Roger That

Maize & Blue and Green & White

2010-10-27T22:12:00.003-04:00

It's time for an audible.

This week, the Wolverine fans (Brandon and Roger) are joined by two Spartans (David and Matthew) for some reflection on the first eight weeks of football.

(This is a much-condensed version of a lengthy conversation -- originally more than 10,000 words -- and if some of it is indecipherable, that's your problem. Catch up.)

--

Roger: Let’s start with a cyber congratulations to the Spartans on a great season so far. Before the year, did you think they could be sitting here at 8-0? I know Matt did. 13-0, national championship prediction, every year.

Matt: Well I can't help what I believe. I enter every game with the thought that we can win.

David: Could they? Absolutely ... we've played eight games. Would they? No, I didn’t think we would be.

Matt: I think most U of M fans would have taken a 5-2 start with no hesitation, agreed?

David: You mean a 5-0 start ...

Roger: The fans that are upset with 5-2 are delusional. What is upsetting is the way they play in stretches, but 5-2 ... we have to accept that.

Brandon: The season is definitely at a crossroads. To quote one Ken "Hawk" Harrelson, "Let's just start where we are at, and go from there."

David: How profound.

Roger: Even the wins are upsetting to watch because there is zero chance of us stopping anyone.

David: I think UCONN put some of the pre-season talk to rest ... but UMASS brought it all back. Even ND was tolerable, but 37 to UMASS? Ominous cloud cover ...

Matt: Do you guys think it is something that can change with another recruiting class? Or does this issue run deeper?

Brandon: I think it goes as deep as Greg Robinson allows it to.

Roger: The defense is a lost cause, in my eyes. We just need to outscore people.

Matt: Can you do that with Denard?

Roger: Yes. His pros far outweigh his cons. But the play calling has become so predictable and, in big situations, ill-suited for him. If he ran more and stuck to outs and slants, the ball control factor would've allow us to compete for longer stretches in the last two games.

Brandon: I think we have a better chance if Obi Ezeh becomes the David Cone of 2010. Maybe a slightly larger headset ...

Matt: Are you concerned that Tate looked better the other week?

Brandon: Why would that be a concern? (if it's true...)

Matt: Well he is not your starter.

Brandon: Would it concern you if Keith Nichol were good enough to play quarterback?

Roger: Tate had two picks. He passed better than Denard did. But we already know that. Playing Denard and Tate together for a few downs every quarter would please me, simply because it would get Tate in the flow when a bump and bruise at some point to Denard is likely. And then Tate wouldn't have as much pressure on him late if he was needed.

Matt: I wouldn't feel good about my backup coming in, looking much better than my starter ...

Roger: Your perception of Denard is skewed. He's still one seam away from a touchdown, every play, and there aren't very many players in football like that. He needs to be utilized differently, not like a traditional QB, and Rod has gotten away from that. He drops back like Peyton Manning 10 times a game. That needs to be ripped from the playbook.

Brandon: I would generally save my criticism for the defense, but watching the last game, I think there's validity to that. The defense in the first half played well ENOUGH. The offense didn't capitalize on opportunities, which clearly they need to do.

Matt: Oh I understand that his talents make him the most dangerous weapon in college football, but that doesn't mean he is the best starting quarterback for your offense. No one had any idea what the kid was capable for the first five games. There was little to no tape of him.

Brandon: He puts more stress on defenses than any other player we have; why not give him the ball every play?

Roger: There's no use in abandoning him because they've lost two games. He'll be fine. So what's gonna be the key at Iowa this week, Red Cedar brothers?

Brandon: I think for you guys it's gotta be find a way to get Dantonio in the press box. Y’all play better when he's up there anyway. Tell me I’m wrong.

David: Matt, lead off and I'll clean up your mess.

Matt: Well against Northwestern I think the weather hurt our running game a lot. I think our running game is best when using cutback runs. Second, I think the continued improvement of Tyler Hoover our great DE from NOVI will keep their running game in check, which is huge.

David: To start the game (for reference’s sake, the first quarter), we need to win/tie the turnover margin, win field position early, and most most importantly, we need to depress the crowd ... early. With highlighted focus on the last two games, we have started extremely slow and we cannot let Kinnick take us out of the game in the first 15.

Matt: And I am very curious to hear what happens with Chris L Rucker, as he is to be released from jail soon.

Roger: Is he really in jail?

Matt: Yep, served a 10-day sentence with 2 days already served.

David: He's out Thursday.

Roger: No way he plays.

David: Reserve at best.

Roger: Stanzi can torch some folks, now. Y’all might need Chris L. D. U. I. Rucker.

David: Eh ... what did Grady blow, with the car in drive, while passed out in the driver’s seat. No stones in glass houses.

Roger: That Grady is no longer a member of our football team. Chris L. D. U. I. Rucker remains a Spartan. For now.

David: Due to eligibility, but that bro played. Plus, .10 isn't egregious, in my opinion.

Roger: OK, favorite three moments of the season so far, go.

David: “Little Giants” is a clear #1. Michigan -- year three, at your place, with all the hype -- was something. Locally, they couldn't stop talking about it all week. Nard Dog for Heisman everywhere. And K-Mart’s punt return on Wisky was huge in grand perspective of the season.

Roger: 1. Denard for 87 in South Bend. 2. Denard to Roy against ND. Perfect play call up the
seam. Had everyone fooled. 3. The late bomb to Hemingway in the Indiana game down to the goal line.

Matt: 1. MSU beating ND in OT. 2. Watching Bama lose is always great, FU Saban. 3. Taylor Martinez as the most exciting player in the game.

Roger: Now, I'm curious how the Big Ten race will unfold if several teams finish with one loss, which is realistic. ‘Sconsin and the Bucks win out, and then the Spartans lose one more. Who goes to the Rose Bowl?

Brandon: Invitation, right?

David: Ohio State, highest BCS ranking. Highest BCS gets Rose. Iowa’s out, in my opinion. So between us and OSU, Iowa’s out, in my opinion. They'll lose again and have the sole loss out of conference.

Brandon: It's a travesty MSU doesn't play OSU. Ohio State would handle the Spartans. I believe they are taking advantage of an easy schedule, which is to their credit, but still.

David: We beat Wisky convincingly, who beat OSU and Iowa

Roger: Ohio State's offensive line is fantastic, its defense pounds the lesser teams, but that quarterback who wears No. 2 is still mistake-prone. I don't think they'd blow out any top caliber team

Matt: And I do agree that not playing OSU is a bit unfortunate. I would like to play them too.

David: I was in C-Bus last weekend and I'll say this, OSU is glad they don't play us too. Not saying we're as good as OSU, but we're a good football team.

Brandon: You telling me they wouldn't want a shot at beating a 0-loss team to allow them the CHANCE to pull even?

David: Of course they would, but if they were undefeated at the moment, they wouldn't want to play us. It's convenient now ... to pull them back into the race. To Wolvie's credit, you should have played in the 2006 title game against OSU. Bullshit media stole it from you. No more hype ever than that football game in 2006.

Roger: It’s a near-perfect sport with a ridiculously imperfect postseason. Just give me a damn bracket, even if it’s four teams. Please.

David: Super-4 conference, 16 teams each, a champ from each league, there's your four-team playoff.

Matt: No thanks go BCS!!!

David: Barff all over the effing place.

Roger: So Matt, if you win out, you probably won't make the national title game, and you're supporting that?

Matt: Yes, go BCS, it makes college football so exciting all year long.

David: NO NO NO NO NO NO.

Brandon: Whoa, struck a nerve.

Roger: Matt, I agree, but how would a playoff make it less exciting?

Matt: Because two-loss teams will get hot and win the title.

David: More hype would result from a playoff, and Cinderellas have a chance.

Roger: The fact is, it would be even better. Teams with one loss would continue to have an interest all the way through. Even if they do, that doesn't make the season less exciting.

Matt: Sure it does -- you can play to be # 8 all year long. It should be your goal to win all your games, not win enough to get in. I do not want to see OU sitting players in the Big 12 Championship Game because they know even if they lose they will get in the “playoffs.”

Roger: I understand your point, that every game should have the world riding on it, but I could never see any team having that mindset: "If we lose, we're still in." Because so many more teams would be knocking on that door for a chance.

David: Exactly. Then Boise doesn't have to go out and try to schedule big boys who don't want to play them Also, they join the Pac 10, and they're playing a legit schedule all of a sudden. Big 12 goes away. Big East goes away. The four-team playoff makes the most sense to me at the outset -- ACC, Big 10, SEC, Pac 10, 16 in each. Let’s get after it. And the best part of the four 'BCS' conference scenario is it’s really an eight-team playoff, in that the 1 and 2 in each league play in the conference championship game. BOOM. Also, you could get rid of out-of-conference scheduling.

Roger: With that, Matt just left. Since he refuses to make predictions, let's each make three bold ones for the rest of the Big Ten season.

David: Northwestern wins out, Penn State doesn't make a bowl game, and Michigan doesn't make a bowl game.

Brandon: Michigan will make a Bowl game. MSU goes to a BCS Bowl, and Illinois WINS a bowl game.

Roger: Wow, no predictions for your own team, Dave? Not surprising.

David: We are 0-0 and play Iowa this week.

Brandon: Earlier you said the Spartans have a new feel about them. That comment right there proves its same ole: terrified of success.

David: No, not at all, embracing it actually.

Roger: 1) Michigan will finish 8-4 with wins over the Nittany Lions, the Boilermakers and the Buckeyes. 2) Michigan State will finish 11-1 with a loss at Penn State. 3) Rich Rodriguez will not keep his job in the offseason.

David: Loss @ PSU would be horrible. Hope that doesn't come true

Roger: Never won there since they joined the Big Ten.

Brandon: 8 wins and a termination? That's BOLD.

David: See ya, Rich.

Brandon: The NCAA sanctions have not dropped, and that's the elephant.

Roger: I have a strong feeling that Dave Brandon will judge Rich Rod on more than wins. He’ll look at the quality of play, the recruiting, the perception of the program.

Brandon: I would love to see the contract Les Miles has with Lucipher ... and maybe see him with one in AA.

David: So, who's Rod's replacement (top 3)?

Brandon: Miles, Petersen, Schiano.

David: Schiano already said ‘No.’

Brandon: Ask him again.

Roger: Miles, Harbaugh or Kiffin.

Brandon: I'm interpreting that last one as an illustration of your dissatisfaction with Rod.

David: Kiffin!?! Shut the front door.

Roger: Joking.

David: Rog, how does Harbaugh make up for his comments in the past?

Roger: It all depends on whether he gets along with Brandon. One introductory press conference where he acknowledges the comments and takes responsibility for them and for creating a new culture at Michigan will help people forget.

Brandon: Holtz? Anyone?

David: I would personally love it. How could you got against those half time prep talks

Brandon: He may be just what the doctor ordered.

David: Wow many wins make you happy and is that the same number as how many save Rod's job?

Brandon: I could do one over OSU, make a bowl game, and fire Rod -- as long as the next coach would keep this offense in tact, in some semblance

David: Really like that answer

Roger: Nine total wins will make me happy because the offense is good enough to win that many, but I want Rod gone.

David: Second question: What will you two do with your Rodfather T's ...?

Roger: Give it to you, of course. You would wear it, too. I know how you and Matt praise the man.

David: “Praise” is not the right word.

Roger: How about "appreciate" ... ? He has provided you with much joy over the past three years.

David: Ehhh ... seeing Michigan being terrible isn't fun for me, Matt, or the Big 10. I want to beat you guys when you're good, and the Big 10 wants you at its best. I’m all for you returning to WWII form as soon as possible

Brandon: Penn State is a BIG game. An absolute must win. There is no excuse for losing that

David: Personally, I enjoyed Lombardi recently.

Roger: Rod is so long winded but never says anything of substance.

David: Alright, another question: buy or sell Dantonio>

Roger: He's smug, that's about all that bothers me. But so many coaches are. Dantonio is a good football coach.

Brandon: I'll buy Don Treadwell hard.

David: Despite looking like an Alopecia patient, Treadwell's solid in speech. I still don't get this smug thing.

Roger: Dave, watch Dantonio’s interviews. "It's called little giants." Evil little smile.

Brandon: Dantonio is lucky his fake field goal worked, because this season easily could've tanked had it failed, and he would've been on his way out. And his assistant coach has proved far better on the field than he has.

David: NO NO NO NO NO, Brandon, the fake field goal fails, we play Wisconsin

Brandon: Remember history ... MSU has not traditionally rebounded well from tough losses. That's what I'm going off, not my own bias.
David: I was hoping to get to this, but we would be 4-4 right now under any other Spartan coach in the 80's, 90's, 00's.

Brandon: You are 8-0 under two coaches right now.

David: Right ... two 'right' coaches who've instilled something that has been lacking for decades. You're telling me we beat NW this past saturday with John L, Bobby Will?

Roger: All I know is Dantonio owns us. I can't really say much.

David: Well, getting past us with Dantonio at the helm will be tough, he hates you and that Mike Hart comment so much. He'll never let that die, even if we're on top of the rivalry. I can still watch that You Tube clip and see his blood boiling. We will always be up for that game

Brandon: I do not believe that ... I believe it's Michigan's lack of effectiveness that's led to the last 3 years, always will.

Roger: Those Dantonio comments, the whole “Pride comes before the fall” thing was warranted, but then he gets on a a high horse and calls out Hart specifically. Take the high road, guy. That's a 21-year-old kid and you're supposed to be a man.

Brandon: I still contend he's immature for engaging a college student. Be a Grown Ass Man and stay above it.

Roger: Walk away. Let your blood boil. And walk away. You just lost.

David: Hart spoke on behalf of the team, and Dantonio addressed it. No “attack.”

Brandon: It's an ad hominem attack on a college student

Roger: And that's smug: contentedly confident of his superiority. In that case, superior because he's older and he's a coach.

David: Ehhh, please.

Roger: What Hart did was smug, too ... of course. But he's a young kid. You're a Division I head coach. Keep it classy. And that's all I have to say about that.

David: He did -- all in body language and tone. Although the 'height comment' was too much. I did laugh, but low brow for a coach.

Brandon: That's what he's referencing

Roger: It's old news. We're 0-3 in three years. And now State can go 9-0! Unheard of.

Brandon: I would like their chances better if Iowa won last week.
David: MSU loses if we allow Kinnick to take control of the game early, we lose the turnover battle, and we lose time of possession MSU wins if we contend early in the 1st quarter and (at the very least) win field position throughout the first quarter, (in extension of the previous point) are allowed to run the ball freely due to a lead, and win the turnover battle. In my opinion, especially in college, turnovers = win/lose ... buy or sell?

Roger: They've killed us the past two weeks. But why is it so important to play well early? State is a second half team.

David: On the road, in a hostile environment (i hardly call Evanston that), you need to humble the crowd to keep moxie and composure

Roger: Moxie. Always crucial. Moxie. B, what we gotta do to snap this slide?

Brandon: Win turnover battle and time of possession, simple as that.

Roger: It’s almost impossible for us to win TOP. We'll win the yardage battle. I will say that.

David: I should hope so.

Brandon: TOP is more important for Michigan than any other team in the country because of our defense -- and our coach could give two shits less about it. I have no problem with the offense, but don’t go so fast.

Roger: Against Indiana we had the ball for 17 minutes to their 43 or something ridiculous.

Brandon: D was on the field for 98 plays.

Roger: Well boys, we're already over 9,000 words

Brandon: It's a thesis

David: This was seriously a blast, though. Let’s make this a regular.

Brandon: Enjoyable, yes.

David: On the banks ...

Brandon: Go Blue

Roger: Go Blue.

R&B Sling the Blue (Oct. 2, at Indiana)

2010-10-02T01:38:00.001-04:00

ROGER GARFIELD: Well, 4-0 is great. It's grand. Can't do better than that. But through a month, I feel like I only know two things about this team: The defense is putrid, and Denard Robinson is remarkable. Now it's time to see whether Rich Rod has truly improved this team and made it ready for the Big Ten. He has only ever won three Big Ten games. Let's make it four in Bloomington.

BRANDON FALK: And ironically, the defense has performed to the level of competition. Let’s hope that holds true when we keep playing teams that are better than the non-conference competition we've faced.

