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#2, not #3
Friday 10-10-2008 9:08am ET
With Jon Kitna missing the last two days of Lions practice, it's looking more and more likely that Detroit will use a new starting quarterback for the first time in over two seasons. Dan Orlovsky will be that guy and should be that guy. The fourth year pro out of UConn knows the system better than Drew Stanton, has better command of the language and has practiced more with the #1 unit. I know why so many people want to see Stanton take the first snap in Minnesota, but he's practiced just one day with the first string, has hardly tested his previously injured thumb enough to warrant real game action, and the Metrodome is one of the loudest stadiums in the league with one of the most physical defenses in the NFL. I don't doubt Stanton will start a game or two or more before this year is out (At some time the organization has to evaluate the position). Kitna won't start next season and Orlovsky may not even be back with the team, so you have to see what Stanton can do. But not now, not this weekend, not against that defense in that environment. Stanton has said all the right things leading up to the game, but he's has no idea whats in store for this team on Sunday and it's my opinion he can wait a little while longer.
Appreciating Greatness
Thursday 10-09-2008 9:43am ET
Don't ask me why, but for some reason the phone lines here at WDFN don't light up that much when discussing the Red Wings or hockey in general. Listeners have suggested it's because the Wings are so good and if that's the case then I'm more than a little disappointed in Detroit sports fans. Is all you wish to do is bitch and complain? Can you not appreciate how good this team, its players and organization is? How can the Lions generate more calls.....or the Tigers, who finished under .500 at home draw more fans? My guess is for a few reasons. First, not many of you know hockey or its in's and out's. You may watch it, but because you didn't play it as a kid you don't understand it that well. Football-everyone played and, more importantly, everyone thinks they know the game and can fix the Lions (or Michigan or MSU's) problems. Second, I guess it's not really in our nature to constantly pass out compliments. Just please don't feed me the line "I'll pay attention to them when the 'real season' starts-the playoffs." Come on. Do you feel that way with the Pistons.....I guess if you took that approach toward the Lions, you'd never watch your hometown football team. The Red Wings are everything you could ask for in an organization: they are dedicated to winning, give you the best product they can afford, and boast marquee names that include four of the top ten players in the league regardless of position (Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hossa, Lidstrom). The least you can do is follow them and join in the conversation. If you don't then you're missing out.
Tough to Argue
Wednesday 10-08-2008 9:20am ET
I've always argued that we live in the Best Sports City in America. The diverse sports, their success; and historical traditionn is as good, if not better, than any area in the nation. Bur recently the Sporting News rated Detrioit as the second best sports town in the U.S. and I couldn't argue. I couldn't disagree because Boston was ranked ahead of us and I have to give credit where credit is due. Beantown owns the Larry O'Brien Trophy (NBA)....the World Series championship....they went 16-0 in the NFL and played runners-up in the Super Bowl and they own college hockey's National champion in Boston College. Pretty tough to argue isn't it? The publication put Detroit #2 because the magazine credits the Red Wings 11th Stanley cup for not cropping the city any further. Sporting News Bob Hille...whose coordinated the list the last 12-years....writes "The Wings are the highlight of Detroit, but the Pistons are a consistent winner too and though the Tigers struggled, they are a fan favorite." We have often times argued for RESPECT here in the "D." We need to do the same to Boston, as hard as that may be. Imagine if the Tigers and Celtics won it all, the Lions played in the Super Bowl and UM won another college hockey title. We'd expect to be #1 and would have right to, so tip your cap to Boston and let's hope it's the last time we have to do it.
Not Many Keepers
Tuesday 10-07-2008 10:12am ET
Any time my friend and color analyst partner, Rob Rubick, and I go to a game we walk on the field and, in his words "look at bodies." We see how the team we're covering might match up against the opposition in size and apparent strength and watching them warm up allows us to better gauge what kind of shape each team is in. At halftime, we then ask each other how many of "our" guys would the other team want?" If you do that with the Lions, I think the answer is slim. Two names immediately come to mind in Calvin Johnson and Ernie Sims. Most every team would or could use them. Jason Hanson and Nick Harris would also earn a look. I think safety Daniel Bullocks is good enough to start on a lot of teams (has very good speed for a safety) and I think Dominic Raiola is one of the better players at his position. (Let's face it....how many of you really follow the center position? Yeah....I didn't think so.) But we need to remember there are other players, who don't start on offense or defense who would make other clubs because of their special teams skill, like Casey Fitzsimmons and Corey Smith. Not saying teams would have to have those guys, but players like them are valuable to a team. Bottome line is it's pretty sad that there are just a handful of players others teams might covet. Sure you could add Roy Williams or a Dwayne White or a Corey Redding. I think they could create interest, but only without their current price tag. This Lions club is in desperate need of new talent and something like that rarely happens overnight. How many times have heard that-more than a handful of times.
Lingerie Football League
Tuesday 10-07-2008 8:06am ET
To go to their website for more, click here. Coach and player shoving video
Monday 10-06-2008 9:23pm ET
Shock Championship hat and t-shirt
Monday 10-06-2008 9:05pm ET
Exception to the Rule
Monday 10-06-2008 9:52am ET
I've constantly talked about how "expectations" dictate a sports fan's mood toward a sporting event he or she may be watching. Some may have thought the Lions season would be surprisingly successful, or some, like me, may have expected Detroit to search for wins, but at least be competitive in doing so, but most thought this years version of the Lions would be again disappointing and frustrating. They are and things could get worse after the 0-4 start. That's why the Lions are the exception to the rule. Even though most knew what to expect and predicted this teams shortfall, the mood on Monday mornings in this town doesn't change. Most believed the Bears would win Sunday and they did convincingly and yet caller after caller displayed disbelief and, to a certain degreee, apathy for this club. It really is a shame. If this team could bring in a person who knows what they're doing; steer this ship in the proper direction, then we'd feel a buzz like never before with this town. We greatly appreciate all the Wings, Pistons and Tigers have done for us and we thank our lucky stars we have those teams here to follow, but Lions success would bring this area to its zenith. The right GM or coach or quarterback would own this town. Hell, the right long snapper would get free meals everywhere if the Lions were winners. It would be one thing if this team was losing tight games and showing signs of improvement, but unfortunately, it has not displayed one quality of what it takes to be a winner. Even Detroit's best players are now infected with negative traits-Ernie Sims taking poor angles, Calvin Johnson dropping passes, uh.....uh......well I guess that's it for the "best players." It's not that these guys don't try. They do. They just aren't good and I expected more. I'm sure you did too. Various Tiger logos
Wednesday 10-01-2008 8:26am ET
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