offensive option, thus opening up competition between Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson, and Brown for the vacated starting spot. This might light a bit of a spark with both units, which has been long needed.

But is shuffling the depth chart enough to get the Pistons over the Eastern Conference hump? No. I can't see this team, good as they are, going any further than the conference finals again.

6. Michigan State is going to KILL Notre Dame. Sparty will spank the gimpy kneed Charlie Weis silly. If I'm Mark Dantonio, I give Javon Ringer the ball 35 times, essentially telling ND "You and I both know you can't stop him." If Sam McGuffie can rip through ND for 170+ total yards, Ringer is going to run...well, rings, around the overrated Domers.

5. The man who tried his damnedest to kill my love for Red Wings hockey in the 70's, Ned Harkness, passed away earlier today. I'm sure Harkness was a nice man, and loved the game of hockey. But he never should have been let anywhere near an NHL franchise, God forbid run one. The "Darkness with Harkness" era scarred my young and developing hockey psyche almost irreparably.

May you rest in peace, Ned. But God dammit, did you have to completely fuck over the Red Wings for my 11 year old self?! I mean, really. You took what was a decent team, and screwed it over so badly in 3 years, the rest of the decade, and much of the following, was ruined. Your destruction of the Red Wings was Millen-esque.

But hey, I'll let bygones be bygones.

4. I like love the fact there is a football game almost every night of the week on ESPN. (Even if it does seem like it's always Louisville or Colorado State playing...) But please keep it exclusively college football, OK? There's something about the 4 Letter broadcasting a regular season high school football game nationwide that I find extremely disturbing. It just feels wrong to me.

ESPN getting their sticky, grubby fingers into the high school pie can only lead to bad things. High school football belongs on Friday nights, being covered by local media. Period. Exclamation point!

3. Think West Virginia is happy with Bill Stewart now? What in the HELL was he thinking last night? Stewart is so far in over his head as a coach, he makes Marty Moronwhig look capable.

All that kept running through my mind as I watched Stewart and WVU totally butcher the final seconds of a game they ended up losing was, "It couldn't happen to a more deserving fanbase bunch of lunatics." RichRod had to have a little extra skip in his step this morning.

2. I know it's been only one start, and it may be the giddiness of watching a Tiger pitcher who could do the unthinkable...throw strikes...talking. But you think Freddy Garcia would look good in the Detroit rotation in 2009? So do I. Make it happen, Double D.

1. A quick announcement. I plan on live blogging the Detroit Lions, as usual, this Sunday. But I'll probably only be able to do the 1st half, as I have an early evening family commitment. It figures the Lions would happen to be on the west coast the one and only Sunday night I have something going on.

It's killing me, as my Sunday afternoon meltdowns are getting more and more traffic by the week. People really seem to enjoy them. Not the Lions, mind you, but the live blogs.

Anyway, I'll live blog as long as possible on Sunday, and have the DVR record the 2nd half. I'll do my best to not hear the score while I'm out, and then do my blogging thing a little later in the evening. Or something like that...

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

*As if I need to tell you from whom I blatantly swiped the template for this post.

10. I normally look forward to watching the Wolverines play, but Michigan - Notre Dame is going to be Hella painful to watch. It's gonna take a huge effort...from the fans to hold down their beer and munchies. Bad football is hard enough to watch, but to see a pair of storied college programs flail about on the gridiron like Detroit Lions? I never thought I'd see the day.

The Wolverines have no QB (Seriously, when you rotate QB's, all you are saying is you don't have one good QB on your roster) and little offense, while the Domers are God awful on both sides of the ball. At least Michigan has a halfway decent defense, which ND can't say.

Michigan is going to win, but it'll be close. I'll be watching the carnage in much the same way you'd watch a slow motion train wreck: With a combination of curiosity and self-loathing. Then again, I feel like that whenever I watch Notre Dame.

9. With the news the Tigers are giving starting assignments to both Freddie Garcia and Dontrelle Willis next week, they have finally realized the obvious. (A couple of weeks too late, but what the hey!) It's time to start preparing for 2009.

That I have have more confidence in the gimpy armed Garcia being successful than in Steve Blass The D-Train says...Well, I'm not sure what it says, but it sure can't be good. In some ways, I'll watching Willis' start in the same way I'll be watching Michigan - Notre Dame. I'll be expecting a train wreck. I hope I'm wrong.

Either way, I'm glad the Tigers are looking ahead, as I wouldn't want to be looking at their .479, 6 games under .500, hugely disappointing present either.

8. After watching the 2 extremely strange Microsoft advertisements starring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, I've had a realization. Seinfeld is more irritating than funny, and Gates is a comedic genius. At the very least, the man richer than the combined fortunes of Willaim Clay Ford, Mike Ilitch, Bill Davidson, Scrooge McDuck and Tony Stark is a better actor than Seinfeld.