RG: I'd like to think these are guys who can raise their level of play with increased competition, but we just don't know. Too many question marks on defense. That’s why I’m nervous for tomorrow.

BF: I’m excited. We get a couple guys back this week, Marvin Robinson and Carvin Johnson, some freshmen who have contributed early, and hopefully they can help. The offense is obviously clicking well, regardless of quarterback. I loved seeing Tate get in there and perform at a high level last week.

RG: Yeah, great to see Tate -- and his attitude about the whole situation couldn't be better. You said Saturday that if there's a game up in the air and Denard is hurt for whatever reason, you'd much rather have Tate in there than Devin. I couldn't agree more. Although Devin didn't look too shabby against BG.

BF: Also great to see our corners give less than 25 yard cushions ... but I digress. Tate's been there before, he's become a grizzled veteran of sorts. You're right about the question marks being on the defensive side of the ball. It's almost like the offense isn't even worth talking about, it's going so well.

RG: Yeah, but it's more fun to talk about the offense. Even then, they haven't played any good defenses. So we'll figure out a lot in these next couple weeks. Heading to Indiana, I think a big key is getting to the quarterback. Ben Chappell is poised and pretty dangerous back there, and they run that pistol offense pretty well. Almost beat us in Ann Arbor last year. With the corners playing unreliably, our D line and our linebackers need to rattle this guy early, or it could be a painfully long day for us U-M fans. I’m not looking to relive the UMass game.

BF: A few of our Spartan friends believe that the offense won't hold up in the Big Ten! I think that's fallacious. But yes, Chappell can play, and if we can get pressure with those front three and drop eight, we'll be in great shape. Just like before, I think Craig Roh is critical to the success of this defense. Speaking of the D line, how great has Mike Martin been? Unreal.

RG: I'd like to think those three can get to Chappell, but I just don't see it. I want to rush four and five and six and force him into making mistakes. Maybe Mike "the animal" Martin can do it on his own. I don't see the hoosier line stopping him too consistently. The guy is relentless. I thought we'd have a huge void there after Brandon Graham left, but Martin has filled it well.

BF: We have a true freshman out of Ohio named Jibreel Black wearing BG's No. 55, and he's performed very admirably in it. Need more consistent play out of Obi Ezeh! Mouton has looked great. We'll find out a lot in this game, though. It's nice to get in conference so we can really start silencing some critics.

RG: All that matters is we keep the zero on the right side of that W-L column. At least for another few weeks. What do you think of the state of the Big Ten four weeks in to the season? I was impressed through two weeks, but now I'm not so sure. We have beaten up on some patsies and not won any significant games, unless you count Ohio State topping Miami.

BF: The Big Ten looks great, and I think we'll show out well in Bowl season. Notre Dame is looking more and more pedestrian; that's maybe not as great a win as we thought it was initially. But you'll still take it, obviously.

RG: May the Irish cry themselves to sleep every Saturday night.

BF: Couple injuries this week: Mike Shaw and Fitz Touissant out, need some other backs to step up. I'm looking for Vince Smith and Mike Cox to play well, and Stephen Hopkins to hold onto the rock.

RG: I hope we get Smith the ball moving North and South. He doesn’t go sideways very well. Either way, with Shaw out, we’ll need another big day from the ‘Nard Dog.

BF: A real quick recruiting piece: Demetrius Hart makes his "Decision" this weekend. Nabbing him will be big if we do.

RG: I look at our style of play and think it helps recruiting in two ways: No. 1, the offense is so high-powered and fun, why wouldn't you want to play in that style and put up astronomical numbers? And No. 2, the defense is so bad and porous, the plausibility of coming in and playing right away is very real.

BF: OK, prediction time.

RG: Michigan 49, Indiana 28.

BF: Michigan 36, Indiana 30.

RG: Go Blue.

BF: Go Blue.

Roger Garfield and Brandon Falk are Michigan football fans excited for the Big Ten schedule to begin. They know the Hoosiers have some offensive pop, but they hope Denard and the boys will expose Indiana for the football school it really is and give the Hoosiers a customary home loss to the Maize and Blue. They hope. They can be reached at rlouisgar@gmail.com and hbrandonfalk@gmail.com.

R&B Sling the Blue (Sept. 25, Bowling Green)

2010-09-22T00:36:00.002-04:00

ROGER GARFIELD: You called me Saturday just after the game and asked, “Have you ever felt more furious after a win?” I don’t recall many more frustrating afternoons where we came out on top. An escape. That’s what that was.

BRANDON FALK: Well, let’s put it in a nutshell: Offense looks great, defense looks terrible.

RG: Didn’t we say that last week?

BF: This is the offense everybody thought we’d see from Rich Rod when he came over. I think it’s fair to say the offense has arrived.

RG: Keep in mind they did play UMASS. But the offense was appreciated, and much-needed. And fun to watch. That spurt just before halftime -- the two Denard-to-Stonum touchdowns when things were looking bleak -- made it feel like we can throw far more than 42 up there on the big board. It may come this week.

BF: Recapping, I thought the O-line played well, opening up some room for Mike Shaw and others to have a big day -- 284 yards rushing as a team. Talking personnel, Mark Huyge is in a fight with Taylor Lewan for the starting spot at left tackle. They put Lewan in for 20 snaps last game, and he was just leveling guys. Regardless, the O-line looked great, Mike Shaw looked great.

RG: And we would have had a whole rack of additional yards if UMass hadn’t hogged the ball for 37 minutes of the game. But you’re right, it’s great to see Shaw emerge, for the sake of confidence as much as anything else. He’s no Brandon Minor or Anthony Thomas -- he won’t bruise you -- but he’s elusive and reliable. He’s the only ball carrier not to fumble so far, I believe. We haven’t seen too many guys take the ball, though.

BF: Rod wants to play more backs. He said they want to get Mike Cox, who’s a redshirt sophomore, and freshman Stephen Hopkins -- they want to get those guys in the game, but they don’t know the playbook yet.

RG: I like the rotation of Denard and Shaw, Shaw and Denard.

BF: I would like to see Hopkins. I don’t think he’s at a Brandon Minor level, but he could be at some point. Man, don’t you just wish that we had a healthy B. Minor for one more year with this offense -- the way it looks now?

RG: B. Minor wasn’t just a good back for this system -- he was a good back, period. But Shaw looks solid. Vincent Smith, on the other hand, hasn’t done much. He’s fast, but when your tendency is to run into the line and get stalled, speed matters nada. I’d like to see him get fewer touches.

BF: He’s a bit of an overachiever. His breakaway speed isn’t that much faster than Shaw’s. I don’t even think he’s as fast as Shaw. He’s a small guy; he’s an average to above average back. I think that’s just what he is.

RG: With the amount of carries Denard gets, I don’t see the need to mix it up with a whole lot of backs, especially when Shaw seems durable and would benefit from the chance to get in a rhythm. I did like the end around to Kelvin Grady. Reminded me of Lloyd. For as conservative as that man was, he always loved mixing in at least one reverse per game -- usually to a guy like Braylon or Calvin Bell or David Terrell.

BF: I’d like to see one of the running backs separate themselves to the point that there’s no question who you want in the game. It looks like Mike Shaw is that guy. Now, Fitzgerald Toussaint is pretty close to returning from an injury. I’d like to see what he has to offer.

RG: Fitz T is a pretty big fella -- 5-10, 200 -- who could bring the boom like some of our locomotives of yesteryear.

BF: I think I speak for a lot of Michigan fans who are still holding on to the Anthony Thomases and the guys who really lowered the shoulder -- those big power backs.

RG: Even in Rod’s offense, there’s a time and place when you get in that red zone, or you need to kill the clock, where you need that. Let’s hope we take care of our needs for Bowling Green this Saturday in the first half. But after Saturday, I’m counting no chicks before they hatch. There are so many areas that have made me cringe continually through three weeks. Special teams is still looking shaky.

BF: Oh boy. That’s ... jeez. First of all, you’ve got to take Jeremy Gallon off punt return. That’s three games, and he has two fumbles.

RG: Let’s call them egregious fumbles.

BF: Both of them. He missed one that was about two feet too high for him to get, and he missed one that was about 10 feet in front of him that he had to dive for. You might as well have Tate back there; you’re not using him for anything else.

RG: There’s an idea. But I don’t see him running away from too many guys.

BF: Put anybody back there. Put Vince Smith back there. Anybody who’s not gonna fumble.

RG: Last year it was Junior Hemingway. We may see him. Martavious would be fine. Or how about Grady? He’s a bit more expendable than the other wideouts, and I like what I see from him so far. He’s shifty.

BF: Terrence Robinson is another option. He’s got a little scoot to him. He looked good in the UConn game.

RG: The whole receiving corps has really impressed me. Steady. Catching most of balls thrown their way, blocking downfield. Other than Denard and the O-line, that’s our biggest strength.

BF: That’s one of the most noticeable differences in this offense: The emphasis on downfield blocking, especially by the receivers. Hemingway, Stonum, Odoms and Roundtree -- they’re all doing their jobs.

RG: And their only real deficiency is their height. I think they make up for it with speed and YAC. Now, defensively. F. Where do you even start?

BF: I think you’ve got to start with Greg Robinson.

RG: Has he been evicted from his southeastern Michigan home yet?

BF: Man. If it doesn’t turn around, he’s on his way. Put it this way: If you’re Dave Brandon, the AD, your focus has to shift from Rich Rod’s job to the D coordinator’s. He’s got to have a strong hand in that. You’ve got to realize Michigan has had its problems under Rod. The sanctions are going to come down soon. Hopefully the NCAA accepts what we’ve put on the table. But this much is clear: Rodriguez can recruit, and he can field an offense. That’s half the battle. It’s clear that his offense is a National Championship-caliber, Big Ten Championship-caliber offense.

RG: Ooo. I wouldn’t go there just yet, simply because we haven’t beaten anybody. I don’t see the Huskies, Irish or Minutemen having seasons they feel great about. Let’s just agree that our offense is better than our defense.

BF: Schematically, Robinson got out-coached Saturday. When you look at the 11 athletes that are on the field for us against the 11 that are on the field for them, they’re not stronger; they’re not faster; they’re not bigger; they’re not better. There’s no excuse for the defense to be that out of position. That’s coaching.

RG: But let’s not pretend that our personnel is the ‘85 Bears and Robinson is preventing them from succeeding. We have some serious lack of artillery in certain areas.

BF: Well, sure. When your secondary and your corners lose contain and they (UMass) get outside as many times as they did, it’s bad. The personnel is still problematic.

RG: Our defensive backs look like high schoolers half the time. And our linebackers. You’re telling me Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton are seniors? They were horrible. How can you be a senior at Michigan and not lay out for that QB at the goal line? That was an inexcusable lack of effort by Mouton. Imagine what Larry Foote would’ve done to that poor kid.

BF: He should’ve hit the ground with his helmet off. He should’ve been absolutely murdered on that play. That play is a microcosm of the difficulties. Now, if you’re looking for a silver lining, the biggest play the defense gave up all day was 19 yards.

RG: So what? UMass had the ball for like two-thirds of the game, and that was by design. They ate up the clock, and we let them.

BF: What bothers me are the 12-yard cushions we give opposing receivers. If you’re going to give up a 12-yard cushion and you’re not going to get consistent pressure on the quarterback, you’re doing your entire unit a disservice. You’re better off running a bump and run and rushing more guys.

RG: I think we should just blitz more. The 3-3-5 makes me sick. Why play five DBs when they’re your worst players? Give me a 5-2, or a 4-3, or any scheme where we can have another lineman or backer or head hunter out there who can get to the quarterback. I love the way Mike Martin, Craig Roh and most of the line is playing, but those guys need to be told “SIC!” more often. You don’t think they’d love to be sent on aggressive blitzes 20 times a game, and with some extra company? If we get burned deep, we get burned deep. But at least we get the ball back. That’s really our best defense.

BF: With the LBs, I give a pass to Mouton. He did enough in the first two games for me to turn my head. But Obi Ezeh, in my opinion, does not deserve to keep his job right now. He is slow-footed, he misreads plays, he’s just a non-factor at that position.

RG: Isn’t that a surprise? Because he looked so good as a sophomore. Really, I thought he was one of our best players in the 3-9 season.

BF: Kenny Demens deserves to play. That’s Ezeh’s backup. Generally, though, I don’t get some of these personnel decisions that are made. It just doesn’t add up.

RG: Well maybe we’ll be able criticize or praise Les Miles at that D coordinator position next year.

BF: I really think we need LSU to lose.

RG: Boo Tigers.

BF: My faith in Greg Robinson is in the cellar right now.

RG: How about your faith in Denard Robinson?

BF: Couldn’t be higher.

RG: He had what could’ve been perceived as a lackluster game for him, and he still had exemplary numbers: 10-for-14 for 241 yards and two TDs through the air; 17 carries for 104 and a rushing TD. I like this young man.

BF: God, he looks great, man. His decision-making, his accuracy. Complete command.

RG: I don’t see any reason to play Tate or Devin early in a game as long as Denard stays healthy.

BF: I agree with that. He hasn’t taken many monster hits, and there’s really no point in speculating on that stuff. It can happen to anybody on any play. I do want to see Devin Gardner play. I do because Denard isn’t going to be the Michigan quarterback forever.

RG: Don’t say that. DON’T SAY THAT!

BF: Gardner needs to get in there.

RG: Well, we need to blow out Bowling Green so we can see Devin, because that’s going to be our last “easy game.” I even hesitate to say that.

BF: Indiana could be a street fight.

RG: Indiana could be a rout, for them, if our defense plays like it did last week.

BF: Well, there is a brief bit of good news on the recruiting front: Demetrius Hart, an Orlando running back, took an official visit to Auburn. He loved it. It’s down to Auburn and Michigan. That would be the final piece of the puzzle on offense. He’s got the whole package. Alabama and Florida also want him, by the way. But just to envision that offense with he and Denard running it? He’s a home run hitter, and that will help Denard -- especially considering we still may need to outscore some teams for another couple years.

RG: What do you want to see Saturday?

BF: I want to see some murderous play from the linebacker position. It’d be nice if the defense this week could resemble some of those defenses of old. When we were growing up, defense was exciting to watch. Lamarr Woodley, Prescott Burgess, Marlin Jackson, Charles Woodson.

RG: Sam Sword. Shante Orr. Victor Hobson. Jarrett Irons. Yes.

BF: It’s a totally different feel now. It’s anxiety.

RG: You’re not going to snap a finger and just conjure up the 1997 Michigan defense. But you hope a better defense shows up before long. And you hope it doesn’t take three more years, the amount of time it took Rod’s offense to form solidly.

BF: I think a lot of it rests with the coaches. Why is Jordan Kovacs the best player on our defense?

RG: We’ve discussed this. The kid is a blue-chip guy, a hard worker with a high football IQ and a nose for the ball. All the white cliches.

BF: I just want to see some shots at it this week. Send Cam Gordon on a free safety blitz. Pull some stunts. Overload one side of the line. Try something on defense instead of playing so cautious and so conservative. We see where that’s gotten us. Do something different.

RG: But keep winning. Predictions time. What say you?

BF: I’ll go 42-13, Michigan.

RG: OK. I’m going to try for a more realistic crystal ball gaze this week: Heroes 51, Villains 30. Bowling Green doesn’t scare me. But our defense does.

BF: I want one hit this week that’s gonna make me spill my beverage. That’s my goal.

RG: I want 4-0. Go Blue.

BF: Go Blue.

Roger Garfield and Brandon Falk are curious Michigan football fans who wonder whether Bowling Green’s offensive attack will befuddle the Wolverine defenders enough to force Greg Robinson out of town before September ends. They expect the Falcons to fail, but they aren’t putting anything past Greg Robinson. He’s pretty atrocious at what he does. They can be reached at rlouisgar@gmail.com and hbrandonfalk@gmail.com.

R&B Sling the Blue (Sept. 18, Massachusetts)

2010-09-18T10:01:00.003-04:00

ROGER GARFIELD: Since last Saturday I’ve been giddy every time I think about Michigan football. How have you felt about the Wolverines over the past seven days?

