Oh How I Hate Ohio

Well just as quickly as we got the Ohio monkey off our backs... It's right back on.  I could rant and rave about the absurd unfairness that went into the Urban Meyer hiring and how it's ridiculous how a team can cheat so blatantly, get punished, and come out better off.  It's a crock of shit and we all know it...

But anyways today's game.  Michigan... That defense played good enough to win.  They were let down by the lack of creativity from Brady Hoke and mostly Al Borges.

Michigan played good enough to win, and as a bitter Michigan fan I'll say they should have won.  What killed them was the turnovers and the putrid play calling in the second half.  In the second half, there were no Denard and Devin plays.  It was one or the other.  And if Denard was in, everyone in America knew a run was coming.

If anyone says credit OSU for adjusting I will shove my fist down their throat.  A monkey could adjust his defense to stop that lack of ingenuity.  4th and 3.  I absolutely loved going for it.  Run with Denard?  More than okay with, he's usually good for 3.  A slow developing run up the gut after having all kinds of running room to the outside? Fire Al Borges just for that.  You'd have to be a moron to call that kind of QB run.

3rd and 1.  I'm all into the game.  "Gardner play action bootleg with a run option.  That would work wonders right now."  Al Borges: "Let's give it to Vincent Smith, right up the middle."

This sort of shit is unforgivable   If you feel I'm overreacting, then you haven't seen me overreact but you will when my foot's up your ass.

Michigan should have won today.  They were let down by, in my opinion, coaches just as much as they were by themselves.  Michigan beat themselves.

I saw too many people already declare because of this win Urban will dominate this rivalry.  If he wins next year, you can begin to think that.  But winning a game he's favored to win at home?  Really?  And you're being paid to be national sport reporters and you spew off idocracies like that, meanwhile I sound just as stupid but yet a touch more sane by saying this proves nothing except that it should be a good battle.

Here's my assessment of the rivalry between Hoke and Meyer.  It has the potential to be a modern day Bo and Woody.  However, if Hoke doesn't win next year at home and win key recruiting battles, it WILL turn into Tressel v Carr.

This rivalry will determine whether Hoke stays on until he retires, or whether we have to go through another coaching search.

On a related note, if I had the chance to punch one  man in the face without repercussion, it'd be Urban Meyer.  I have hated him ever since he made Utah a BCS buster.  He's a no good cheater and I want to punch him square in the face.

Lions Aren't Thankful for Much

Photo Credit: sbnation.com

Well that sucked didn't it?  Lions just keep finding new ways to lose.  Have you seen a more mind-boggling, blood pressure-raising game such as that one?  I haven't in awhile.  My goodness what a ridiculous game.

I am not going to find silver linings cuz screw that, I'm pissed!  We lost because of the most asinine rule in all of sports.  Oh and because those officials are blind apparently.

First egregious call to go agains the Lions was a punt that clearly bounced off a Texan and should have been our ball.  There is a clear change in direction and clear touch.  The only question I had was did we touch it first.  And when the officials said the play stood, I thought maybe they determined we touched first...

Nope.  Schwartz said after the game that officials told him they didn't think the ball touched the Houston player.  Probably the only people in America to think that.

But the most egregious play... I won't even recap it, we all know he was down.  Everyone on the field knew it.  Yes I know refs are applauded for letting a play unfold but come on! The dude was on his stomach for God's sake.

But the thing that irritated me the most.  Schwartz broke the most asinine rule in sports.  I am irritated that he let his emotions dictate his actions and violate a rule he knew and knew he violated.

But my gripe in this blog is at the NFL.  What kind of arrogant, moronic, stupid bastards do you have to be to devise a rule that goes like this:  All scoring plays and turnovers will automatically be reviewed, UNLESS YOU ASK US TO REVIEW CUZ IF YOU DO, WELL THEN F*** YOU! Here's a 15 yard penalty and the play stands!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Who in the hell wrote that rule?  How did a group of men deemed capable of running a billion dollar industry devise such an asinine rule?

How long before the NFL finally looks down from it's pedestal and says "Hmmm, looks like the NCAA actually did something right, maybe we should do their system."

How can you play in a league that devises rules that directly infringe upon the integrity of the game.  I wouldn't even think Bud Selig would be this stupid.  Or even Gary Bettman!