Not that I'm saying much. Anyone in a 9th grade drama class would be a better actor than Jerry Seinfeld. Hell, even Steven Segal is a better actor than Seinfeld. Or that Smilin' Bob idiot in the Enzyte commercials. Or the chicks who get naked late at night on Skinemax.

7. I often rag on Detroit sports talk radio, for good reason. We can now add another reason to the lengthy list as to why Detroit's sports talk radio stations blow goats. Mike Stone just opened the WDFN phone lines by asking listeners the following question:

"Have you ever pooped yourself?"

I'm not kidding, he honestly wants to know if listeners have shit their pants.

I'm not sure who I feel worse for; Stone for asking such an idiotic question, or the morons calling in to answer.

I turned the radio off. I've lost enough brain cells over the years due to my own volition. I don't need a radio station causing me to lose more IQ points.

Let's not even mention the continually running ad for an erectile dysfunction remedy that is also offering a way to measure the length and girth of your wang. Who in their right mind at WDFN thought running an insulting ad for a fucking placebo was a good idea? I'm not a prude, as if you didn't already know, it's that I don't like being taken for a sucker and a moron. And anyone who believes there is a miracle cure for having a small cock are both a sucker and a moron. Are WDFN and Clear Channel that hard up for revenue?

Have some pride WDFN, and say no to commercials that aim for the lowest common denominator...and succeed.

6. The Lions narrowly avoided having their first TV blackout in Ford Field history, thanks to a furniture chain buying out the remaining 3000+ tickets.

Even though the Lions can continue to brag they have a 7 season long sellout streak, this is only delaying the inevitable. Sooner than later, we are going to have a blackout. I'll bet the proverbial farm the sellout streak end on October 26th, when the Lions take on the Redskins. It'll be the first home game with a road team that doesn't live within a realistic driving distance.

We all know Ford Field will be half full of drunken Cheeseheads this Sunday, and at the next home game (Sunday, Oct. 5) we'll see an invasion of drunken Bears fans. It's impossible to have a home field advantage when your own fans are pissed off beyond all belief, and the majority of people in your own stadium will be rooting against you.

5. Anyone think Miguel Cabrera is overrated now? You knee jerk whiners on message boards? What about you mouth breathers in newspaper comment threads, or those morons calling in to sports talk stations? Huh? Anyone? Didn't think so.

You can rip Dave Dombrowski for many, if not most, of his off season moves, but not this one. Cabrera is going to put up hall of fame numbers, and do so wearing a Detroit Tigers' uniform.

Now do something about the pitching, God dammit!

4. I just wanted to give you guys a preview of what TWFE may look like after the upcoming move to MVN. Here's a sneak peek at one possible header...

(Clicky, clicky for full size)

Pretty cool, if I say so myself...

3. I would not put it past the Lions to beat the Packers Sunday. How, you ask?

A. The Packers' Ryan Grant doesn't play (or is easily neutralized) because of his leg injury, taking away their running game, forcing Aaron Rogers to win the game on his own. I'm not saying he can't, but Rogers didn't have to do all that much against the Vikings.

B. Calvin Johnson goes off big time, catching 3-4 TD passes, while Jon Kitna doesn't do anything stupid. Hey, it could happen!

C. Gosder Cherilus, Jordon Dizon and Kevcin Smith all have breakout games. Hey, it could happen!

D. The Lions new kick returner, Brandon Middleton, scores a couple of times, along with giving the offense good field position. Hey, it could...Now I'm just being silly. No way in HELL will the Lions special teams win a game for them.

2. I really, really, really like USA's "Burn Notice." It's the best show running on TV. (Till "Lost" comes back, anyway) When I grow up, I wanna be just like Bruce Campbell. We all have to have goals in life...

1. For those of you who actually believed Steve Yzerman was coming out of retirement? I have an erectile dysfunction remedy to sell you.

10 things I learned this past weekend

10. Computer crashes blow. Blow big and hard. They're scary, too. When I saw the screen telling me it couldn't boot into Windows, talk about a sinking feeling. You feel almost helpless. My stages of computer grief were:

A. helplessness
B. desperation
C. anger
D. accpetance. 

My PC and I are doing much better now, thank you very much.

9. BACK UP YOUR FILES! I did (My most important, irreplaceable ones, anyway. I still had to re-download and install plenty of other stuff, though), and it saved my sometimes reckless with a PC ass. (And thanks for the Linux tip, MonkeyWrench32. I may just do Ubuntu, but on my older PC)

8. The only Tiger who can hit a backup catcher's 80 MPH fastball is Miguel Cabrera. Sad, but true. Though it was nice seeing the Tigers getting a sac fly

7. Carlos Guillen is plenty worthy of his All-Star selection, he's having a nice season. But Jason Varitek? Hell, Pudge is more deserving. Just another conformation the MLB All-Star rosters are a farce.

6. I trust Joel Zumaya when he comes out of the pen. Save goes for Freddy Dolsi. I can't say the same about Fernando Rodney. Memo to Jim Leyland: For the time being, use Zumaya and Dolsi as the late inning set up men, and let Rodney sort out his issues in middle relief.