BRANDON FALK: I feel as though it’s better to learn form a win than a loss. I’m encouraged by the offense. The defense still makes me nervous. Any big-time recruit who plays free safety should probably know that he can play from Day 1 when he gets on campus next year. But hey, 2-0? We can’t complain.

RG: I have a few mini-complaints that mostly concern play calling and basic strategy, but those can sit on the shelf for a month or so. We indeed are 2-0, and it’s a beautiful thing. The ‘Nard Dog, Denard Robinson, is the talk of college football. We’re playing with a swagger that has been absent for quite some time. And we beat the Domers. Always a delightful feeling.

BF: Those are the kinds of games we lost the last two years. We found a way to lose them. It’s nice that we’re finding a way to win them.

RG: Looking at the schedule, it’s set up favorably now to where we could be anywhere from four to seven games into the fall with no blemishes. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Today we’ve got the Minutemen. I’d like to see a big first half from Denard, then a big second half of him drinking water and walking up and down the sideline perusing the crowd for hot girls. Also, a good defensive day would be excellent.

BF: Seriously, how about Cam Gordon, man? Take a good line on the ball. Jeez. He was singlehandedly responsible for two touchdowns against Notre Dame.

RG: Some venom. Yeah, you’re right, he was pretty, pretty bad. I liked Thomas Gordon, though -- No. 15. He was everywhere.

BF: He’s playing incredibly well. You know he’s not a starter -- he’s only playing because Carvin Johnson is hurt. He’s playing like Jordan Kovacs.

RG: Man, I like Kovacs, but he is SLOW. It’s like he’s running through quicksand with 20-pound weights on his ankles and a Jersey Shore grenade on his shoulders. But the dude makes plays. He has a nose for the ball.

BF: I read an article about Kovacs that was interesting. The coaches were saying how he’s not a long-term fix for us. “We gotta get somebody in that position with speed. We gotta find someone more athletic. We gotta get someone who can play there.” And you never do, because he never gets beaten out for the spot.

RG: And he’s a walk-on. Great story. I think his work ethic is rubbing off on the rest of the defensive unit. Let’s hope they return the favor and bless him with an extra 0.1 on his 40 time or something.

BF: You know what’s bothering me? Our running backs have got to get more production.

RG: Ehh, you can’t lose sleep over that. Our rushing stats are not exactly lacking. Denard simply monopolizes the ball.

BF: I’d still like to see those guys get more carries and Denard get less. Let’s get Stevie Hopkins 10-15 trips today.

RG: Denard needs less wear and tear. Today will be a good chance for him to sit back after he throws up his 300 yards rushing on 13 carries. Then, your boy Stevie should get a few carries. You know, I thought there was a chance it would be close with these Minutemen this afternoon, but then I saw the comments that player made about the Big House being “the little house on the prairie.” If I’m that guy’s coach, I leave him in Amherst. Don’t rile a sleeping giant.

BF: Your best hope at coming into Ann Arbor is that Michigan is going to overlook you. The last thing you want to do is drum up a little motivation.

RG: Well, let’s cue the michigan band and have them drum up the Victors about 42, 43 times today, shall we? Michigan 70, UMass 15.

BF: I say 50-14, Michigan.

RG: I wouldn’t mind seeing Devin Gardner for the entire second half. And I wonder if Tate Forcier will play, because if he is the clear No. 3 on this team, perhaps Rich Rod will save his eligibility by not playing him -- and encourage him to transfer. For Tate’s own good.

BF: Nodody who supports Michigan football should want Tate Forcier to transfer. We need him. As much as people are high on Denard, Denard is one hit away from being out of the game. Then you’ve got Devin, but what if Devin doesn’t perform? We need Tate. He’s a good football player. Lest we remind each other of the day of Nick Sheridan and Steven Threet. We don’t want to go back there.

RG: Well put. Although Threet is now starring for the Sun Devils of Arizona State. Don’t ask me how. Good for him.

BF: Go Blue.

RG: Go Blue. We shall dissect the program and the college football landscape more in a few days. For now, let’s enjoy a rout.

Roger Garfield and Brandon Falk are loyal Michigan football fans who believe this team can soon develop into a national title contender again. In the meantime, they will sit back and enjoy the ride, commenting hopefully and accurately as it progresses, with Mr. Robinson manning the controls. They can be reached at rlouisgar@gmail.com and hbrandonfalk@gmail.com.

R&B Sling the Blue (Sept. 11, at Notre Dame)

2010-09-09T22:13:00.004-04:00

ROGER GARFIELD: All right: Three adjectives to describe Michigan’s win Saturday over UConn, go.

BRANDON FALK: Impressive, luck-ridden, fast. Boys in Blue played well, don't get me wrong, but UConn left some points on the field. We'll need to clean some things up to escape South Bend with a W on Saturday.

RG: I'll say enjoyable, assuring, and small. Enjoyable for the obvious reasons -- the sheer glee that Denard Robinson brought to every fan as he went wild. And because we hadn’t seen a nice home win in a long time. Assuring because I felt we could be AWFUL this season, and it appears now that we'll at least be competitive. Small because while it was a big win for confidence, it’s insignificant on the schedule and in the context of this long, trying season that lies ahead.

BF: Your last point is telling. Let us not forget we began undefeated a year ago in the non-conference portion of the schedule, and we all know how the season turned out. Last week was huge for confidence, as well as recruiting. And assuming we drop this game to the Irish, we have to assume we can take care of UMass and Bowling Green in the two games afterwards to begin conference play 3-1. Remember the days when Michigan fans weren't nervous to play FCS opponents or MAC schools? I think those days are back, to be sure.

RG: Saturday's outcome assures me of that, yes. But we still don't know how good or bad UConn is. My guess is they're better than they showed Saturday. And Michigan's ceiling is also much higher. Whether the Wolverines can keep improving at a steady rate remains to be seen. Let's hope they don't get worse and worse each week, like they did after October arrived last year.

BF: Lets dive right into this Saturday's game against the Irish, shall we? I guess I'll begin with some red flags I saw last week, and some encouraging signs that give me hope for a W.

RG: Kick that baby off.

BF: One could argue that a defense is only as good as the number of points it allows, and by that standard, the D last week was pretty good. I still have questions about the secondary. Jordan Kovacs, while a sure tackler, has sub-par athleticism and it will be tested this week. True freshman Carvin Johnson, who grabbed a starting safety/linebacker hybrid position in the opener last week, is out this week with a sprained knee. He'll be replaced by walk-on Floyd Simmons. J.T. Floyd will have to defend an air assault from Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist headed for Michael Floyd, a surefire top 5 receiver on Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board. Safety Cam Gordon found himself in position for some big hits last week and missed; I'd love see him separate helmet from head one of these times.

RG: Yeah, Floyd torched us in the Big House last year. Granted, he had another Alpha Dog on the other side of the field -- Golden Tate, now a receiver for the Seahawks -- which diverted the defense's attention. Still, Floyd is nasty, and how the Michigan secondary performs against him in South Bend should provide everyone with a good gauge of that unit's capabilities. I was pleased with the front seven against the Huskies. Craig Roh and Obi Ezeh (both below) had their hands in a lot of plays, and Mike Martin was an animal.

BF: You're right. The importance of Roh and that front seven getting a consistent pass rush can't be understated, and they did a pretty good job of it last week. You know when the D was at its best, though? When it was on the sideline. Let's talk a little about the importance of Time of Possession for this week’s game.

RG: Well, if we monopolize the ball and orchestrate 7, 8 and 9-minutes drives multiple times per game, we're going to demoralize defenses. We're also going to allow our young defense to ease in to the season and build confidence slowly and surely. Denard's decision-making was a big reason we put together those long drives Saturday, and he'll need to keep protecting the ball throughout the season for obvious reasons. While many teams emphasize winning the turnover battle, it's especially important for this group because of its blatantly unproven defense.

BF: One point in which I'm critical of Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez is his obsession with the big play and the quick strike. There IS such a thing as scoring too quickly, and I have no problem with slow, methodical drives down the field -- albeit with a hurry-up offense. Winning the turnover battle and T.O.P. are absolutely keys to victory against the Fighting Irish. The most important two words for Saturday, though? Keep scoring.

RG: Keep pouring it on. Nothing more discouraging for an offense than to work hard for points only to see them answered on an opponents' ensuing drive. Now, I didn't think Michigan went for the big strike too often Saturday. They had drives of 6 and 8 minutes, and the other three were around 3-minute drives. And it's not like Denard was airing it out to Braylon Edwards and Mercury Hayes up top. He doesn't have those guys. But he does have YOUR BOY Martavious Odoms.

BF: Didn't the slot receivers look great Saturday? Terrence Robinson (right). Tay Odoms. Jeremy Gallon also figures to work his way into the mix at some point. Speaking of the notorious JG, how about that headfirst screamer of a dive to muff the first touch of the pig in his collegiate career?

RG: It wasn't exactly graceful.

BF: That one had the hand of Millen all over it. But hey, at least he's a fast wide receiver right?

RG: Faster than most. Did you see any “Fire Millen” signs in the Big House, by the way? I digress. Let me ask you this: Rich Rod said this week that the key to Michigan beating Notre Dame is executing on offense. It's clear he's an offensive-minded coach. But is he too hopeful in hammering home to the team "score, score, score" -- in denial of a poor defense? Or is that a healthy emphasis?

BF: I think one could make the case that he's too offensively focused. The defections the program has had since Rod’s arrival seem to be tilted toward the defensive side of the ball, and he definitely tends to focus much more heavily on offense -- like it’s the offense’s responsibility to win the game regardless of anything else.

RG: But that’s not true, is it? I suppose you can always outscore somebody, even if you can't stop them.

BF: No. Offense is not as reliable as defense is, in any sport. The intricacy and precision rest with the offense, and if there's one thing I learned ... let's just say when a plan gets too complex, things can go wrong. Why do coaches always say passing is riskier than running?

RG: So “3 yards and a cloud of dust” is a philosophy you have no problem with? Where's the creativity?

BF: Well, a fullback trap is designed for 3 yards, and I would call it a creative play. I'd prefer “7 yards and a cloud of dust.” By no means do I want to see Denard take a knee on a breakaway after a 20-yard gain. But with THIS defense, milking the clock doesn't bother me a bit. I'm merely saying that Rodriguez's primary concern shouldn't be whether 30 points is enough, or how the offensive line’s downfield blocking is looking. Let's get some Lamarr Woodleys and Marlin Jacksons back there, score quickly, force a 3-and-out, and score again. Maybe get one of them little crystal footballs while we're at it?

RG: Yessir! To truly be "Champions of the West," we've got to be elite on both sides of the ball. But we don't necessarily need to do that Saturday. I'm optimistic, sure, but I like the Wolverines by a few touchdowns. I just don't think that slow Irish defense can keep up with Denard. Michigan 41, Notre Dame 18.

BF: Find me a National Champion that won with a poor defense, and I'll find you someone in East Lansing whose rooster hasn't crowed.

RG: Oooo. Ca-caw!

BF: I love that score, and man I hope I'm wrong and you're right, but I'll go 38-34, Michigan.

RG: That has a similar look to it. And a W’s a W. (Even if the scoreboard operator is yawning. Even if you kick the ball to keep it in the air and the ref says you didn’t.)

BF: Well, if we’re lucky, the human victory cigar for this week will be a Stephen Hopkins sighting. True frosh, big power back, in there bleeding clock against the Domers. Let's hope we get a whiff of the smoke, shall we?

RG: I'm coughing already.

BF: Go Blue.

RG: Go Blue.

Roger Garfield and Brandon Falk are longtime Michigan football fans who will try and provide accurate and hopeful weekly assessments of the state of the Wolverines for the remainder of the season. They can be reached at rlouisgar@gmail.com and hbrandonfalk@gmail.com.

Time to pray, Notre Dame. Denard's waiting.

2010-09-07T22:23:00.007-04:00

Eighteen months ago my good friend Brandon and I made a pact to travel from our respective homes at opposite ends of the country to attend a Michigan game. We settled on the contest between the Wolverines and the Fighting Irish last September at Michigan Stadium, and we chose wisely.

Michigan won a thriller, 38-34, after gutsy final drive led by then-freshman quarterback Tate Forcier. I’ve never seen the Big House in a frenzy quite like that.

The triumph was significant for Rich Rod’s bunch, which had no notable victories in his first season as the Michigan coach. It was a signature win, by all means, and it brought with it laughably premature and unwarranted national championship talk, as well as ill-conceived “Tate for Heisman” proclamations.

One year later, many Michigan fans no doubt feel similar positive feelings of promise and hope, although the quarterback they’re clamoring over dons dreads, not sun-streaked blonde hair.

Denard Robinson, not Forcier, is the new face of Michigan football. His performance in the Wolverines’ season-opening win Saturday over UConn was impressive, and he made it look effortless. The kid can play, but can he endure an entire season in the Big Ten -- against tougher and much more physical competition than he faced versus the Huskies? We shall see. (But if we see more of the same, then we can talk about that trophy that’s passed out every December -- and Denard’s chances of hoisting it.)

In the meantime, Notre Dame presents a major challenge for the young Wolverines, who will be without a few key guys after injuries suffered against Connecticut. If Denard can put up similar numbers to those ones he dropped in Week One, however, the injuries will not matter.

The Dreadlocked Wonder was wonderful, magnificent, glorious, great. There aren’t enough adjectives. I don’t know if I’m more impressed with his 197 rushing yards or his 19-for-22 day through the air. He did it all, and he was in full command every time he had the ball. He was the man. There should be no ambiguity for the remainder of the season about the team’s quarterback. Next to No. 1 on the QB depth chart there should always be a No. 16.

He will have his rough patches, and he may have them this week. Notre Dame’s defense is better now than it was a year ago in Ann Arbor, when it allowed 38 points and a-million-and-a-half yards of offense to the Wolverines. And the Irish also have a new coach in Brian Kelly, who has won wherever he has stopped. Say what you want about the guy, but he can coach, and he can win. He’ll have the Irish as ready as they can be.

(I personally think Kelly is a chop. He managed to rub Lloyd Carr the wrong way a few years back when Michigan considered him for its head job. He also left Cincinnati last season in cowardly fashion, lying to the kids who had bled in the Bearcats jerseys for him. Without that, he wouldn’t have had a shot to be Notre Dame’s guy.)

But how ready can you be for No. 16? I don’t know. Michigan still has its weak spots, but perhaps the quarterback play can trump all of the deficiencies this week and get the Wolverines off to another 2-0 start. I’d say it’s a safe bet -- even though some people in this universe of ours call Notre Dame “God’s team.”

I believe in God, but even He couldn’t tackle Denard Robinson.

You can contact Roger Garfield on Facebook or at rlouisgar@gmail.com.

Mother Jones piece

2010-09-06T09:33:00.003-04:00

Today Mother Jones published a personal narrative I wrote about my first year of teaching, framed in the context of the ongoing challenges faced by everyone in DC Public Schools. I was pleased with how it turned out and grateful to have it put out there -- anywhere -- by a respected publication. There are so many factors discouraging kids from learning here in DC, yet many people believe they're not capable of learning. That bothers me seriously. Maybe this piece can help shed light on what our daily charge is here in DC -- and in many similar school districts around the country.

Confessions of a DC Teacher

Wolverine revival? It's up to Rodriguez

2010-09-02T15:41:00.001-04:00

Saturday morning, as the University of Michigan students wake up to chirping birds and drunken howls in Ann Arbor, as the fans roll in from far and wide to post up in the Pioneer High School parking lot and begin tailgating in their maize and blue, as the optimism hangs heavy in the air – like it should every September, before the first kickoff of the fall – I imagine Rich Rodriguez will be in his office at Schembechler Hall fidgeting.

He should be. If the Michigan football team Rodriguez coaches doesn’t play markedly better this season than it did during his first two autumns as the Wolverines’ leader, then he will be out of a job come late November.

When he was named Lloyd Carr’s successor in 2007, some hopeful fans gave Rodriguez an overzealously reverent nickname: The Rodfather. Unfortunately, the man has been far from a Don.

Forget that he departed West Virginia in the slimiest of ways. Forget the embarrassing NCAA violations that threw the first-ever dark mark on the Michigan program. Forget how he’s perceived off the field, period.