I know I'm usually more level headed in my blogs and leave my rants to twitter, but I'm sorry, this is just too disgusting.  That has to be the most asinine rule in sports, and for another season, the Lions get so royally screwed that at the end of the year, the NFL is going to review their rules. (We're the reason all scoring plays are reviewed anyways) 

Taking Out the Trashburn

photo credit:/blog.prorumors.com

Tigers have finally gotten rid of Ryan Raburn.  Finally.  No more of the "maybe he'll run into one," no more "well he hits well in September," No more no more!  First Inge, no Raburn.  Finally we ridding the garbage.  Enough of this loyalty crap.  Be loyal to guys that stick around AND produce like Jeter.

Anyways, there isn't much to say purely on this.  We all can celebrate never having to see Raburn swing at strike three in the dirt.  It's going to be an amazing season.  The only down side is with him and Inge gone, who will be my new whipping boy?  My early leading candidate is Boesch, but he'll be gone soon too I bet.

The Raburn move comes as no surprise, but there is a bit of Tiger rumblings that do have me interested and that's the Jhonny Peralta trade rumors/Stephen Drew signing.

The Tigers have been in love with Stephen Drew for years.  Not sure why, but it's a fact.  He is an upgrade defensively no doubt.  Peralta defenders will say/always say "Well Jhonny makes every play he gets to."  Too bad he's too fat to get to anything hit that's not within two steps.

Here's what I like.  I like the idea of trading Peralta and upgrading at shortstop.  I think picking up Peralta's option was done for the purpose of making sure they didn't have to find a shortstop and for the possibility of trading him.  The trade rumors come as no surprise to me.

Here's what I don't like.  Stephen Drew and the rumors of getting prospects for Peralta.  Losing ball clubs trade for prospects.  The Tigers would be fools to trade their starting shortstop and get no pieces that will play right away.  Fools.  And Stephen Drew is completely abysmal and then some at the plate. And he's left handed.  This team was awful against lefties a season ago, this would only enhance the problem.  And oh yeah, he sucks against righties too, cuz he straight up can't hit.

I am okay with a shortstop that can field his position at a high level but can't hit.  But when I say can't hit here, I mean hit around .250 give or take.  If you have a shortstop that makes game changing plays then I will live with the bottom end of that scale.  Stephen Drew hit .223 a year ago with the DBacks and A's.  Awful.

What I want from whomever plays shortstop from Detroit, if his name isn't Peralta, is an average in the .260's with good range in the field and can make the big play defensively.  If it's Peralta, he has to hit .275 with power to make up for his lack of range.

But remember guys... RABURN IS GONE!!!!!!!!!! LET'S CELEBRATE

Welcome to the Big Fourteen?

Maryland and Rutgers are now officially members of the Big Ten... Errr Fourteen?  Well Rutgers will be officially official tomorrow, but for all intents and purposes, it's official.  And judging on the reactions I'm seeing, I'm not nearly as confused or surprised as most of you guys.

So let's break this down, beard style.  Does it make sense?  On the surface, no.  Rutgers and Maryland are east coast squads, they both aren't known for football prowess.  I mean Rutgers has had a good squad every three or four years lately, including this year's team.  Maryland... Well they have lots of flashy uniforms and that's about it.

But here's why it makes perfect sense, and trust me, you're not going to like the reasons.

Money.  Big Ten wants and now has that east coast TV market.  Maryland and Rutgers were considered when Nebraska was added too and they were on board.  Nebraska won the four team race between the aforementioned three and Missouri.  For those that don't remember, it literally became a race, Big Ten said GO! and Nebraska got it done first.

And reason number two why it makes sense?  You guessed it, Money.  This is where college football is going, like it or not.  Super Conferences that generate absurd amounts of money and dominate the sport.  They're coming.  Like it or not.  SEC started the super conference talk by bumping to 14 and Big Ten is moving that train right along the tracks.  Notre Dame's ACC deal just meant that the Big Ten would start looking elsewhere.

Over the next few years we will see more shifting and moving and super conferences will be made.  The Pac 12, SEC, Big Ten will stand alone, and the ACC and Big 12 will fight it out amongst themselves on who can survive.  Big East is done, it's over.  Goodbye.  Your conference stunk anyways.