5. A Big 10 vs Pac 10 football challenge, as TWFE arch enemy Jerry Green championed in Sunday's News, is nothing more than wisful thinking. Never, ever gonna happen. Thanks to the evil that is the BCS, schedules have become so dumbed down, you may as well call the 3 games scheduled before conference play exhibitions. (Yes, even the Appy State game. That loss goes totally on Lloyd Carr's shoulders, as the Wolverines were so unprepared, it bordered on negligence.)  Anyway, wouldn't a Big 10/Pac 10 football challenge end up just like the the joke that is the ACC/Big 10 basketball challenge? Isn't one guaranteed conference humiliation a year enough?

4. Finding a Shoutcast TV station that does nothing but stream MST3K 24/7 made me forget all about the PC crash. God damn, I love that show. (By the way, I have no specific allegiance to either the Joel or Mike seasons, I find them equally hysterical) Thank God those uber-funny/creative minds have given us both RiffTrax and Cinematic Titanic. They both get the TWFE stamp of approval. Highly reccommended.

3. The Indians gave up. C.C. Sabathia is gone, and more players are sure to follow him out of Ohio. It helps the Tigers in the short term, say the next season or two. But it's up to them to take advantage of that fact. They have one less team to worry about, as the Tigers' window to win is this season and next. Playing .500 ball, though a nice recovery after their horrific start, isn't enough.

2. Corey Magette to the Pistons? I could live with it. Pretty happily, actually. Make it happen, Joe D.

1. Chicago gets the next NHL outdoor game? The always an also ran Blackhawks? Come on, they couldn't give two shits about the Hawks in Chicago. The Red Wings gets jobbed by the NHL again...And again, and again, and again. Has a marquee franchise in any other professional league been trated as shabbily as the Red Wings are by the NHL? They are constantly screwed over in scheduling and travel, yet are expected to carry the entire Western Conference. The Wings have to be the best run franchise in the NHL, as the get no favors from the league office. A worse run team wouldn't have a chance.

That sound you just heard?

It was from jaws hitting the floor all across NHL-land (including mine) when the news broke that the Red Wings signed Marian Hossa to a 1 year (!), $7.4 million deal.  So much for waiting too see what 2nd-3rd line forwards would be left after the early free agent rush.

All I can say is...WOW! I thought the Wings would get a forward, but the 5 time All Star Hossa? Not in my wildest dreams did I expect such an impact signing. Even better, the Hossa deal being for such a short term, it should still allow the Wings to sign Z and The Mule to long-term extensions. They get the best of both worlds, signing an All Star quality forward without having to lose their homegrown stars. It's a neat trick, when you can pull it off. In other words, Ken Holland pwns even Harry Houdini.

Damn, they have to be crushed in Pittsburgh. First the Wings sign Penguins back up goalie Ty Conklin (a very nice signing, by the way), now Hossa? I think we can add the Pengiuns fanbase to the ever growing list (led by fans of the Avs, Blues, and Preds) of those who utterly despise the Red Wings.

With Marian Hossa becoming a Red Wing, Detroit's best run franchise just solidified their status as the NHL's best team, both on and off the ice. And the most hated, as well.

Brad Stuart remains a Red Wing, the rest of the NHL slaps themselves in the forehead, says "D'oh!"

The Red Wings continue to make all the right moves, do all the right things, sign all the right players. The latest example of their efficiency is the just announced signing of Brad Stuart to a 4 year deal @ $3.75 million a season. Considering Stuart was likely to be offered $4 million plus on the open market, locking him up for 4 seasons, getting a hometown discount in the process, is quite the coup. Actually, it'd be a coup for most frnachises. For the Wings? It's just standard operating procedure.

 4 more seasons of Stuart? I can live with it...

Losing Stuart would have left a huge hole to fill on the blue line, as he was damned impressive as part of the second pairing during the playoffs. His laying out the NHL's Golden Child in the cup clincher, causing Sidney Crosby to see little winged wheels and cookoo birds circling his head, was one of the more memorable playoff highlights. That's not even bringing up some of the big time goals Stuart scored against the Pengiuns.In other words, Stuart was a force during the cup run. When he played well, so did the Wings.



The atmosphere surrounding the Red Wings is amazing. Players are willing to compromise on salary in order to play for a marquee franchise, one that has a legitimate shot at playing for the Stanley Cup every season. What more could a player ask for? A few more loonies, obviously, but what's a few hundred thousand between friends?



Now just sign Mats Sundin (or Brian Rolston, I'm not picky!) and the Wings brain trust can then spend the rest of the summer playing golf and nailing down Z and the Mule to long-term deals.