Rodriguez’s two Wolverine teams have not won football games, and they will not win – unless some significant changes take place.

Now, every new coach in a new program deserves time to get acclimated. Wins aren’t earned overnight. But at the elite programs, one year should be enough time, and there is not much wiggle room. Two years is a stretch. Three? Forget about it. If Rodriguez doesn’t lead the Wolverines to at least seven wins this year, he should be fired the moment the clock strikes 0:00 in Columbus.

Can the Wolverines win seven or more games this year? I’d like to think so. Although they’ve only won eight games in the last two seasons combined, there are reasons to believe they can be more competitive this fall.

The offensive personnel looks lethal: Speed everywhere, a veteran receiving corps, experience and athleticism on the line, three quarterbacks that could be “the man” at a lot of schools. Consider all of the positives, and you’re looking at a team that could score 35 points per game. Really.

But “could” doesn’t mean “should” with this bunch, and it certainly doesn’t mean “will.” That’s because Rodriguez has some bad coaching habits – most of them in-game strategic shortcomings – that must be fixed.

He foolishly misused freshmen Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson last season. Forcier quickly established himself as a savvy signal caller with a whole lot of swagger. Call it cockiness, call it false bravado, whatever. He had some great moments, and early on, he looked like a guy who could cement himself as the team’s leader for four years. Forcier is small, though, and his lack of size and strength led to injuries and many costly turnovers as the weather got colder. And as he struggled, Robinson was given a chance.

He deserved one. You may recall vividly the first touch of his career – a bobbled snap against Western Michigan that the dreadlocked wonder turned into a winding 43-yard touchdown run. As he stood smiling in the end zone after that scamper, I couldn’t help but giggle. He had just completed this amazing play – with his shoelaces untied, it bears adding – and he was a mere 18-year-old with four years as a Wolverine in front of him. He embodied promise and potential, and he still does. But Rodriguez wasted a year of Robinson’s career – and harmed Forcier’s development, as well – by refusing to name an outright starter last season.

Even in the days leading up to that season opener against Western, neither Forcier nor Robinson had been tabbed by Rodriguez as the starting quarterback. That was a mistake. (One that, egregiously, is being repeated again this year. We’ll get to that.) Show me a team that lacks a man it can turn to and call its guy, its quarterback, its clear leader, and I’ll show you a team without confidence. That was Michigan last year.

Rodriguez played Forcier, and he played Robinson. He played Robinson, then he played Forcier. To the casual fan, the substitution pattern may have seemed arbitrary. To me, who pays pretty close attention to every snap when I’m lucid during the games, it seemed like Rodriguez would take one of the freshmen out of the game after a mistake and then insert the other. Oftentimes, this pattern would repeat itself over the course of 60 minutes.

That’s just not healthy at all. It’s not good for the quarterbacks’ respective psyches, and it’s surely not good for the team’s collective confidence.

Competition in practice, however, is good. And I think that’s why Rodriguez refuses to name his starting quarterback in advance: He wants them to play as hard and as smart as they can, every day in practice, to maximize their potential once Saturday rolls around. That’s a good plan, seemingly, but the drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

Do this, instead: Name your starter. Rally around him. Have a No. 2 and a No. 3 guy ready, and if they want to be a part of a winning team, you figure they – the backups – will continue to practice hard. The No. 1 guy, then, becomes the face of the team. He must be. It’s imperative, especially with a high-powered offensive bunch. But I doubt that will happen early on.

“It’s probably likely that we’ll play more than one,” Rodriguez said earlier this week.

Too bad. There are so many other question marks – the ability of the defense to stop people, namely – that make this season an unpredictable one for Michigan. But there is also so much more that the head coach can control. If Rodriguez hesitates to name his quarterback and hand him the reins – rather than keeping him on a tight, short leash – then we’re looking at more dark skies over Ann Arbor.

Let’s hope he names an outright starter today. And let’s hope that starter takes charge of the team.

I would love for it to be Robinson. His ceiling is higher than Forcier’s, isn’t it? I wouldn’t be against Gardner running the show, either. If he took the snaps, Rodriguez could conceivably move Robinson to running back, and wouldn’t that be intriguing? Gardner already has a Vince Young body. He looks the part of a big-time QB. But if he doesn’t get many snaps this season, Rodriguez ought to redshirt him. Why waste one of what could be four magical seasons?

So many questions. But that’s what the preseason is all about. After Saturday, I intend on occupying this space with substance, not speculation.

In the meantime, I’ll deliberate over what to call Rodriguez this season. The Rodfather? No, he hasn’t earned it yet. Rich Rod? Ehh, too ho hum. If he wins seven games, then maybe. But if he continues to oversee a football team that plays wretchedly on Saturdays for the majority of the fall, I will acknowledge him as his detractors and rivals do:

Dick Rod.

Use what you’ve got wisely, guy.

You can contact Roger Garfield on Facebook or at rlouisgar@gmail.com.

Magic lost Finals -- Lakers didn't win them

2009-06-19T20:31:00.006-04:00

Promptly after my last blog post, the NBA Finals turned from compelling to disappointing. The Magic had chances galore to seize control of the series, but the Lakers never handed over their grip. Now they've got a 15th title banner to hang in Staples Center.

After Game 4, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy tried -- unconvincingly -- in the media room to say that experience didn't play a factor down the stretch, when Dwight Howard missed two free throws and Orlando failed to foul when up by three in the waning seconds.

Laughable, man.

In that situation, you absolutely must foul. If you do foul, too many bad things must happen for you to lose. When you don't foul, all your opponent has to do is make one shot. And we've seen that shot go in countless times -- at every level of basketball.

Not only did the Magic not foul, they foolishly pressed. And after they pressed, they sagged on Derek Fisher -- who secured his lofty spot in Finals lore by sinking a game-tying triple and knocking down another one in the ensuing overtime. Not quite Robert Horry, but mighty, mighty clutch.

I praise Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the rest of the Lakers for a great season. I salute Phil Jackson on becoming the winningest coach of all-time. But I will forever remember the 2009 Finals as the series Stan Van Gundy, Courtney Lee, Superman and the Magic coughed away.

Finals setting up to be epic

2009-06-10T13:04:00.003-04:00

Most everyone who follows the NBA -- David Stern at the top of the list -- wanted to see L.A. versus Cleveland in the Finals. (I mean Kobe versus LeBron.) What we have instead are the two best teams in the land locked in a ferocious battle that could easily go seven games. We haven't witnessed that since 2005, when the Spurs inched past the Pistons in one of the more painful experiences Detroit fans have ever endured.

And this series is better.

This collision of talented and cohesive teams is great for the game of basketball. The Lakers have the Baddest Man on Hardwood -- Kobe the Killer, the Black Mamba, the Heir to Air -- meshing well with good complements, while the Magic have an absolutely elite collection of shooters that would present matchup problems for any team trying to guard them. They showed their outside touch last night in Game 3 by shooting a Finals record 62.5 percent from the field. And they didn't even play as well as they can.

What I see unfolding is four more close games, where Kobe goes off in a few, Rashard Lewis goes off in a few, and ultimately, we have a deciding Game 7 in L.A. next week.

Because regardless of what the Lakers decide to do defensively, they're not going to slow down the Magic as a whole. Double-teaming Dwight Howard leaves any one of the deadly 3-point shooters -- Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Mickael Pietrus, J.J. Redick, Jameer Nelson -- open. Guarding Dwight one-on-one guarantees Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum a spot on a poster, dangling under Superman as he hangs on the rim and grins. And when it comes down to it, Derek Fisher can't guard Nelson or Rafer Alston at the point guard spot. Alston proved that last night by slicing into the lane whenever he pleased, with ease.

On the flip, there's not much the Magic can do about Kobe if he gets going. In the first quarter of Game 3, he was as unstoppable as we've seen this postseason. But he slowed down -- which can happen to the Mamba when he over-exerts himself -- and showed in quarters two through four that he was human. He'll have to rely more on Gasol and Odom these next two games if the Lakers want to win one in Orlando. He'll also have to find some way to get his full legs back under him for Games 6 and 7, because I don't see the Magic going quietly unless Kobe has another 40-plus night. He did it in Game 1, a Lakers romp. I'll be surprised if we see that again. The Magic are playing well in all facets -- aside from taking care of the ball. And if Courtney Lee makes that lay-up in Game 2, they're up a game instead of trying to claw back and even things.

Who knows how it will all unfold? We should just sit back and brace ourselves for four more close games. It's bound to be a series for the ages.

LeBron is LeGone, and LeDead to me

2009-06-02T12:01:00.005-04:00

LeBron, you're dead to me.

I really enjoyed watching your elite play and bewildering athleticism this season, and I sang your praises all year long. I defended you in every Kobe-or-LeBron-who's-better? battle that flew my way. I looked past the still-palpable pain you inflicted on Pistons fans in 2007 and said repeatedly that you were the greatest player on the planet. Still might be. But I don't like you any longer.

There's something that athletes in your position -- one of megastar status -- absolutely must do, and that is respect the game. Saturday after Game 6, by refusing to acknowledge the Magic's feat, you spit in basketball's face.

And then you ignored the media afterward -- which was a misstep, but a forgivable one. Hell, Rasheed Wallace refuses to answer reporters' questions at the end of every postseason. It's classless, but at least Sheed has decency and the cojones to give dap to his opponents at the end of a series.

By walking out of Amway Arena Saturday without even saying "Well done" or "Good luck" or "We'll see you next year" to Dwight Howard and his Magic mates, you -- Mr. MVP -- came off as the sorest of losers. And you reminded me of the whiny baby I grew to despise in 2007 when you and the Cavs took advantage of a dysfunctional Pistons team and lucked your way into the Finals.

I understand that this was supposed to be your coronation -- Title Numero Uno -- but there was one small problem: Your team wasn't as good as Orlando's team. Now your managerial team needs to bulk up your roster. And your time will come. But until it does, you need to respect your opponent, respect the game -- and put away those confounded cameras in the pregame introductions.

Have a great summer vacation, Prince.

Good for Chauncey, but ...

2009-04-20T16:18:00.005-04:00

I'm sure many other Detroit Pistons fans can relate to the bittersweet emotions I felt last night as I watched Chauncey Billups torch the Hornets for 36 points, leading his team to a blowout victory in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs.

Mr. Big Shot was undeniably the best player on the floor, knocking down eight of his nine 3s and controlling the tempo from start to finish. Better than Chris Paul. Far better than teammate Carmelo Anthony. Smooth as silk.

Only he was wearing the wrong shade of blue.

Isn't it still hard to come to grips with that out-of-nowhere trade orchestrated by Pistons GM Joe Dumars in November? You know, the one that sent the seemingly over-the-hill Billups to Denver for that egotistical punk who wouldn't know the meaning of team basketball if it were tattooed directly onto his skull, Allen Iverson.

I hear all the noise about creating salary cap space -- and yada yada yada. To me, though, that's just unnecessary chess-game maneuvering when the simple move was to keep all the pieces in place.

What ever happened to the here and now? Was it really implausible to picture the Pistons back in the Conference Finals, led by Chauncey, perhaps driven by more late-May urgency than they exhibited during the past three seasons?

Not at all. Even with no big roster moves, the Pistons were still among the top four contenders in an improved Eastern Conference. And remember: Chauncey is still only 32. He's no Jason Kidd, writing the last chapter of his career. He's more like Kobe: A star who still has a lot of life and a lot of wins left in him. The most valuable player on one of the NBA's five elite teams.

And all the Pistons can do is feel good for him. He, more than anyone else, made them who are -- or, more accurately, who they were. While Ben Wallace gave the Pistons their toughness, it was Chauncey who delivered the swagger. He made them such a close-knit and trusting team. He instilled the confidence that brought them to the Eastern Conference Finals for six straight years. He also had a unique relationship with the city of Detroit. He went out of his way to relate to and look out for the people there. They still revere him the way they revered Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars when they played.

I wonder how Dumars feels about the trade now. Clearly the AI experiment was more catastrophic than he could have feared. Have Chauncey's accomplishments in Denver, then, caused Joe D to second-guess his deal?

I sure would hope so. I can't label this managerial decision as his worst (see Milicic, Darko), but it's definitely a close second.

And meanwhile, Mr. Big Shot flourishes. It's a beautiful thing. Shortly after the trade, with Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg, Chauncey talked about being sucker-punched by reality:

“After my last trade, when I got traded from Denver to Orlando (in 2000), I vowed to never let my hands down and get caught like that again. That was two or three times already in my young career. I vowed to never put my hands down, to get comfortable again.

“I allowed myself to do that again. And I think it was because of what we’d done there, man … the team, the success we had, me signing a long-term deal. I allowed myself to say, ‘Damn, I think I’m done. I think I’m here. I think it’s over.’ I’m kicking myself for letting my guard down.”

Now Dumars has to be kicking himself for doubting the colossal heart of a true champion.

2009 NBA Playoffs predictions

2009-04-16T09:00:00.002-04:00

The NBA Playoffs arrive each year with a quiet buzz -- if you compare them to the NCAA tournament that has just ended two weeks before.

They are full of drama, intriguing matchups and compelling storylines, yet they don't grip the nation collectively quite like March Madness does. And that's fine. Those who appreciate the Playoffs don't need moral support. They're just glad it's here.

Which brings me to why I'm here: To pick, correctly, each of the 15 series that are about to play out over the next two months.

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

No. 1 Cleveland over No. 8 Detroit in 5

No. 2 Boston over No. 7 Chicago in 5

No. 6 Philadelphia over No. 3 Orlando in 7

No. 5 Miami over No. 4 Atlanta in 7

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Cleveland over Miami in 6

Boston over Philadelphia in 6

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Cleveland over Boston in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

No. 1 Los Angeles over No. 8 Utah in 5

No. 2 Denver over No. 7 New Orleans in 6

No. 6 Dallas over No. 3 San Antonio in 7

No. 4 Portland over No. 5 Houston in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Los Angeles over Portland in 6

Denver over Dallas in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Los Angeles over Denver in 6

NBA FINALS

Here's where I get crossed up. On one hand, I'd like to think this is LeBron's coronation. On the other, I find it hard to pick against Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson, who both have something to prove. Kobe has never won a ring without Shaq. Phil has never won a ring with as little talent as he currently has. Ultimately, it comes down to who plays better between LeBron and Kobe -- and that's what makes the NBA what it is: Spectacular matchups between players with overwhelming skills. And I'm taking LeBron.

Cleveland over Los Angeles in 7

Yes, it's a sad day when I haven't picked my beloved Pistons to wear the crown. But their run is done. Time for a new King. I just hope he stays in Cleveland and doesn't bolt to the big market. That would be bad for the game.

How the Pistons can beat the Cavs

2009-04-15T13:12:00.002-04:00

It’s difficult – darn near impossible – to convince myself that the Pistons have a Hook’s chance in Neverland of beating Cleveland in the NBA Playoffs. If I were a betting man, then I would wager profusely against Detroit in the first round, which begins Saturday.

But after a reassuring conversation I had last evening with my good friend Brandon, I am holding out a tiny, microscopic shred of hope for the team that has been to six straight Eastern Conference Finals. It involves an extreme – although not entirely foreign – gameplan. It relies on a lot of “ifs.” And it assumes that the league MVP – Cleveland megastar LeBron James – will not like the strategy one bit:

Hack the molasses out of him. Foul him so hard that the ink from his tattoos flees his body out of fear. Make his life in the halfcourt so miserable that he'll resort to taking those off-balance fadeaway jumpers that from time to time find the net but in reality bring his shooting percentage way down.

Effectively, Detroit must raid the castle and remove the crown from atop The King's head.

When LeBron dropped 48 on the Pistons in Game 5 of the ’07 Conference Finals, he got into the lane at will and suffered no consequences. It was a surprising sight to see the Pistons – long heralded as the best defensive team in the East – side-stepping the LeBron train and allowing him to score easy buckets. For Detroit fans, it was the most painful game to watch in the past seven years – aside from the Game 7 Finals loss to the Spurs in ’05.

That cannot happen this time around. If it does, Cleveland could be breaking out the brooms, and the Pistons’ reign as an Eastern powerhouse will officially be over. To avoid it, the Pistons must revisit the mindset they used to win their first NBA title 20 years ago.