Now how do I feel about these teams specifically?  Meh.  I don't hate them, I don't love them.  I'm not stupid though.  I know why they're here.  I just hope that they make sure to keep the divisions competitive   Maryland should join the Legends and Rutgers the Leaders.  That's not what early indications are but it makes the most competitive sense, and you can have Rutgers and Maryland be the protected crossover game.  I'ma genius.  Why don't I get paid for this kinda insight?

Maybe some good will come out of this guys... Maybe they'll finally change the division names!

Just Another Saturday...

Photo Credit: Yahoo!

So last night was pretty crazy eh?  #1 and #2 go down so now Notre Dame is #1... Personally, I'm really bummed.  I was excited at the prospect of having a non-SEC team win the ship, but as soon as K-State lost no matter what happened a team I hated was going to be crowned national champion.  And now that Bama is back in the hunt it's going to be them

And on the local front, Michigan absolutely destroyed Iowa 42-17 on senior day.  Devin Gardner looked great once again with six total touchdowns.  All Denard did was run and catch swing passes, so he looked great too.  Honestly, when Denard first got here and Tate Forcier looked as good as he did, I thought running and catching passes was Denard's future.  Honestly wish it were... TATE YOU'RE STILL MY BOY.

And for the Spartans?  Well... Same ol' Spartans.  They lost 23-20 and looked very lethargic while doing so.  They out gained Northwestern in every stat except points.  I am still amazed at how awful State's wide receivers are this year.  I have never seen so many dropped passes collectively by an entire core of wide outs.  It's cost them dearly this season, this game included.

Michigan is still in the hunt for a Big Ten title, needing to beat Ohio State next week and Nebraska to lose to Iowa.  Since I don't think either of those will happen, out Big Ten champ will be either a lucky, undeserving Nebraska (we all know they would have lost to Denard AND they lost to Penn State) or the third-best team in the leaders division Wisconsin (puke.)

And for the Spartans, they have to beat the vaunted Golden Gophers of Minnesota just to get a bowl game.  God I love college football.

Bearded Predictions for next week:
Ohio State 24  Michigan 20
Michigan State 17 Minnesota 14

I also have Notre Dame on upset alert because I hate them.

Have a good Sunday y'all, go Lions!

Tori Hunter First Move of (Hopefully) Big Offseason

Photo Credit: SI.com

It was a match made in heaven.  Torii wants a ring, Mr. I wants a ring.  Hunter admitted that Detroit was the team he wanted to play for above any other team, and he knew that before last season was even over.  Detroit needed a guy that could hit lefties, hit #2, and play great defense.

Hunter needed Detroit, and Detroit needed Hunter.

There isn't a negative thing to say about this deal.  Hunter, 37, is at the point in his career where all that's left to do is win a ring.  He's hungry, and this team needs hungry guys like Torii.  The two-year, $26 million ($13 mil per) is a very fair deal for a player like Hunter, and it doesn't hamper our finances. Having him for two years gives Nick Castellanos more time to develop as an outfielder, it's a perfect situation for everyone.

What's gerat about Hunter is that he's a clubhouse guy.  Everyone loves him.  He can be the leader and voice that this team was lacking.  Dotel said this team liked fire and hunger; Hunter will bring that.

I have nothing negative to say about the deal.  But since you all know I love to play devil's advocate, this is the closest I can come to a complaint.

I wanted bigger.

There are a plethora of talented outfielders on the market, and Hunter wasn't on the top of my lists of wants.  B.J. Upton is young, fast and on the market.  I am absolutely in love with Melky Cabrera.  Thought he would be available for cheap because of his positive steroid test and he was (signed two-year $16 mil with Toronto.)

The pipe dream was Josh Hamilton because I am absolutely in love with him.  But I didn't want him for what he was asking for, which was seven years and big money.  He's 31 and giving him big money for long-term would probably cost us Verlander or Miggy in the future, especially with Mr. I unfortunately near death.

But the guy that was number one on my list was Justin Upton.  25 years old and already locked into a multi-year deal, dealing for him would be nothing but upside.  I would have given up any set of prospects for him.  Two reasons why:
1) When you're a winning team, prospects are trade bait.  Losing teams collect prospects, teams trying to win now trade them.  I'm playing for now.
2) Upton is a young, five-tool player that fits exactly what we need from a new outfielder and then some.  He brings defense, speed, power, average, he brings it all.  And he's only 25.  It would have been a match made in heaven.

But it's hard to argue against Torii Hunter.  The move makes so much sense and the Tigers gave up nothing for him except money.  They get to keep those prospects, and bring in a hungry veteran who wants to be here and wants to win.