Z, Ozzie, Babcock's hair and other post Stanley Cup thoughts

1. Last night cemented in my mind, once and for all, who's the best player in the NHL. Henrik Zetterberg is the best human hockey player in the world, Savior Sid be damned. (Excluding Nick Lidstrom, of course. He's scarily inhuman in his effectiveness.) Hockey is a two way game, and Sidney Crosby is still a one way player. You can never say that about Zetterberg. (Or most any Red Wing forward, for that matter.)

When the Wings needed to kill a 5 on 3, Z was the one Wings forward on the ice. Whenever the Penguins were on the penalty kill, any kill, Crosby was comfortably ensconced on the bench. I think that says it all.

When a game/series/title is on the line, your best players have to be on the ice as much as possible. Zetterberg, and this goes for Pavel Datsuyk as well, can be used on the ice at any time, in any situation. Even the great Steve Yzerman had to learn to be a two way player, as did the Wings' wonder twins. Once Crosby learns that, the NHL best look out...

2. I've read that some find the Red Wings' style of play "boring" and "machine-like." To be honest, I find the old school dump and chase style of hockey excruciating to watch. To me, watching the Red Wings possess the puck, their speed combined with precision tape to tape passing, resulting in an offense that's always a threat to score from anywhere inside the opposition blue line, is how hockey is supposed to be played. They are the closest thing around to the go-go, high scoring NHL teams of the 80's.

I hope this past series, between a pair of teams that believe in puck possession instead of the obsolete dump and chase, is the future of the NHL. I love the rough stuff as much as anyone, and there should always be a place for fighting in the NHL. But I prefer even more the long stretches of end to end action, with a constant barrage of scoring chances. If this is the future of the NHL, the league will be in good shape.

If you didn't enjoy this series, you'll never be a fan of the game.

3. Say what you will about the Red Wings as an organization in regard to their off the ice activity (They tend to take their fans for granted, ticket prices are outrageously high, do little in the way of promotion), when it comes to their on ice product, there may not be a better run team in sports.

Yes, the Wings had an definite competitive advantage when they could outspend nearly every team. They could throw money at their mistakes, fix roster issues on the fly. But have that advantage taken away, yet still remain elite in the salary cap era? That is a mind-boggling accomplishment by GM Ken Holland.

A well run franchise is a well run franchise, salary cap be damned. The Red Wings are primed to stay at the top of the NHL, considering they will be approximately $16 million (!) under the salary cap going into the off season. They will be able to pay their own free agents and extend Zetterberg, yet still be able to make a splash in free agency if they feel the need. (For example, you know the Sabres are scared to death the Wings are going to make a run at Ryan Miller after next season.)

Could Detroit sign an impact player this summer, like a Mats Sundin? Say a Marian Hossa? It's not out the question. The rest of the league should be quaking in their skates.

The Red Wings may not win the cup every year, but to be a legitimate title threat every season since the early 90's is an amazing run of pure win.

4. Mike Babcock has amazing hair. Not a strand was out of place last night, even with the champagne spraying everywhere. His hair almost as impressive as his coaching ability, which is really saying something...

5. After watching the Red Wings leave everything on the ice, play insanely hard for 2 months, and winning it all, you can really see where Joe Dumars is coming from in his wanting to shake up the lethargic Pistons.

The Pistons play with such a nonchalance at times, even in the biggest of games, it's almost stomach turning. The Red Wings are the polar opposite, never seeming to give less than 100%. The Pistons only did when...Well, you never knew when they would give their all. Which is we are likely to see a radically different Pistons team in '08-'09.

6. The one player I was really happy for was Chris Osgood, and not only because he can now nail any Downriver puck bunny he sees fit for the rest of his days. Why then? Because you can tell he loves being a Red Wing, it means everything in the world to him to be allowed to wear the winged wheel. You can't say that about many pro athletes...

7. Gary Bettman is, and always will be, an ass.

Thank you Red Wings

You embody everything that's good about Detroit. The Stanley Cup is back home. Way to go, gentlemen. Way to go.

34.7 damn seconds...

Detroit was only 34.7 God damn seconds away from winning the Stanley Cup. 34.7! Now there's a game 6 back in Pittsburgh. Unbelievable.

This was your typical Red Wings playoff loss. Out shoot, out hit and out play the opposition, dominate in almost every damn phase of the game, save for one. On the scoreboard. Oh yeah, some acrobat named Fleury should get some credit as well. Hell, give Fleury all the credit. Without him in net, the Wings are drinking from the Stanley Cup 2 hours ago.

The players were getting sloppier and the ice was getting worse by the OT, so you knew a game going this long would end on someone's mistake. I was just hoping the killer mistake wouldn't be made by someone on the Red Wings.

Unfortunately it was, one Jiri Hudler.

His silly, accidental double minor high stick early in the 3rd OT was the game right there. No way could you expect the Wings to kill 4 minutes... Hell, they could only kill a few seconds.

Kudos to the Penguins for their herculean effort. They live to skate another day. But before we lose all perspective after a tough loss, let's remember, the Pens have to come up with that sort of effort 2 more times.