They must become the Bad Boys again.

When Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn and the other Detroit players of the late ‘80s took the floor, they brought with them a rugged mentality that said: “Nothing easy in our lane. No backing down.” Opponents feared them more than any other team in the league.

While Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and the rest of the current Pistons don’t own the identity as the most physical team in the league, it’s never too late to adopt it. And I believe that’s the only way they can steal this series – by sacrificing their bodies to take charges, by bringing LeBron to the ground before he can get into the air, by every player using all six of his fouls.

Because the Pistons just aren’t as talented as they used to be. And with Chauncey Billups gone (tear), the team chemistry has suffered greatly. But, somewhere deep down, they still have that collective swagger and the real belief that they can win. If they can inject a hint of doubt into the Cavs by winning Game 1 or 2 in Cleveland, then the series will all of a sudden become intriguing.

This will be a colossal task. LeBron, after all, is the most impressive sports figure – athletically – that exists. He may be the most athletically intimidating human to ever play any sport. Size, speed, strength, power, agility, flexibility, elasticity – he’s got it all. On top of that, he is the consummate team player – a characteristic that not all superstars possess.

He has absolutely earned the MVP trophy he will receive next month.

But LeBron has yet to demonstrate what most other sports legends have, and that's the ability to ignore every distraction and every disconcerting circumstance standing between him and his goal – and then go out and overcome it.

Jordan overcame extreme flu conditions and massive fatigue to drop 38 on the Jazz in the Finals.

Nicklaus overcame an extended absence from the spotlight and a dwindling game to triumph at the '86 Masters.

Aaron overcame life-threatening racial persecution during his pursuit of Babe Ruth's record – and then he hit No. 715.

Two years ago, if the Pistons had employed this pound-LeBron-until-his-knees-hurt strategy, I don’t think he would have reacted well. He would have whined, drawn technicals, committed turnovers and crumbled to the point that Detroit would have advanced to the Finals.

But LeBron has matured tenfold since then, and his game is much more multi-faceted. He also has the best supporting cast of his career at his disposal, and that’s why the Cavs enter the Playoffs with the league’s best record. It’s entirely possible that LeBron will look past whatever gameplan the Pistons throw his way – however extreme – and still dictate the tempo.

Remember this, though: The Pistons remain a team that, deep down, no one wants to face. You can’t tell me the Cavs wouldn’t have rather seen Chicago or Philadelphia in this opening round. Those teams haven’t been to the top. Detroit has, and what is more, the Pistons have always managed to elevate their level of play in the postseason.

There are other reasons to believe Detroit won’t play like a No. 8 seed: After some late-season injuries, they’re healthy again. With Allen Iverson out of the picture, that horrendous experiment is no longer a distraction. Most importantly, the Pistons still have a tremendous amount of pride. They remember 2007, and they want revenge. They know that failing to reach the Conference Finals again would mean the end of an era – and, probably, the dismantling of a roster. They badly want to beat the Cavs, and they think they can do it.

But, of course, this all hinges on the Pistons playing like the Pistons of yesteryear – even the Pistons of last May – which were a far cry from the discombobulated bunch of red and blue that trotted out to the hardwood all regular season long. They weren’t quite as pathetic as the Detroit squads who wore teal last decade, but they were the worst Pistons team since the first year of the Joe Dumars GM era (2000-2001).

That can all be forgotten with a win over the Cavs this postseason. But it'll take a magical Bad Boys resurgence. Maybe Laimbeer and Mahorn have a few more games left in them.

And the travels continue ...

2009-01-15T17:45:00.003-05:00

I recently returned to Tennessee from one of the best trips of my life: Two weeks in San Diego, Orange County, L.A. and Vegas -- pretty, pretty good. I'd never spent time in California before, and relaxing on the beach in the month of December and swimming on New Year's Eve, for a cat from Michigan, was surreal. (So was the sight of 100 or so surfers in wet suits at Huntington Beach on a day where the temperature got no higher than 55 degrees. Radical.) I got to spend solid time with my high school buddy Brandon at his place in Costa Mesa and see what the O.C. is all about: A fun, diverse area with mostly down-to-earth people comfortable in their own skin. I enjoyed going into different restaurants and bars and clubs with no real clue of the type of people that would be there. I liked that. "Type-ing" is something I'd prefer to not do, and that was easy in SoCal.

The O.C. is also a MASSIVE county, with lots of different 100,000-plus cities. Suburbia for miles. Its separation from L.A. is noticeable because of the traffic. That kept us from venturing North too much, but when I finally did -- to spend some time with my uncle David, who lives in Van Nuys -- it was well worth it. David is a musician who has played with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Boz Scaggs, George Benson and Natalie Cole through the years. He's recently been working with Smokey Robinson, and as luck would have it, he and Smokey had a recording session when I was in L.A. visiting. Sitting in on their session and listening to them arrange two songs and then lay down tracks on each tune was the equivalent of being in the locker room at halftime with Coach K and his Duke team at the Final Four. Magical.

When they finished, David took me around L.A. and showed me some of his former haunts, some cool neighborhoods and finally, his favorite sushi restaurant in Little Tokyo. I'd never had "toro" before, and it was magnificent: A fine tuna, the filet mignon of sushi.

I spent the next two nights in Las Vegas, and let's just say I had a fantastic time. Left with a little more dough in my pockets, too.

My next stop is Washington D.C., for Barack Obama's inauguration and to catch up with a few old friends. Haven't been to "OUR NATION'S CAP-IT-TAL" -- as Forrest Gump would say -- since I was a wee lad, and I'm pumped. I feel like what goes down on Jan. 20 will be as inspiring and uplifting as what occurred on Election Day -- if not more. Obama taking office means a lot to me because he seems so much more human than any other politician I've observed. He seems to understand what is real and what is realistic, and I have no doubt he will do all he can, in his power, to right the many troubling wrongs that have made our country's current footing unstable. It's time to stand strong again, and I have so much hope for the next four -- and let's hope eight -- years.

After D.C., it will be on to Cleveland to see some family and then back to my college town of Kalamazoo for our alumni basketball weekend. That's in nine days, so I'd better go get my jump shot right. I'll holler again from the road.

The state of Detroit

2009-01-14T15:08:00.003-05:00

If you grow up in Detroit and follow sports, then you know who Mitch Albom is: The city's most recognizable sportswriter, and arguably its greatest. (I also happen to love reading Michael Rosenberg, Lynn Henning and Jon Paul Morosi.)

Albom recently wrote an exceptional piece in Sports Illustrated about Detroit and its current state of affairs. If you're from Michigan, I'm sure you can identify with a lot of what he touches on. And if you're not from Michigan, I promise that Albom's portrayal of how much Detroit cares about sports is accurate. Either way, I strongly suggest you give it a read.

Because of what Detroit is currently enduring -- as harsh an economic state as anywhere in the country -- sports is a welcomed escape. But when your football franchise is the worst in the history of pro sports, that complicates matters. When the all-time winningest college football program goes 3-9, that hurts, too. And when you can't afford tickets to the games and the seats at the once-rocking Palace of Auburn Hills look as barren as a Memphis Grizzlies game at the FedEx Forum, you know things are dark.

But the chord Albom strikes most effectively in his article -- and what was so emotionally gripping for me and my other friends who read the story -- was the unwavering hope Detroit has in its teams, in the city itself and, ultimately, in its ability to thrive.

I don't live in Metro Detroit anymore, but I'm proud to come from the area. I've always seen myself as an optimistic person -- to a fault sometimes -- and much of that comes from how I was raised by my parents. But some of it also, I know, comes from growing up where I did. It sure helped bolster my passion for sports, too, because Detroit is one of the great sports towns in the country -- perhaps the very best, as Albom suggests. My dad has often said Detroit would be an ideal place someday for the summer Olympic Games because of the great variety of venues the local colleges provide and because of the many bodies of water in and around Metro Detroit. That's something I hope to see in my lifetime.

In the meantime, Detroit struggles -- but its hope never fades. I hold the same hope, and I think that can be evidenced by this: Wherever life takes me, I'll always care how the sports teams of the town are faring. I know this.

How would LeBron do in the NFL?

2009-01-14T14:44:00.003-05:00

I had a fascinating discussion -- actually, let's call it a heated argument -- last night concerning LeBron James's potential as an NFL player. Think about it: LeBron lined up as a wide receiver with pads and a helmet on -- all 6-foot-8, 270 of him -- and a 5-8, 165-pound defensive back trying to cover him. I think The King would dominate.

Obviously, this is hard to forecast without any evidence. But if you understand what makes LeBron such a fantastic basketball player, you should at least concede that his skills would translate to a gridiron.

LeBron is the greatest athlete playing professional sports right now, and by athlete, I mean the physical traits that make him who he is: Incredible upper and lower body strength, elite quickness, impeccable balance, tremendous speed and, above all else, a unique explosiveness I've seen from no other athlete before. Now, LeBron has a lot else going for him on the court -- his savvy, his vision, his sense of when to make a pass and an increasingly effective jump shot -- but what makes him so great is his athletic ability. No defenders can stop that train coming through the lane. No defenders want to. (I'm painfully reminded of that each time I remember the 48 he dropped on my beloved Detroit Pistons in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals.)

So ... how would all of those abilities translate to a football field? Well, line him up beside the greatest receiver in the NFL -- for the sake of this argument, let's say the Texans' Andre Johnson. What makes him great? Size, strength, speed, quickness, leaping ability, great hands, a great sense of when to time his jumps and, probably most importantly, an ability to run excellent routes. The only area I feel like Johnson might have a leg up on LeBron is speed and route-running. But LeBron would learn to run good routes. And his size, strength and leaping ability would trump his less-than-elite speed. (Although if he were to run a 40-yard dash, I'm pretty sure LeBron could pull off something in the 4.6 range. Have you seen his gigantic strides? Ridiculous.)

The argument my counterpart waged centered on the great speed and quickness of NFL defensive backs, and that because LeBron isn't as fast as many wide receivers, DBs would be all over him whenever the ball would arrive from the quarterback. Touche, although I just suggested that a QB could throw the ball higher to LeBron than any other receiver, and he would just go up and get it. And on the way down, any hit from a much, much smaller DB would surely throw off his balance, but not to the degree guys like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and even Andre Johnson lose their balance throughout the course of an NFL game.

It's a fun topic to me because I'd love to see it played out someday. In fact, if you've seen LeBron's latest ad on TV (he has some big announcement on Jan. 18 -- a new era he calls it), then you might hold the same hope I do: That LeBron will make himself eligible for the 2009 NFL Draft and become the next great two-sport athlete beginning next fall.

How exciting would that be?

As for LeBron's potential effectiveness as an NFL player ... I think he could be a Pro Bowler. What about you? And when it comes to skills translating from one league to the other ... would more NBA players be effective NFL players, or vice versa? Please weigh in.

The recipe

2007-07-25T18:51:00.000-04:00

Yessiree, I got the recipe!

I've decided to start a Top 10 list of fantastic things I want to do before I die. (I hope I have at least 60 years to complete this list.) I have only one fantasy listed, so as of now, No. 1 is to play Augusta National Golf Course. It would take knowing the right people and being powerful in some regard. So in the meantime, I'll set out to make those two things happen...

... This may be my last blog for awhile. For those of you who don't know, I've taken a job as the prep sports editor at The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Before long, I'll be writing a blog on their Web site, dnj.com. I probably won't muse as often about the Pistons, but if I ever get the urge, I'll hop back on here...

... What a horrible week it has been for sports. Bill Plaschke of the LA Times wrote a great column today about the three names that will probably live on in sports infamy forever: Bonds, Donaghy and Vick. The best word I can use to describe it all is sad -- sad for sports, sad for kids who look up to athletes, sad for any sports figure who has gone about his or her business with integrity. When negativity dominates the headlines, it contradicts what sports is supposed to be all about: A distraction from the already sad, negativity-filled world we live in. Shame on those three...

... Living in Tennessee now, I feel deprived of my Detroit Tigers. They dropped two to the ChiSox yesterday, but they're still the best team in baseball. In Detroit, the campaign launched a few years ago to garner more of a following was "Who's Your Tiger?" Well, mine is undoubtedly Curtis Granderson, whose effortless swing reminds me of another left-handed center fielder's -- Ken Griffey Jr. Not as upright, but just as dangerous, Granderson's swing has netted him the best slugging percentage among all of baseball's center fielders. He flies under the radar, has yet to make an all-star team, yet his value to the Tigers cannot be overstated. Starting next year, I expect him to be a perennial presence at the Midsummer Classic. Sorry to digress. I've considered ordering the MLB package once I get a TV in my new apartment, but I think I can hold out until October, when all of the Tigs' games will be nationally televised, anyhow. Should be another exciting fall in the D. Go Tigers...

... One upside to Vick's problems is that former Lion Joey Harrington may take over as starting QB for the Falcons. Do times get much better than now for the Harrington family? Joey's cousin Padraig just won the British Open, and now Joey can enjoy his three weeks in the limelight before five interceptions in his first preseason game cause Atlanta's coaching staff to send him to the scout team. Former Lions don't have the same propensity for becoming stars as do former Tigers, that is, unless, they're playing the Lions. (Remember Thanksgiving last year? Joey looked like Montana, not Harrington. Maybe he should just drop the "Y".) If you're a Falcons fan, though, I'd be campaigning for Daunte Caulpepper...

... Farewell, all. Until Pistons season...

New Pistons, and NBA Draft thoughts

2007-06-29T13:53:00.000-04:00

There's no doubt about it: Joe D hasn't had the best success in the NBA Draft. Mateen. Darko. Rodney White. Come on. But still, he has kept the Pistons in the upper echelon of the NBA for the bulk of this decade, so I have confidence in his decisions -- at least when they are first made. That's why I'm excited about Rodney Stuckey becoming a Piston. Not excited to the extent that I'll place my order for a Stuckey No. 3 jersey any time soon, but excited because I believe he can be a solid backup for Rip in the upcoming season.

I also liked the Aaron Afflalo pick at 27. Stuckey was high on everyone's board, so if Joe had taken Afflalo at 15, Stuck wouldn't have been around a few picks later. But since Afflalo was down on everyone's radar, his availability at 27 was pretty much assured. Now it's up to these two cats to compete. It's hard to predict who will be better. Stuckey is D-Wade-esque. But he played in a lower-tier conference and his big-game potential is questionable. Afflalo was a First-Team All-America selection, Player of the Year in the Pac-10, and the 17th leading scorer of all-time at America's premier basketball school. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Joe D said he wanted his pick(s) to come in and play right away. And I think one of these guys will. But not both. (My early money's on Stuckey to stick around.) Potentially, if Joe D decides not to shake things up significantly, our rotation next season could look like this:

PG Chaunce, Backup Flip Murray.
SG Rip, Backup Stuckey/Afflalo
SF Tay, Backup Amir Johnson
PF Maxiell, Backup McDyess
C Sheed, Backup Dale, C-Webb, or ???

Could this win the NBA Finals? Probably not. I still don't think Flip Saunders and Sheed can co-exist harmoniously or productively. Sheed's apathy for anything Flip has to say rubs off on everyone else. The players' ostensible level of respect for the coach is remarkably low. Contrast that with the Spurs, who love playing for Popovich even though he yells and screams at them if they're lagging ... that's a championship dynamic. We don't have that.

So either Saunders or Sheed has to go. Joe D probably isn't done making moves this offseason. The first order of business: Re-sign Chaunce. I don't think that'll be a problem. I do question whether it's a decision that should be made without considering alternatives. If it's going to take $15 million a year for four years to get him, it might not be worth it. Chaunce is still one of the best point guards in the game. But he likes to keep the tempo slow. With guys like Maxiell and Amir and even Tay and Rip -- who love to run and never seem to get tired -- I wonder if a point guard with a similar ticker might suit us best ... in the long run, that is.

Don't get me wrong: I love Chauncey. I still think he's our best fit. But if he's back, that means we need to build around him. And as things are with our current personnel, Joe D would need to pull a few more strings to get us back to where we want to be: on top.