Hopefully this is only the start of a much bigger offseason.  Still need a closer (Soriano, Soria, Broxton available and on my list.)  More has to be coming, and hopefully we'll be back in the World Series, this time doing the sweeping.

To Whom I Owe Everything

It has been a very, very long time since I've been on this blog.  Far too long.  I'm sorry about that, to those few that enjoyed my opinions on sports, or enjoyed laughing at how dumb I sound.  But I'm mostly sorry to myself.  I lost my passion; I lost my way.

I can't say that I've found it again, and I can't call this a comeback really.  I intend to stay on top of this again, but I won't make any promises.

However, I am compelled to post on here again.  Not about how well Michigan has looked lately, or how lethargic State is, or how annoying it is to be a Lions fan, or even that the Pistons suck (big surprise.)  I'm not even compelled by the NHL lockout.  Frankly, I hope they shut down the season.  Mostly cuz I'm bitter about the Winter Classic cuz I HAD TICKETS...

But what did compel me to write this post is what compelled me to be a sports writer in the first place: My Dad.  For those of you that don't know, he passed away two months ago after fighting pancreatic cancer for 18 months.

See what I want to share with you all today is why I love sports and what they mean to me.  For years, ever since grade school I've been known as "the sports guy."  A title I wear with pride.  And that's all thanks to my dad.  From a very young age he got both my brother and I into sports, playing and watching.  They never really stuck with Joe but I was in love!  (Ironic thing is, Joe was a natural athlete, I was not-so...)

But see over the years sports were the greatest form of bonding between me and my father.  We didn't relate on much else.  He was a studious person, very calculated and careful, while I fly by the seat of my pants and take chances... And didn't study that much (natural smarts baby)

But we had sports.  Frankly, that's all we needed.  Some may wish for more from their father, but for me it was more than enough.  Because to some sports are just two teams playing a game and who cares who wins.  For me, sports are much more than that.  Don't get this paragraph wrong, I'm not criticizing my dad at all.  We had a rocky relationship at times but what kid doesn't with their parents?  And I'm not saying all he could do was relate through sports or that's all he cared about, but what I am saying is that he knew that's where our bond was closest.  Whether on the couch watching the Tigers or out on the golf course, it was how we related to each other.

And that's what people who don't watch sports don't understand, the binding power of sports.  I met a man at the Redford grill one day.  He said a lot of things that I agreed with, but only one thing was relevant to this post...  He asked me a question.

"Do you know what brings people together more than anything else?"
I threw out a guess, "Religion."
"No sir.  Sports."

And it's true.  Look at the way the people of New Orleans rallied behind the Saints after Katrina, or the people of New York to the Jets, Giants, Yankees, and Mets after 9-11.  It doesn't matter if the person next to you is white, black, brown, red, purple, pink, male, female, straight, gay, old, young doesn't matter.  All that matters is what team they're pulling for.  For a few hours a day, nothing matters except the result on the field.

And see this brings me back to my main point.  I never felt closer to my dad when things started to get worse than when we were watching Tiger baseball.  Over those 18 months, I watched the Tigers play almost every game with my dad.

He passed away before the magical run.  After he died on September 10th, the Tigers got hot.  I believed he was playing a part in their run.  Call it whatever you want but I felt it.  First they somehow won the division, then beat the A's, then swept the Yankees and there they were in the World Series... I thought it was destiny.  I truly did.

People asked why I was so upset after they got swept.  It was more than just the Tigers losing.  In fact, I really don't care that they lost (I care a little.)  It was the lost connection.  When that final out was made I knew it was over.  I would never feel that close to my dad again.  I didn't want this World Series as a fan, I wanted it as a son who misses his father.  That loss is what hurt the most.

TIme has passed, and I'm not bitter towards the Tigers anymore.  In fact, I'm inspired.  I am back on this blog again because I feel like by losing that passion for sports that I once had I am getting farther away from my dad.  This blog will be dedicated in his memory, and I will try my hardest for him to stay at it.

If you all take one thing away from this make it this:  Sports aren't just a bunch of men playing a game. They're a way for people to bond, come together, unite under one cause.  To call them "stupid," or "childish," is to not see  what is truly happening.  Because like that loud black man at the grill said, nothing brings people together quite like sports.

Thank you all, and goodnight.