Realistically, the Penguins have only a punchers chance to win this series, and actually managed to land one. A haymaker, to say the very least. But they have to land knockout punches twice more, and against a team as driven and talented as the Red Wings, it's likely too tall an order.

In the end, I'm disappointed, but not worried. If there is one team that will bounce back from a night like this is the Red Wings. They are up 3-2 in this series for a reason. That reason being the Red Wings are obviously the deeper, better team. If the Wings continue to play their game, play like they have all series long, I honestly believe all the the Pens accomplished was delaying the inevitable for a couple of days.

But still, 34.7 fucking seconds.

God damn it.

Do this long-time Red Wings fan a favor - Do NOT take this team for granted!

I've been trying do come up with a post about the Red Wings chances of taking the Stanley Cup tonight. I don't want to come off as this game being fait accompli, as I'm sure the Penguins would have something to say about it. God forbid I jinx the the Wings.

So rather than talk about the game, I'm just going to say something to Wings fans. Enjoy this run of sustained excellence. Do NOT take this team for granted, as we often have a tendency to do.

I know many fans tend to believe the Red Wings' being one of the best teams in the NHL is a God given right. Many of you younger fans have never known the Red Wings to be anything other than a class organization where nothing short of the Stanley Cup is a serious disappointment.

I want to remind you it wasn't always that way.

As someone who's been around long enough to remember the "Darkness with Harkness" years of the 70's and the "The Dead Things" era which lasted well into the 80's, there was a time where even the thought of the Wings being considered a model franchise was sheer, unadulterated lunacy.

It wasn't all that long ago where any discussion of the Red Wings making the playoffs were laughable. The Wings? In the playoffs? Come on! Never gonna happen! The playoffs are for GOOD organizations. That wasn't the Red Wings.

The Wings were the red-headed step kid of Detroit sports for 15-20 years. A franchise that never made the correct decision, refused to spend money, made short-sighted trades destined for failure, where the playoffs weren't a certainty, but an extremely rare occurrence that was bound to end well short of a title.

Why else would you think Bill Lochead's goal clinching a first round playoff win in 1978, a goal that meant little in the NHL scheme of things, meant so much to this fanbase? For many of us, it was literally the only highlight of our collective misspent youth as fans of the Red Wings. The ONLY highlight.

We're living in a different era now. MUCH different. The Wings are the class of the NHL, and on the verge of winning their 4th cup in my lifetime, and 11th overall. If you had told me such a thing was possible even back back in the mid-80's, when Steve Yzerman's career was just taking off, I would have laughed in your face. It would have been unfathomable to someone accustomed to the Wings long being the NHL's laughingstock.

Hell, I would have been happy if the 1997 Stanley Cup was the only one the Wings won. But on the verge of winning 4 championships in 11 seasons? Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined such a thing was possible, let alone expected.

With the Wing on the cusp of the cup, try to remember this may never happen again. Do not treat a Stanley Cup run like it's an ordinary occurrence. Because it's NOT. It NEVER is...

All that's left to say about tonight is...

GO WINGS!

Pens win, Wings regroup, a loss is not a big deal

If there was a game the Wings were going to lose, the 1st game back in Pittsburgh was it. Crosby had a great game, his best of the series so far, and led his team to a win, 3-2. The Pens were a DESPERATE team playing a must win game, and played like it. Kudos to them.

All I can say about the Red Wings loss is it took the Penguins best performance to beat a Wings team that didn't play anywhere near it's best. Especially in the 1st, and for much of the 2nd, periods. The Red Wings dominated the 3rd, and made one Hell of a game out of it. It was a marvelous to watch 3rd period, so at least NBC, the CBC, and the rest of North America will be happy.

On he plus side, a loss will give Mike Babcock a chance to shake up the lineup a little. I'm NOT comfortable with Lilja in the lineup. Never have been, never will be. I want to see Chelios play Saturday night.

The bigger concern than the loss is the health of Holmstrom. Jesus, Homer takes abuse in front of the net. His helmet was off half the time, thanks to the Pens cross checking him across the skull at every opportunity. Of course, it's NEVER called. Good thing there's 3 days off.

I really think the Wings come out flying inn game 4, and have the Pens back on their heels the entire night. They'll bring the kitchen sink, and then some.

One more thought... Just expect the next 3 days to be nothing but CROSBY!!! mania. (Well, as much mania as the NHL can create in a nation where 2/3 of the population could give a shit) So be it...

There's another reason I'm not all that upset about the loss. I wasn't going to be able to watch Saturday's game all that closely, as I'll be a benefit for my best friend's brother. He was nearly killed in a snowmobiling accident a few months back, and though he's doing much much better, the medical bills are piling up.

There are priorities, and and a Stanley Cup game takes a back seat to friendship. Even if that game may have been the clincher. It's all moot now anyway.

Denial is a river running through Pittsburgh

In some sadly deluded circles, a goalie diving (Yes, Osgood did embellish being hit. In fact, Pens fans seem to be forgetting ALL goalies flop like dying fish) is much more despicable act than sucker punching a player recovering from a concussion in the head...twice.