As for the rest of the NBA Draft, a few thoughts:

-- I thought the Hawks made off like bandits with both Al Horford and Acie Law. They clearly needed a point guard, but if they had taken Mike Conley at No. 3, they would have had to take a big at No. 11, and someone of Horford's talent would have already been swooped. As I see it, Law and Conley are equally talented -- in different ways. Conley's more of a passer, Law more of a scorer. Who will in the end be a better pro? My guess is Law, simply based on his big-game heroics last season. But Conley sure can see the floor. Time will tell...

-- There's another Anderson Varejao in the Central Division, and he's wearing a Bulls jersey now. Chicago drafted Joakim Noah at No. 9, and his floppy-haired theatrics are sure to annoy me just as Varejao's have for the last two years. Not happy with how that played out...

-- I think Seattle's new GM is rolling the dice by trading Ray Allen to the Celts. Now he has 6'9'' Kevin Durant (the next T-Mac and the next KG, if that's possible); he has the 6'9'' traveling Jeff Green from G'Town; and he has the capabilities to re-sign the 6'9'' Rashard Lewis now that Allen's gone. (An aside: It's a shame Seattle could never find more talent with which to surround Ray. He's their all-time leading scorer, the best pure shooter in the NBA, and now he's cast away in a deal that people outside of Seattle and Boston are barely even recognizing. If the Sonics had ever had a legit post threat or another big-time scorer, Ray could have camped on the wing and nailed 3's all game, every game. Instead, he was asked to score from all over, and as a result, he shot a poor FG percentage. That's why I secretly wished to see him in a Pistons uni surrounded by Chaunce and Tay and Sheed and Maxiell and Amir and all of them. I think he'd flourish.) Anyway, back to the previous argument. Seattle could now, potentially, have three 6'9'' scorers in their lineup. Unique, sure. Tough to guard, oh yeah. But able to win? That's the question.

-- I expected Milwaukee to draft Corey Brewer (in my opinion, the second most talented player in the draft behind Durant) at No. 6. Instead, they took Yi, the Chinese sensation. At least the Chinese think he's sensational. I think he's a joke that will never crack a starting lineup as long as he's in the league. Brewer would have made the Bucks' starting lineup a scary one, and much improved defensively:

PG Mo Williams
SG Michael Redd
SF Brewer
PF Charlie Villanueva
C Andrew Bogut

That looks like Playoffs to me. Now, with Yi, it looks like another lottery pick next year. And up in Minnesota, the T-Wolves added a future All-Star to a roster that may be shaken up in the days to come as the KG trade talks continue to swirl. Will Joe D place any calls to Kevin McHale?

State of the Pistons Address (May 19)

2007-05-19T12:00:00.001-04:00

Eight down, eight to go. And man, wasn't Thursday night's win a beautiful sight -- and a relief -- for Pistons fans.

Sometimes, I don't understand these guys. Up and down, up and down. It's frustrating. But that's the Pistons. I was lucky to have attended Game 3 in Chicago, when the Bulls led 44-28 at the half and the boys in blue and red decided to kick it up about seven notches and play their best ball of the year for the last 24 minutes, eventually winning 81-74.

Sitting in the ninth row, I was reminded of the team's remarkably consistent swag. Before the game, Chauncey's body movement made it seem as though he was preparing for a long nap. His face was focused, though -- ready for battle. Rasheed's practice shots looked like they were straight out of a game of competitive H-O-R-S-E. Before EVERY game, he shoots left-handed 3s -- and consistently makes them. He shoots two balls at once -- one high, one with a lower trajectory -- and they both swish. Dale Davis launches 3s, as well -- with the most disgusting form of any NBA player I've ever seen.

Through it all, the Pistons were relaxed and laughing. But were they ready? I don't know. It usually takes something more than a 2-0 lead over the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for them to get really jacked up. On this night, it took a 16-point first half deficit for them to realize they were playing like a D-III college team. And then it was clockwork. They stole balls left and right, Sheed and Chaunce buried gigantic 3s, Dyess gobbled up every board and Tay stepped up and played like an All-Star. He was the team's MVP this series.

Games 4 and 5 were a bit surprising because I thought they'd want to close the puppy out and rest as much as possible for the Conf. Finals. But again, that motivation was hard for them to find. Enough was finally enough on Thursday in Game 6, when Sheed and Tay and Dyess played with so much emotion I wondered if they had suppressed it all series long, just to let it out in this satisfying clincher.

Cleveland is now the next victim. There's no question the Pistons are more deeply loaded with talent, but if they play at all like they did in Games 4 and 5 against Chicago -- and the first half of Game 3 -- they'll be unnecessarily prolonging the inevitable.

I'm going to say there will be fewer lapses the closer they get to the LOB (Larry O'Brien) Trophy. Pistons in 5, Spurs over the Jazz in 7 out west, and a rematch of the '05 Finals. I want revenge like Screech wanted Lisa. Let's go.

The recipe

2007-05-04T10:51:00.000-04:00

Sports channels and magazines and web sites hire people they consider experts to analyze teams, dissect matchups and predict the results for games and series and seasons. It's part of the fun of sports: seeing if you know as much or more than the next guy or gal.

The thing is, no one ever knows for sure. Take Golden State's "upset" over Dallas in the first round, for instance. Every ESPN analyst had the Mavs in 5 or 6. I had 'em in 5. But the Warriors played a style of ball the Mavs had not anticipated, nor could they handle. Now, after six games, to say Golden State is the better team is not really an overstatement. Dallas had no successful counter to the Warriors' run-and-gun attack. Baron Davis did what he wanted, when he wanted, and he did it for the entire series. And it didn't help that Dirk Nowitzki played like a 7-year-old mädchen. (If he gets the MVP award after that sad performance -- he was 2-for-13 in Game 6 -- it will only my add fruit to my argument that the MVP should be awarded after the Playoffs are complete.) I guess that's why they play the games ...

... And speaking of games, it's about time the Pistons took the floor again. I'm less lively when they're idle. Saturday at 7, bet on the Palace to be rocking for Game 1 against the Bulls. To me, it was a huge surprise that Chicago had the talent and the strategy to take down the champs from Miami -- and even more of a surprise that the Bulls did it with brooms. That's why I expect this series between the former rivals to be a barnburner. The Pistons need to find whatever chips they had on their shoulders in 2004 and play like they're the underdogs. If they're overconfident, look out. Ben Gordon and Luol Deng could turn the Eastern champs into mincemeat. Do I think they will? No. I like the Pistons in 6. I'm simply offering a warning ...

... The 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow, and if you've never seen it, try to be around a TV between 4 and 7 p.m. (The exact start time always varies depending on how fidgety the horses are.) Each year, I like to make my pick based on the horse names. Here are my five favorite from this year's field:

Storm in May
Imawildandcrazyguy
Liquidity
Scat Daddy
Circular Quay

Not a terribly creative field of names this year, but a few good ones nonetheless. Liquidity, as of right now (11 a.m. Friday), is a 30-1 shot. But that's my favorite name, so that's my horse ...

... I'm not a boxing guy, but the name Floyd Mayweather just screams out "Champ," doesn't it? I like him to KO Oscar De La Hoya in Round 3.

NBA Playoffs 2007

2007-04-20T02:44:00.000-04:00

When the Pistons lost to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last year in six games, I felt like an era had ended. All the power and the confidence and the success of the four straight Central Division Championship years had suddenly evaporated. Miami was the new Alpha Dog.

At first, because of my almost undying optimism, it was hard for me to come to grips with their deterioration. But at some point in the offseason, I said to myself, "They're just not a championship caliber team any longer."

Now, 11 months later, Detroit is once again the Central Champs, and once again the No. 1 team in the East.

Optimism back, doubt gone. I truly believe the Pistons can hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy again in June. It won't come easy, but if everything falls into place (as I will elaborate on in a future post), I think Pistons fans will be planning another parade through Hart Plaza this summer.

Here are my Playoff predictions:

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Detroit over Orlando in 5
Cleveland over Washington in 4
New Jersey over Toronto in 7
Miami over Chicago in 6

Western Conference Quarterfinals

Dallas over Golden State in 5
Phoenix over LA Lakers in 6
San Antonio over Denver in 6
Houston over Utah in 7

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Detroit over Miami in 6
Cleveland over New Jersey in 7

Western Conference Semifinals

Dallas over Houston in 7
San Antonio over Phoenix in 6

Eastern Conference Finals

Detroit over Cleveland in 5

Western Conference Finals

San Antonio over Dallas in 7

NBA Finals

Detroit over San Antonio in 7

Maybe I'm still living in the 2005, but I think this rematch is a definite possibility. The Spurs have been overlooked all season long, and they're ready to surprise everybody. As for the Pistons, it will come down to consistent energy more than anything else. If they can find that, then the title's coming home to Motown. Let's go.

State of the Pistons Address (April 9)

2007-04-09T14:02:00.000-04:00

"Easter Sunday was for Pistons fans who'd lost the faith." -- Keith Langlois, pistons.com

I couldn't have said it any better myself. In yesterday's 87-82 win, the Pistons proved that they're still the best team in the East. And with that proof, they set the bar no lower than reaching the NBA Finals for the third time in four years. Anything less would be a monumental disappointment.

They started out hot in this one, with Sheed on the bench nursing a sore finger (c'mon, Sheed). But Dyess made sure it wasn't an issue, stepping into the starting lineup and bringing some invigorating energy. Flying all over the floor, he got the others pumped up to play defense, and the Cavs' 16 turnovers proved that. Dyess finished with 18 points, 13 boards and 3 blocks. Great day.

It was clear in this game that Flip Saunders wanted to get the starters big minutes -- Tay, Chaunce and Rip each played 40-plus -- perhaps to experiment with possible rotations for the upcoming Playoffs. (They start in less than two weeks. Who's ready?)

As a result, however, Flip Murray, Carlos, J-Max and Lindsey each played single-digit minutes -- something that absolutely CANNOT happen in the Playoffs. I'll probably beat a dead horse here with this assertion for the next two months (I hope until mid-June), but it must be said: the Pistons' bench is a valuable, valuable asset that, if used carefully, can make this team unbeatable.

Of the five regular bench guys, they all bring tremendous energy every night, in their own way. I had frowned on Murray for a bulk of the season, but when Chaunce went down for a few games, he stepped in and played admirably. For a guy who isn't known as a terrific defender, his strength and his propensity for knocking away the basketball make him tough to shake when Saunders is employing that half-court trap that worked so beautifully a week ago versus Miami. Also in that game, Murray showed ability to get in the lane and make good decisions. If he continues to do this, all will be well.

I had also soured on Carlos earlier this year. He seemed to be too worried about getting his points and not focused enough on his true strength: defense. He can frustrate the D-Wades and the LeBrons with the best of 'em. And lately, he has been. His take-your-lunch steal on Antoine Walker last Sunday sealed the deal in a close game. What's more, he's letting the offense come to him rather than forcing a drive or taking an off-balance shot. He shoots when he's open, he drives when there's a seam, and most of the time -- lately, at least -- he's making the right decision.

With six games left in the regular season, Saunders must accomplish one task: find a consistent substitution pattern, and make sure everyone on the squad is comfortable with it. Sure, guys like Chaunce and Rip and Sheed want their minutes early so they can find a rhythm. But too often it comes at the expense of the entire team, which is why they always get off to slow starts. It's also why they rarely blow teams out of the water. For whatever reason, these three have been shooting a percentage slightly lower than what they shot a season ago, and I think that's a big reason why we have fewer wins.

But even if Linds, Los and Dyess come spell Chaunce, Rip and Sheed at the four-minute mark of the first quarter, that gives the Big 3 eight minutes to get going. And if they're REALLY going, then Saunders can leave 'em in there.

The big thing the bench can do is change the tempo of the game by forcing turnovers and pushing the rock. The starters have had a lot of success in the half court. The bench guys can ratchet it up and keep the opponents off balance.

Whatever the pattern, I hope Saunders finds it soon, and I hope it's not like what he did Sunday against Cleveland -- even though we won. (That was due in large part to Tay's lockdown defense on the Chosen One, LeBron James, aka Anti-Clutch.) ...

... One Random Thought:

Have you noticed the evolution/devolution of Chris Webber's game? He's still dangerously effective on the offensive end, yet I think he left his explosiveness of old somewhere in Arco Arena five years ago. He has savvy around the basket comparable to Tim Duncan. His up-fakes, soft touch and clever footwork make this C-Webb as tough to guard as the one who rattled rims and stuck his tongue out as a youngster at Michigan. Well, maybe not quite as tough.

Still, it's fun to notice this transformation because Michael Jordan did the same thing. After he came back wearing the 45, he wasn't nearly as explosive as he was in the late '80s and early '90s. So he developed that impossible-to-guard fadeaway J. You know the rest.

The recipe

2007-03-14T01:22:00.000-04:00

When the Pistons signed C-Webb in mid-January, I didn't anticipate him having any trouble fitting in, nor did I expect the rest of the boys in red and blue to resist his arrival. That said, I sure didn't think he would become THE MAN and develop into our go-to guy down the stretch. But with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, eight rebounds and six assists Tuesday night in an important 101-97 win at Seattle, Big Chris was just that: THE MAN.

Just as Jesus Shuttlesworth -- that's Ray Allen to those of you not privy to Spike Lee cinematography -- was putting the Sonics on his back and making the game close again, C-Webb scored five consecutive points as the fourth quarter was winding down to help seal the deal. A huge 3 from Mr. Big Shot, free throws from Rip and some terrific D from Sheed wrapped it up.

The Pistons are 3-0 on their current west coast swing, and they finish up with Portland and Phoenix -- just as the basketball world's eyes will be diverted elsewhere. It's easy to overlook this juncture in the NBA season, what with that little dance occurring all over the country, but it's a key time for the Pistons. Forget home court -- they're just hoping to start clicking on all cylinders for Playoff time, which, believe it or not, is only six weeks away. What Detroit has certainly proven this season is that they don't need to be at The Palace to win. They welcome the hostility they encounter on the road. And while more fans will flock to Auburn Hills to crank up the volume once these games start to matter a bit more, I think the Pistons should worry about the quality of the product they're putting out on the floor more than having the most wins in the East. If they do that, chances are first place will take care of itself anyway...

... Did you catch Michigan in the first round of the NIT tonight? They beat up on Utah State before a crowd of 43 at Crisler Arena. Way to go Wolverines! Let's make it back to Madison Square! Again! ...

... Niagara ousted my Florida A&M Rattlers tonight in one of sports' most quirky traditions: The Play-in Game. Why did the NCAA ever institute this silly extra game? Certainly the people at the University of Dayton are not swimming in the added revenue the game provides. All it does is tease teams that won their conference tournaments into thinking they're dancing, when really all they're doing is stepping onto the dance floor and watching everyone else dance, then leaving after half a song -- which, as we club-goers know, is quite awkward. There was never a need for 65 ... 64 was, and is, the perfect number. Still, some coaches, like Jimmy Boeheim up at Syracuse, call for an expanded field. But if March Madness is the best thing sports has going for it -- which it is -- why fix what ain't broken? What's more, in all the online bracket pools, you can't even choose who's going to win the 64/65 game anyway. Good thing, too. My FAMU pick would've screwed up my bracket. I'm going 63 for 63 this year, by the way ...

... 52 days till the 133rd Kentucky Derby! Are you serious!?!? ...

... OK, OK, enough foreplay. Now we march on to the Macarena of all Macarenas, the Dirty Bird of all Dirty Birds, the Hustle of all Hustles ... THE BIG DANCE.

I did a lot of pondering before filling out my Master Bracket this year. This is the first year since high school where I've had access to ESPN for the entire college basketball season, and it enabled me to watch a lot more games and get a good feel for many more teams than I had in the past three years. In the end, I settled on a Final Four of Florida, Kansas, Texas and Memphis. Florida had a little hiccup at the end of the SEC season, but I think the Gators needed that to relocate their hunger. Now that it's back, Billy Donovan's club will be nearly impossible to stop.

The teams I think have the best chance to beat the champs from Gainesville are the other three I picked to make it to Atlanta. Kansas and Memphis are both squads with phenomenal, phenomenal athletes. And now that Bill Self and John Calipari have those clubs playing with more discipline than in years past, I think it's their time to advance further.

As for Texas, I cannot say enough about the play of Kevin Durant. I'm not just on his bandwagon, I'm directing it down the promenade in Austin, baby! I've been lucky enough to catch him about six or seven times on TV, and I've never seen a kid that young so NBA ready. (Well, perhaps with the exception of LeBron.) Dude strokes from 30 feet with ease, he hits the glass relentlessly, he knows how to use his 7-foot-6 wingspan effectively on EVERY defensive possession, and he wants the ball in crunch time. (I feel like I'm giving the "Praise Jesus" montage from "He Got Game" here. Again, a respectful nod to Spike Lee.)

I did, however, hesitate to pick Texas to knock off Carolina in the regional semis and move into the final weekend. I think the Horns can do it, but only if Durant has a big night -- which he's 100 percent capable of, especially on this elevated stage. But if he's off, I don't think Augustin and Abrams have enough offense in them to lift Texas past a DEEP Tar Heels squad. That promises to be one of the Tourney's most entertaining games in Weekend 2.

The Game of the Tournament could very well be the first national semifinal, between the Gators and the Jayhawks. I love the way Kansas runs, and I think Julian Wright and Brandon Rush present some of the most mind-boggling matchup problems of any two players in college hoops, aside from Durant. What better defenders to stick on them than Florida's Noah and Brewer, guys who came back to school for a reason: to repeat. The Gators are seasoned, well-coached, still firmly entrenched in their roles, and ready to bring yet another trophy back to the campus that -- who knows? -- may be getting bored with all the success it's experiencing. My guess is they'll take another ring, no matter how ho-hum.

I say it will happen, but not before another three weeks of super, scintillating, sensational basketball. Thanks, Dickie V.

My Best Games of Weekend 1:

Marquette/Michigan State
Indiana/Gonzaga
Southern Illinois/Holy Cross
Notre Dame/Winthrop

Oregon/Notre Dame
Wisconsin/UNLV
Texas A&M/Louisville
Georgetown/Boston College

My Upset Specials for Weekend 1:

Holy Cross over Southern Illinois
Arkansas over USC
George Washington over Vanderbilt

UNLV over Wisconsin
George Washington over Washington State

I can't wait, baby!

Hello, March. It's been too long.

2007-03-02T13:22:00.000-05:00

Please excuse the author for his excessive use of exclamation points and capital letters in this post. It is his favorite time of year.

March is finally here, and for me, that means non-stop excitement, baby! I GOT DICKIE V SYNDROME, BABY!

The Texas/Texas A&M game Wednesday night got me super jacked up for the next month of hoops. Double OT?!?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! Ohhh, Kevin Durant and Acie Law were absolutely sensational! A couple of PTPers (that's primetime players for you Dickie V illiterates) going at it, baby!

How can you not be ready to dance after that one? It seems like Texas always finds a way to get itself into those adrenaline-pumping, down-to-the-wire games, and that's where Durant plays his best. He could put the Horns on his back and shuffle all the way to Atlanta in a few weeks.

Texas is one of my eight favorites to make the Final Four. The others: Kansas, UCLA, Memphis, Georgetown, Maryland, UNC and my sleeper: West Virginia. But don't listen to me. Make sure you fill out a bracket for yourself. And enter the ESPN pool online for a chance to win $10,000. It could happen ... I went to high school with the guy that won first place in 2005: Dustin Kubas.

The culmination of all the excitement will begin on March 11 -- Selection Sunday -- and end sometime in the early morning on March 16, at the end of the first day of games. Yes, it's a five-day culmination, accentuated by the fun of filling out brackets, guessing which 12 seeds will knock off 5 seeds (because it always happens) and, of course, the play-in game.

Will this be the year a No. 1 seed loses to a 16? Who will be this year's George Mason? Can Durant pull a Carmelo and lead the Horns all the way? I CAN'T WAIT, BABY!

From now until then, I hope Michigan and Michigan State can lose their bubblicious labels and put on some dancin' shoes. But if fortune only smiles on one of the two teams and the Spartans end up NITin', I won't lose any sleep over it.

Contagious laughing

2007-02-13T09:04:00.000-05:00

As a websurfer, I felt it was my duty to show you all this picture from last night's game. During a timeout, a fat man's dance team took to the floor at the Palace. 'Sheed didn't bother with Flip Saunders's Xs and Os. He caught the performance instead.

Ohhh, 'Sheed. You never cease to make me laugh.

For more laughs from this guy, check out need4sheed.com, and click on the "Videos" section. My personal favorites are the Jingle Bells Christmas carol, the one where he messes with Reggie Miller, and the Sheed pre-game. But they're all worth a gander.

State of the Pistons Address (February 12)

2007-02-12T23:05:00.000-05:00

There's no more getting acclimated for Chris Webber. He is now, genuinely, a Piston. And everyone else on the court is better off because of it.

Have you been watching these guys lately? Seven wins in a row, and some of the best passing the Palace has seen in the last four years. During this streak, they're averaging more than 22 feeds a game, with just under 10 turnovers. As Larry David would say: pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Since 2004, they've had those great games where it seems like everything's clicking, and at the end of the night, there are 30 assists in the stat column. When they've played their best, that number has been habitual. Now, with one more world-class passer in the lineup, expect the boys in red and blue to reach the 30-mark even more consistently -- for the rest of the season.

C-Webb is giving Detroit the same kind of lift 'Sheed provided when Joe D picked him up in February of the '04 season. With his natural offensive talent, he draws a lot more attention than his predecessors Nazr and Ben. What is more, he passes the ball better than I realized he did when he was with the talented Kings from earlier this decade. (In that regard, he's even more like 'Sheed, a guy Pistons fans couldn't appreciate fully, or at all, until he was one of our own and we got to watch him every night.)

Having C-Webb catch the ball in the high post makes every Piston on the floor all the more deadly because he can knock down that jumper, he can feed 'Sheed on the high-low look, he can find Tay or Rip curling or backcutting, or he can simply pitch back to Chaunce for a trey-bomb.

These past seven games have been a treat, but I think we're really going to see them start clicking even more and solidifying themselves as the favorite to win the East. Wednesday should be a good gauge, as the Spurs come to town. Close out on Horry, 'Sheed. Close out on Horry.

Ron Artest's leash, or lack thereof

2007-02-08T23:35:00.000-05:00

Ron Artest wears many hats.

NBA basketball player. Rapper. Volatile and mentally-deranged human being. And now, dog-neglecter.

Yes, it's apparent that Ron-Ron has been letting his pups run rampant on his property since, well, pretty much since he moved out to Cali.

His neighbors aren't happy. They've had to feed and water the pooches several times. The pound isn't happy. He owes them some puppy chow. No word yet on David Stern's reaction.

Despite Artest's claim that he loves his dogs and thinks they should be able to live as freely as possible, I think he's fit for a bit of scarlet letter punishment here. But instead of wearing a sign around his neck in public, I think he should have his barber carve a message in his hair.

After all, he's been known to advertise via his dome. The logo for his rap label, "Tru Warier," has graced his mop on a few occasions during NBA games. Time for a new message, Ron: "I neglect my dogs."

The recipe

2007-02-01T23:02:00.000-05:00

I haven't heard one person on TV this week pick Chicago to beat Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl. So I like Daaa Bears -- 21-17 ...

... Big win for the Pistons last night over the Nets, 113-89. Maybe they can get a little momentum going now that C-Webb is feeling more comfortable. More on that in a few days. Two interesting point totals from the Nets game, though: Rasheed Wallace -- 0. Mikki Moore -- 20. When Big Mikki endured the teal years at the end of the Pistons' bench, I always loved when he would get into games. He was a high-energy guy, kind of like Jason Maxiell, and always lookin' to throw down with authority. Now you're telling me he's the leading scorer on a team with three All-Stars? How did we ever let him go? ...

... Rip and Chauncey are All-Stars again, and they both deserve it. Tay is an All-Star caliber player, too, I just think he'll have trouble being acknowledged as one officially because he doesn't score enough -- at least not with Rip and Chauncey in the backcourt. Actually, I kind of hope he never makes the All-Star team, just so that he and Rip and Chauncey can live on the hardwood together forever ...

... So Barbaro bit the dust. About frickin' time. I apologize for offending any animal lovers out there -- or any close personal friends of Barbaro's, for that matter -- but this horse grabbed more headlines than Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Mr. Ed combined. And for what? He won the Kentucky Derby, then he broke his leg. How many phenomenal young athletes have accomplished something big in their young careers, then drifted into oblivion? The same should have happened to Barbaro. After all, he's a mammal, just like us. (My buddies and I did, however, give him an R.I.P. toast at the bar the other night. In the process, I realized that I never wished for him to die, only to leave the headlines. Here's hoping he's coming down the heavenly stretch in the sky with the rest of the field in his dust.) ...

... Groundhog Day is tomorrow. Now I forget -- is it if he sees his shadow, we still have six more weeks of winter? Aww, who cares? TBS will undoubtedly be showing the movie "Groundhog Day" -- Bill Murray's second greatest role behind "Caddyshack" if you ask me -- so that's all I need to know ...

... Only 28 days until the Tigers' spring training opener versus the Phillies. I like the Tigs, 29-2. Who's ready?

A dandy in Stillwater

2007-01-17T10:35:00.000-05:00

This, right here, is why the college game will always have an edge on the NBA.

I haven't been able to watch a lot of D-I college basketball this season, but the last two overtimes of OK State's win over Texas last night reminded me why it's the greatest sport in the world, and it got me twitchin' and itchin' for March.

It was also the first time I got the chance to check out Texas phenom Kevin Durant. Man, is he something else. If I had the top pick in June's draft, it would be no automatic Greg Oden selection for me. This Durant kid has Kevin Garnett length and defensive ability with Tracy McGrady explosiveness and shooting touch. Scary.

Over the next two months, a lot of these exciting games will go down, but pay close attention to the teams that are winning them in late February and early March. That momentum will pay dividends in the Big Dance. I can't wait, baby!

State of the Pistons Address (Jan. 15)

2007-01-15T20:54:00.000-05:00

I don't have TiVo or DVR, but if I did, there's no doubt what television spectacle I would record on Wednesday night: the Pistons versus the Jazz at the Palace. Luckily, I do have a VCR and some tape. Let's go.

Wednesday will be the sight of many returns at the Palace. First, and most importantly, there's the return of Mehmet Okur to the Palace. Memo is having a fine year with the Jazz, and the Pistons should probably be kicking themselves for not holding onto him after he helped them win a championship in 2004. But that's another story for another day.

The real important returns of Wednesday will be those of Chauncey Billups and Christopher Webber. Chaunce is back after missing eight games with a calf injury. C-Webb is back hooping for a Detroit team for the first time since 1993.

It will all be official after he signs tomorrow, and if he gets a practice in with the team, I wouldn't be surprised if Flip gives him a starting nod on Wednesday, the day the Pistons will dig themselves out of the hole in which they're currently writhing.

It's painfully clear that the Pistons are struggling, but what's odd is that their numbers aren't altogether horrendous.

In the eight games since Chauncey went down, they're 3-5. Some interesting stats:

-- They're scoring 92.5 ppg (down from 96.5 for the season).
-- They're giving up 92.5 ppg (down from 94.1 for the season).
-- They're dishing out 21.1 apg (up from 20.3 for the season).
-- They're turning it over 12.2 times per game (same as all season).

Flip Murray is averaging 12.4 points, 6.6 assists and 2 turnovers filling in for Chaunce. His season averages are 7 points, 2 assists and 1 turnover. So he hasn't done a bad job.

But there's something else Chauncey brings to the table other than his 18 points, 8 assists and just 2 turnovers each game. He brings a calm over the team. He gets Rip going while letting Tay and Sheed know they'll get their lifts, too. And he controls the tempo like a world-class maestro.

For as much as I dislike Flip's game in the Pistons' system, he has filled in valiantly. But he can't bring the familiarity Chaunce brings to the court, and it's clear that some of the players -- especially Sheed, who has made just 32 of his last 108 field goal attempts -- are less sure of themselves in Chaunce's absence.

Just as the general is back to make the Pistons recognizable again, though, there's another face to add to the team photo. C-Webb could initially take awhile to adjust to the Pistons' style, but once he gets comfortable, look out. I think he and Sheed will make a perfect high-low combination. If Flip can get the two to interchange frequently -- moving in and out and up and down -- the mere presence of C-Webb will encourage Sheed to post up more, something Pistons fans have been hoping for since Sheed came to Detroit in '04. C-Webb has an uncanny ability to dish the rock, and in that sense, he's a stark opposite to the two bigs that have flanked Sheed since his Motown arrival -- Big Ben and Nazr.

Whatever goes down Wednesday, it's an exciting time for Pistons fans, who now have added incentive to watch at a time of year when it's easy to let fandom go by the wayside. Excuse me while I go program my VCR.

New-look Pistons?

2007-01-12T19:17:00.000-05:00

Chaunce has been injured. Sheed has been an enigma. And everybody else has been doing what they can, but it's clear that, at this point, the Pistons are not a championship caliber team.

That could all change in the next few weeks. Chris Webber could be suiting up in red, white and blue as early as Wednesday versus the Jazz. Chaunce is expected back soon, too. And with his return, it's likely Sheed will get out of his funk and start to assert himself like the All-Star he is.

If Joe Dumars is really feeling tricky, he might try to pull a few more strings in addition to picking up C-Webb. Jalen Rose has hinted he would love to return to Detroit, and if his former Fab Five teammate comes back home, well, no time would be better. I've also heard rumblings about Morris Peterson heading south, too. Assuming we'd lose Carlos Delfino, Flip Murray or Amir Johnson to get those guys (perhaps all three), let's just see what a potential playoff roster would look like, along with some career numbers...

PG 1 Chauncey Billups 14 ppg 3 rpg 5 apg
SG 32 Richard Hamilton 18 ppg 3 rpg 3 apg
SF 22 Tayshaun Prince 12 ppg 4 rpg 2 apg
PF 36 Rasheed Wallace 16 ppg 7 rpg 2 apg
C 2 Chris Webber 21 ppg 10rpg 4 apg

G 10 Lindsey Hunter 9 ppg 2 rpg 3 apg
G 42 Morris Peterson 12 ppg 4 rpg 2 apg
G 5 Jalen Rose 15 ppg 4 rpg 4 apg
F 13 Nazr Mohammed 7 ppg 6 rpg 1 apg
F 24 Antonio McDyess 15 ppg 8 rpg 1 apg
F 54 Jason Maxiell 4 ppg 2 rpg
F 34 Dale Davis 8 ppg 8 rpg 1 apg

Quite an experienced squad. And in the playoffs, that counts more than anything. While these three additions would make the Pistons one of the oldest teams in the league, I truly think they could help.

C-Webb sure ain't the C-Webb he used to be, but even on one wheel he's more effective than Nazr. I must admit, Nazr has exceeded my expectations of him this year. But he's a liability defensively, and his touch around the basket cannot outweigh his negatives. There's no reason to start him over C-Webb.

Jalen ain't what he used to be, either. He's not as intimidating a scorer as he was seven years ago, when he led the Pacers to the Finals. (He was the go-to guy for Indiana that year, not Reggie Miller.) But man, can Jalen still dish the rock. He and Linds could come off the bench together and really get guys like Maxiell, Dyess, Rip and ... Mo Pete going.

Yes, that's right: Morris Peterson. What the Pistons do not have this season is a dead-eye 3-point shooter off the bench. While Mo is only shooting 35 percent from behind the arc this year, in Toronto, he's asked to do a lot more than shoot. In Detroit, that would be his main -- and maybe his only -- responsibility: knock down the open trey.

I'll shed no tears saying good-bye to Los and Flip if these acquisitions somehow happen, but I will be sad to see Amir go -- if that's what Joe D chooses to do. I still maintain he could be the next T-Mac. Unfortunately, Pistons fans have had little opportunity to see him do much of anything in two years.

The boys are at Atlanta tonight, then back home tomorrow against Boston in what could be Chauncey's much-welcomed return. If we're lucky, it won't be the only return for Detroit fans in the next few weeks. I can hear George Blaha already...

And Jalen feeds C-Webb on the lob for the super slam! The Pistons lead by 12 with TWO and TWENTY-TWO to play! What a pass by Jalen!