I'm guessing Pens fans would also believe the following...

Sidney Crosby saying the Penguins had more quality scoring chances than the Wings.

This was NOT a quality scoring opportunity in Crosby's world...

It's Crosby's God given right to win the Stanley Cup, as Bettman deems it in the NHL's best interest.

That Bettman actually has a clue.

Michel Therrien claiming the biggest reason his team isn't scoring is due to the Wings getting away with obstruction.

The east plays a better brand of hockey than the west.

Don Cherry is to be taken seriously, and he's not a clueless xenophobe who would rather brown nose Crosby than ever deign to praise one of the Wings' Europeans.

Cheap shot goonery is an appropriate response to being dominated in every single phase of the game. Then again, when nothing else seems to be working, what's a few sucker punches amongst friends?

That Gary Roberts can still play, rather than being a washed up thug.

That the following doesn't describe Wings-Pens. Those can can, do. Those that can't, whine about officiating/diving/obstruction.

That Warner Brothers didn't predict the outcome of this series 58 years ago in a Bugs Bunny cartoon called "8 Ball Bunny." Go 2:30 in for the sooth saying hobo...

"Penguins is practically chickens. And I hates to see chickens cry so much, that I has to put them out of their misery."

2nd verse same as the 1st: Red Wings dominate the Penguins

A few quick thoughts on the Red Wings taking down the wannabe Broad Street Bullies 3-0...

I love to watch the Red Wings when their game is firing on all cylinders. In the Stanley Cup finals, the Wings have been a silky smooth, high horsepower V-12, with no rev limiter. In comparison, the Penguins are a backfiring 4 cylinder out of a rusty '75 Pinto. No matter what you do to the 4 cylinder, it won't be enough to compete.

I don't get a chance to watch teams from the east play, thanks to the utter and complete incompetence and stupidity of the NHL. But is this the best the eastern conference has to offer? The Red Wings had a much tougher time playing west rivals Dallas and Nashville. (Though beating the Nordalanche was the equivalent of flicking fly off of their shoulders.) I was expecting better from the Penguins. Instead we get a goon squad.

Watching the Pens goon it up in the final minutes was disgusting. Even more so was the cheap shots taken at the head of Johan Franzen. The Mule is coming off of a well publicized concussion (or at least "concussion-like symptoms"), and the Pens are blatantly taking shots at his head? Stay classy, Pittsburgh. Asses.

On the NHL Network post game, professional douchebag Gary Roberts claimed there was no "intent" in his punching Franzen in the head, and he actually hit him with "my shoulder." Huh? I had no idea a shoulder could have 4 fingers and a thumb, clinched in a fist. If you aren't going to claim responsibility, at least come up with something more creative and believable.

It's not the first time I've seen teams lose their proverbial shit when playing the Red Wings. It has to be frustrating as all Hell to be so thoroughly dominated. And without question, the Penguins have been dominated.

What more can you really say about the first 2 games? The Red Wings have dominated play at both ends of the ice, and made Gary Bettman's golden boy, Sidney Crosby, irrelevant.

For all the talk a Pens-Wings series was going to be the NHL's dream matchup, it's quickly become a nightmare for Pittsburgh.

Who is more important? Fans or rights holders?

I wasn't able to watch Saturday's dueling playoff games as closely as I would have liked, as I was in a local hole-in-the-wall biker bar that had my best friend's daughter's fiance's band playing. (Yes, my tiny home town has a watering hole you could consider a biker bar)

The band was good, the beer cold and no one was wearing colors (Save for me in my road Shanny sweater and my bud in his home Yzerman one), but the TV reception and my viewing angle left something to be desired. Actually...it left everything to be desired. I could only kinda-sorta follow what was going on in the games, but the action was often just a rumor.

When I got home, I was able to fast forward to the pertinent parts of the Red Wings victory, while the Pistons recording wasn't worth the hard drive space it was recorded upon. No reason to closely watch something I saw coming, and would end up pissing me off. You know, because that's how the Pistons roll...

Tonight will be a different story, as I'll be home, trying to watch 2 games at once. We have the twits running the NBA and NHL, and their asinine scheduling policies, to thank. So thanks a lot Gary and David! You're asses of the highest order.

The excuse the leagues give for the fucked up scheduling that bends over Detroit sports fans is they have to answer to their "rights holders." TV networks, advertisers, large corporations, the usual culprits.

But when was the last time dipshits like Bettman and Stern answered to those who have made them, and their leagues, and for that matter, their rights holders, insanely rich? I'm talking about us, the fans.

Seriously. Think about it. When was the last time a big league sport actually catered to the fan? We've had more than our share of local examples...

The Lions raise ticket prices during a recession, and tell a season ticket holder to fuck off in an email. I've think we've seen the last of Ford Field's sellout streak. There's going to be games where the opposition will have more fans in attendance. NFL or not, Lions fans are fed up of having their wallets emptied, and getting nothing but grief in return.

The Red Wings apologize to their fans after shutting down for a season, and cutting their payroll by more than half, by issuing season ticket holders insulting "Joe Bucks." In other words, a coupon book good towards overpriced beer and food. The Wings have been much like the Lions when it comes to milking their fan dry. They never lowered their ticket prices, or went out of their way to do anything for a devoted, and gradually going broke, fanbase. They are still suffering from a fan backlash, even in during this year's Stanley Cup run.

Baseball is still more affordable than most sports, but it's become less so by the year. The Tigers have also been guilty of milking the fans dry, constantly raising ticket prices. To their credit, they are spending that extra cash on players. Being quite spendy hasn't helped in the win column, but that's for another post...

But you get my point. The fans are treated as a monetary asset to be drained. Nothing more.

Same goes for the leagues themselves. It's not about what's good for the fans, it's all about what's best for the rights holders.

Stupid late start times for playoff games. I love the fact World Series games end at 1 am.

Even stupider scheduling policies, from the NBA/NHL cluster we've had in Detroit the past few days, to taking 2 1/2 weeks to play a NBA 1st round series.

Sports franchises will blackmail communities, threatening to leave town if they don't get a new arena/stadium, even if their current facility isn't out of date. When a community has the balls to call team owners on it, such as Seattle...Well, it's goodbye Sonics. There's always some flea bit minor league town willing to be screwed over just to get a big league team. I'm looking at you, Oklahoma City.

Playoff ticket prices so high, anyone not born to old money has to take out a second mortgage to afford tickets.

TV rights fees designed to hit fans square in the wallet. The exclusivity of NFL's Sunday Ticket, ensuring only DirecTv subscribers can buy the package. MLB's attempt to do the same last year. The NHL going for the quick money in signing with Versus, a network many fans can't even find on their cable systems. The NBA placing early round playoff games on the NBA TV, a channel .01% of the nation can get. Ditto for the NFL, and their placing games on the unobtainable NFL Network.

Thing is, as sports fans, we get knocked around and keep coming back for more. I'm just as guilty as the next guy. I'll bitch and moan, but I'll still be watching tonight. (And damn near every night...)

I guess what I'm trying to say to the leagues is don't lie to us. When you make a decision, don't say it's "For the fans." Please tell us the truth, which is often something like, "Because the rights holders demanded it," "Because we could make even more money" or "Being richer than God isn't enough."

If sports ever was about the fans, it sure as Hell isn't anymore.

Pros and cons: Why should Mike Babcock stay in the D?

Sometimes the press asks the most asinine questions. For example, today Mike Babcock was asked if he planned on returning as Red Wings coach after this season.

What? Isn't that the equivalent of asking George Bush if he's going to resign as president in order to take over a smaller, less powerful country? Bill Ford Jr leaving Ford Motor Company to take over Segway?

Mlive's Wings blogger George James Malik says Babcock was diplomatic in his answer, rather than answering the question as most would...

Babcock answered the question with a little more poise than simply saying, "DUH"

"Duh" indeed.

"I'll punch out the next dumb ass who asks if I'm leaving Detroit!
Any more stupid questions?"

I figured such a silly ass question deserved the pro and con treatment, just to make sure Babcock was making the right decision remaining the Red Wings point man.

Pro: He's coaching 3 of the top 10, arguably 3 of the top 5, hockey players in the world, Pavel Datsuyk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nick Lidstrom.
Con: There's a con to coaching the most talented team in the NHL?

Pro: The Red Wings have the best scouting organization in the NHL, mining gems in the later rounds. There's also the fact free agents want to play in to Detroit, and the Wings' own free agents don't want to leave, giving a hometown discount when signing their deal. In other words, the Wings don't rebuild, they reload.
Con: What con?

Pro: If you are going to coach hockey in the US, is there a better hockey job than coaching the New York Yankees of the NHL, America's hockey team (Thanks to Michigan ex-pats being all over the nation), the Detroit Red Wings? No.
Con: Can't think of one.

Pro: The Red Wings are one of the most tradition laded franchises in all of sports, from being an Original Six team, to octopus throwing.
Con: You risk getting hit with an slimy 8 legged critter every May and June.

Pro: The red Wings organization is committed to winning, no matter the cost, from the owner on down.
Con: There's pressure to win, and win big. But wouldn't you prefer that, than coaching for a franchise where no one gives a shit? Say Chicago? Florida? Phoenix? Hockey is a rumor in too many NHL cities, but not in Detroit. That wasn't really a con, was it?

Pro: It's the RED WINGS, for chrissakes!
Con: Again, there's a con to coaching the Wings? (Save the "You have to live in Detroit" jab for a blog that thinks Detroit jokes are actually funny. Because this isn't one...)

Not much of a debate, huh? And the MSM wonders why we bloggers make so much fun of them...

There will be no blood

If there is one thing sports talk radio can do, and do well, is beat a dead horse. Beat that horse not only into the ground, but deeper than than the hole Hilary Clinton finds herself in.

Today's dead horse? The Mike Ribeiro slash of Chris Osgood.

Ozzie's attempt to win an Oscar falls on blind referee eyes...

The slash dominated Detroit's airwaves today, to the point I had to turn off the radio. The talk had grown past redundant.

Yes, Ribeiro should have been suspended for using Osgood's chest as batting practice. Yes, Osgood instigated the whole damn thing by purposely clipping Ribeiro with the butt end of his stick. The NHL, in it's infinite lack of wisdom, fined everyone involved, and called it even. So be it, and to tell the truth, we all knew fines were going to result, and nothing more.

There were some callers and hosts who were upset the Wings didn't retaliate immediately, other than wrestling him down to the ice, after Ribeiro laid a two-hander on Osgood. Personally, I think it was smart on the Wings' part to not do something so stupid that could have ended in someone getting suspended. You don't retaliate in the playoffs, you do so in the regular season.

Think back to the Claude Lemieux hit on Kris Draper back in 1996 playoffs. (Hard to believe it was 12 years ago!) It was a much dirtier hit, severely injuring Draper. Rather than do someth8ing futile during the series, the Wings waited almost a YEAR before they finally retaliated.

We all know how well that turned out. Lemieux got beat to a pulp, and the Wings rode the emotion of that March all the way to the Stanley Cup.

As I'm writing this, the Red Wings are up 1-0 on the Stars, and Osgood has been standing on head. That's by far the best revenge.

Winning the series is much more important than the Wings getting their pound of flesh. At least till the '08-'09 regular season, when Ribeiro best have his head on swivel.

During the NHL playoffs, revenge is a dish best served...nest season.

Screw Mitch Albom. Screw him long and hard

In today's Freep, the Little Fella takes Detroit sports fans to task for not filling up the Joe last night.

Before I spend one more word on how good our hockey team played Thursday night, I have to say how bad it looked to see so many empty seats at Joe Louis Arena. Cheaper seats. Expensive seats. Empty clusters. Half-empty rows.

Uh, Mitch. During the playoffs, THERE ARE NO CHEAPER SEATS! Just less overpriced ones...

Remember the Cup? We loved that thing. We felt like we earned it -- every step. So what's the problem now? I know the economy is bad. I'm not telling people to hock the jewelry or find a job.

When you have to use the caveat "I'm not telling you," you actually are telling me...

But we're not talking 100,000 spots here, either. There are enough fans and money in our area to fill those absent clusters. Hey, if we can fill Lions seats, we can fill Red Wings seats.

My response? Fuck you, you heartless, over privileged fuck!

I know, it's not exactly Shakespeare, but "Fuck you" truly encapsulates exactly how I felt after reading Albom's self important tripe.

(By the way, when was the last time Albom was at Ford Field? Otherwise he'd know the expensive club level seating is mostly empty, and the Lions often filled their stadium only in thanks to the fans of the opposition team. You'll see just as many Bears and Packers fans at Ford Field, as fans of the Lions.)

It takes a ton of balls, or what's much more likely, being completely oblivious to the situation the middle class finds itself in here in Michigan, to call out fans for not spending money. What a clueless dumb ass. Just thinking about Albom's faux righteous indignation gets me furious.

I'm guessing Albom, when not churning out Oprah approved pap, spends his time in LA and New York rolling around in large piles of cash. Back here in rust belt reality-land, everyone I know is watching their money. Watching it closely.

I don't know a soul who could afford to drop several hundred dollars to attend a hockey game. Not one. I sure as Hell can't. Neither can anyone in my family, or my friends off or online.

I've used this analogy before, but it remains true. When given a choice between keeping a roof over your head, or buying overpriced Red Wings playoff tickets, there really isn't a choice.

Albom was once tuned into the pulse of Detroit, he knew what made the fans tick. Not anymore. He hasn't for over a decade. Not since Albom became a gasbag ESPN pundit, better known as an author, rather than a sportswriter, and spending most of his time on the left coast.

Otherwise he wouldn't have written this column, calling out hard working folk who are more worried about being foreclosed upon, paying medical bills, buying $4 a gallon gas, food prices rising, if their manufacturing job will even exist 6 months from now, than lining the pockets of a multi-billionaire, Mike Ilitch.

At this point, Albom would be better off sticking to writing saccharine novellas Oprah can turn into TV movies, than being the national voice of the Detroit sports fan. Because he has as much in common with we fans as I do with George W. Bush. That being nothing.

Mitch Albom can go to Hell. Or just stay in LA. Either is better than his remaining the "Voice of Detroit." Speak for whom you really know, the media elite. You sure as fuck don't speak for me.

Edit 4:00 PM: Albom doesn't speak for the Chief over at A2Y, either. IwoCPO went off on the Little Fella too.