Tim Higgins, National Champion

2007-01-09T23:10:00.000-05:00

Every time the Florida Gators football team played on national TV in the last four years, I surveyed the sidelines for one player -- Tim Higgins.

I went to high school with Tim in Northville. When I found out he was going to the University of Florida to play football, I kind of scoffed at it. After all, he was only 5'7'' and 160 pounds -- give or take. I thought he would have been better off playing Division III ball, perhaps becoming a big contributor for some team, somewhere.

Today, Tim has the right to scoff at me. He's a National Champion, and that's not all. He made the most of his four years there, graduating early and even having a "Rudy" moment. His story was picked up by papers nationwide, courtesy of the AP. Give it a read.

And congratulations to Tim. Come flaunt that ring back in Northville anytime you please.

Kudos to Creativity

2007-01-02T22:51:00.000-05:00

In an adidas commercial from about five years ago, Kobe Bryant said, "I think that creativity comes from within." My buddies and I used to make fun of this statement for its apparent simplicity yet its valiant attempt at provoking something philosophic.

But you know what? Kobe may have been onto something profound. Creativity does come from within. It involves thinking outside the normal realm of thinking. It means refusing to conform. It takes a willingness to fail. It demands guts. Cojones. Bollocks. Huevos. Take your pick.

You know who's creative? You know's got a pair? Boise State coach Chris Petersen.

You know who's a gigantic sissy on the brink of expiration? Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.

For an exercise in perfect juxtaposition, let us examine Monday's Fiesta Bowl winner and Rose Bowl loser. Petersen and Carr. Boise State and Michigan. Creativity and predictability.

Football play-calling is one of the less discussed topics among prognosticators, analysts and the like. (Call them what you will, but I prefer: Run-Of-The-Mill Former Player Who Jumps On With Some Random Networks Once He's Washed Up And Spits Out Drivel Every Sunday. There are a few exceptions. I really like Mark Schlereth on ESPN. Not over the top like most everyone else. And Matt Millen was great back when he sat in the broadcast booth, where he belongs. In general, though, there's way too much football coverage on TV. Anyway, back to my point. I apologize for the digression.) But for all the talks that go on about matchups and personnel in football games, one thing matters most, and that's play-calling.

None of the big mouths predicted little Boise State to beat the tried and tested Oklahoma squad Monday. The Broncos were too slow, too weak, too inexperienced. Petersen found a way to trump that.

After squandering an 18-point lead and falling behind 35-28 on an interception that would have taken the wind out of most teams' sails, the Broncos persisted. Quarterback Jared Zabransky had just thrown one of the all-time worst passes ever in a pressure-packed situation. Then, he showed what true resiliency is all about, coming back to lead the Broncos to pay dirt with just less than a minute to go. The fashion in which they tied it is grabbing all the headlines.

Fourth and 18. Down seven. Half a field to go. Hook and ladder. Yep, the Broncos pulled out one of the greatest trick plays in the book, and it worked to perfection. But it didn't stop there.

The Sooners scored first in OT, on a 25-yard scamper from Adrian Peterson. He went in virtually untouched, almost as though the Broncos were conceding it to him. It didn't matter.

From the 25, Boise launched into a series where every play seemed like a trick play. Running backs looking to pass to the quarterback. Wide receivers taking direct snaps. Not exactly plays you see every day.

But what the Broncos did so well was recognize when the big strike was UNAVAILABLE, turning it down, and taking their medicine. It took eight snaps, and they eventually got their touchdown on an alley-oop pass from a receiver to a tight end. What guts.

Then came two more bits of courage. First, Petersen decided to go for two, to go for the win. Second, he did so by ordering up another trick play -- a fake screen, Statue-of-Liberty call that worked to perfection. Game, Boise. Kudos, Petersen. Without question, it was the greatest end to a football game I've witnessed.

Would I have said that if Boise's trickery had failed? Probably not. Some of what occurred in Glendale Monday was luck. But, to me at least, Petersen's inkling to go to all corners of the playbook gave his team its best chance to win. Not necessarily its only chance, but its BEST chance.

Now let's hop a few miles north to Pasadena, where the USC Trojans made the Big Ten team from the state of Michigan look more like Spartans than Wolverines. Michigan was out-run, out-tackled, out-jumped and, most of all, out-witted. Bill Plaschke of the LA Times called it the most "jangling, jitterbugging, joyous win" of the Pete Carroll era at SoCal. Really? After all, Carroll HAS won two national titles. Pretty high praise from one of the best sportswriters in the land.

Regardless of whether that's warranted, Carroll made one of the premiere defenses in the country look like hole-y socks. He, too, showed Petersen-like guts, going to the air time after time after time and tearing U-M's secondary to shreds. And ultimately, he shined a bright, Californian light on the only real weakness of one of the great college football coaches of the last decade.

Lloyd Carr's predictable play-calling has finally reached its last straw. For years, it's been lamented, but only halfheartedly. Michigan racked up enough wins to keep the majority of fans content and hungry for the possibility of a better season next year. Next year. How many next years can there be?

Too many for Carr. Year in and year out, Michigan has one of the two or three most talented teams -- from top to bottom -- in the nation. And to have only one National Championship and a bowl game record of 5-7 to show for 12 seasons at the helm is not good enough.

Now, it's unfair to say that Carr's conservative play-calling hasn't won him his share of games. Tailbacks galore have come through U-M and single-handedly won games by wearing down tough defenses to the point where they're ineffective in the second halves of ballgames. A steady dose of Michael Hart and Chris Perry and Tim Biakabatuka surely secured the Wolverines a few victories through the years.

But just imagine how fun a high-octane, innovative Michigan team would be to watch. The supreme talent gives Carr all the MORE reason to open up the playbook and let loose. You think Hart couldn't have done some damage on direct snaps or an option play with Steve Breaston as his QB or a few more screen passes on Monday? Of course he could have. Sure would have been more exciting than his runs to the short side of the field which were stopped repeatedly and without much effort on the part of the Trojans.

Not to take anything away from USC's defense, either. It was great, partly because its schemes were creative, as well. The Trojans blitzed with backers, linemen, corners and safeties. The patterns were random and kept Henne off balance all day. If only Michigan had done likewise.

So am I calling for Lloyd's head? Not unless he refuses to change. If he can recognize that the days of pounding the rock, regardless of the opponent, are done, and if he can borrow a few pages from Boise State's book, that would be a beautiful thing. Heck, bring in Petersen to run the offense. I'm sure he'd catapult us back to the top. Just leave the blue field in Boise, Chris.

A New Roar

2006-12-27T23:57:00.000-05:00

The Lions are playing the Cowboys right now, and it's one of the more unique football games I've ever watched. Not because of any spectacular matchups or anything, but because it's the first time all Lions fans have no reason whatsoever to root for a win.

With a loss, they can lock up the No. 1 pick in April's draft. With a win, well, nothing but something for fans to misinterpret as momentum going into next season.

Here's what makes it so unique: the conflicting emotions. I just watched Paris Lenon recover a Tony Romo fumble, and my instinct told me to cheer. Instead, my roommate AB shouted out an obscenity. Minutes later, Cowboys return man Terence Newman took a punt back for six, tying the game. AB jumped for joy. I smiled.

Deep down, I really do want them to win. Also deep down, I know they'll find a way to lose. And that's what makes sense for fans to want. So, basically, after a season of successfully waning myself from watching them, I'm back and tuned in as ever. This outcome matters.

State of the Pistons Address (Nov. 21)

2006-11-21T15:12:00.000-05:00

Ten games into this Detroit Pistons season, far more remains unclear and ambiguous than set in stone. That's one of the big reasons I have prevented myself from unloading a rant on this team; it's just too early to make firm conclusions.

At 5-5, we've beaten some good teams and lost to some crappy ones. But in a league where the only true power thus far has proven to be the Utah Jazz -- are you kidding me? -- it may be too early to even say we've played "good" and "crappy" teams. We've played 10 teams. We've won five games. That's what we know.

First, the losses: Milwaukee, Utah, Sacramento, Golden State and New Orleans.

It was disconcerting to lose to the Bucks on opening night, mostly because we lacked energy.

Then the three losses to the Jazz, Kings and Warriors came on that West Coast Swing where it seemed as though we were more consumed by what the officials were doing than with how we were playing.

Then came the loss to the Hornets at home, which stung. I was pumped to see Chauncey school Chris Paul -- which he did in the second half -- but when it came down to it, we couldn't get any big stops. Especially in the Eastern Conference, it seems like the teams are a lot more even, so that means a lot more close games. In the past, the Pistons hung their hats on getting big stops in the clutch, which won them those close games. But with Nazr Mohammed on a different defensive page than the rest of the starters and the energy still below the level it used to be when Ben Wallace was around, that is no longer our cornerstone.

Can it become our trademark again? I don't think so. But that doesn't mean we can't climb the ladder to the crop of elite teams by midseason.

Why? Well, in our five wins -- for the most part -- we've looked good. We knocked off Boston and Memphis early, the Lakers out in L.A. (Tayshaun looked like an All-Star in that one), and now we're coming off consecutive wins against Washington and Houston -- two loaded teams.

We've averaged close to 26 assists in those games (we averaged 24 per last season). We're 5-1 when we hold the opponent under 100. And Flip Saunders is still figuring out which combinations are going to work well and when.

One lineup I think he needs to continue to utilize is the five of Lindsey, Chaunce, Rip, Tay and 'Sheed. With these guys (five of the six contributors remaining from the '04 championship year, the other being Dyess), there's an uptempo chemistry that other teams have trouble stopping. The only potential downfall is on defense, where size is lacking. But to combat that, Flip has installed a pretty befuddling zone (the only team to break it down effectively was Golden State).

Elsewhere, I think Dyess, Maxiell and Nazr need to play pretty similar minutes. Each of them brings something different to the floor, and by shuffling them in for equal spurts, it may maximize the energy that's out there.

As for Flip Murray and Carlos Delfino, I haven't been pleased with either's performance thus far. Flip just doesn't seem comfortable yet. He can create his own shot -- a luxury the Pistons thought they wanted after last year's offensive struggles -- but it seems too forced to happen within the flow of the offense. Delfino has contributed in spurts, but his streaky shooting encapsulates the inconsistency that has kept him from being a significant presence on the floor ever since he came to the NBA.

I wish we could have acquired Jalen when he left the Knicks, but he seemed content going to Phoenix. I don't know if Joe D will look to make any moves this season, but if I were the GM, I might try to get one guy (maybe a Morris Peterson or Juan Dixon type) for Flip and Los and use him -- along with budding star Amir Johnson, who really should be playing -- throughout the regular season to spell Rip and Tay.

But again, it's still early. Maybe Flip and Los will gel with everyone else, just like I'm confident Nazr will do. Much more will be clear 10 games from now, when we can characterize this team as an up-and-down, .500 club, or simply one that got off to a slow start and is starting to click on both ends of the floor.

I'll leave you with this tidbit from 'Sheed, which he received from a heckler in Sacramento a couple weeks back (courtesy of the Detroit News):

Rasheed Wallace was scoreless, missing all nine of his shots (though he pulled down 15 rebounds).

The best shot Wallace took all night came at the expense of a courtside heckler.

“Rasheed, you’re 0-for-8,” the guy yelled.

“I don’t care if I am 0-for-1,000, at least I’m not wearing a pink and lime green shirt,” said Wallace, who for the rest of the game referred to the heckler as Fruit Loop.

That was at the height of 'Sheed's frustration with the league's new zero-tolerance policy. Since, it looks like he's channeled his frustration into energy on the court. In his last three games, he's been consistent from the field (19-41 FG, 16.3 ppg) and averaged 10 rebounds -- especially important in the wake of Ben's departure.

Pistons Preview

2006-10-31T23:33:00.000-05:00

B-b-b-b-b-b-bye, Ben Wallace. Hello, new-look Pistons.

The instant he inked with Chicago in July, the face of the Detroit Pistons changed dramatically. No more fearing of the 'Fro. And no more clanging of the 'thro.

Yes, the defensive catalyst has bolted. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year, the man who fueled the fire behind the 2004 NBA Championship team ... gone.

Now, as the 100-pound dumbbells in the Palace's weight room collect dust, and as Ben forges ahead and runs with the Bulls, there's one obvious question to be answered in Detroit:

How will his absence affect this team?

Many of the pundits see his departure as the death of championship-caliber basketball in Detroit, and they've already written off the Pistons as primary contenders for the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June.

Thing is, that's just the way Chauncey, Rip, Tay and the rest of the boys like it. Underdogs again.

After a summer full of baseball excitement, courtesy of the Tigers, it's time for the city of Detroit to put its energy back into its hoop squad, because this Pistons team has the potential to be better than last year's.

Gone are Big Ben and the electric Maurice Evans. In are Nazr Mohammed and Flip Murray.

Gone is the potential to hold teams to 69 points in a game. In is the ability to score 130 on any given night.

While the Pistons will certainly miss everything No. 3 brought to the table on the defensive end, his absence on offense will outweigh his void in the paint on D. That is what makes the essence of this new team truly compelling.

Flip Saunders has said that Ben was such an impediment offensively last year that he was barely able to dip into his playbook, which, sources say, is thicker than "War and Peace." Possibilities abound.

On top of that, let's also realize that neither Chauncey, Rip or Tay have reached their prime. This year may be Chauncey's, Rip's right on the brink and Tay is still just getting his feet wet. Scary. I expect all three to make the All-Star team.

Down low, the starters will be Mohammed and 'Sheed. From what I saw in the preseason, Big Nazr seems like a solid offensive player. There's a chance he could pour in about 12 a night, which would be great. He won't match the worth of Ben, but 12 is good.

That leaves 'Sheed. I've said for three years that he is the most talented of the Pistons; I wholeheartedly believe he has the ability to average 22 points per. With him, though, it's so clearly a mental block that keeps him from playing his best every night. The technicals, the ill-advised 3's, the lapses where he loafs ... they can be frustrating. But only because of the glimpses of brilliance we see night to night.

The good 3's when he's in rhythm. The constant and contagious chatter. And, most importantly, when he ATTACKS the rim. Since he's joined the Pistons, that attack mode has been rare. But when someone gets that dog in him barking, look out, because he's deadly. If Flip and the boys can light that fire more often and get 'Sheed attacking the rim more consistently, he'll be as much of a headache for other teams as he's ever been, and, given the quandary that is 'Sheed, that's saying something.

Off the bench, Antonio McDyess should be a solid contributor at both ends, as usual. Flip Murray should step in and comfortably play the 1 or the 2. Everyone in the Pistons' organization wants Carlos Delfino to play a bigger role, but I'm not so sure. He never plays with any emotion. I'd almost rather see Amir Johnson get 12 minutes a night. He's the next T-Mac, I think. Jason Maxiell had a tremendous preseason, leaving people wondering how he'd fit into the mix. I say bring in Dyess and J-Max together for about 20 minutes a night, each. That energy would be nearly impossible to quell.

Lindsey Hunter, possibly in his last year, is in the mix to play significant back-up minutes, as well, but I wonder if the Pistons might be better off signing newly-freed agent Jalen Rose -- not just because he's my favorite player, but because he's a bit more versatile than Linds, and, at this stage of his career, a much better scorer.

The big thing that will take some getting used to with this team is the way games will be played. Remember the tempo of basketball games in the mid-1980s, when the Lakers would outduel the Celtics 143-139 in regulation, regularly? Those days are on their way back. Expect the Pistons to average 100 or more points per game this year.

With all of that said, I'm pumped to see how this year plays out. I don't expect them to play extremely well until February. Still, I think the Pistons will once again have the most regular season wins in the East. The Bulls and the Cavs are good, but they don't have as much overall offensive talent. The Heat will be up there, too, but they'll only concentrate on winning enough games to qualify for the postseason.

To predict the playoff picture now is tough. Again, I don't see the Bulls outscoring the Pistons. And when the Cavs made it difficult on the Pistons last spring, it was because they shut down Detroit's offense, that's it.

Now, with more firepower, perhaps the Pistons could outlast the Heat in a seven-game series and get back to the Finals. I'm not going to put any money down in Vegas on it, though. There's too much we don't know about how this team will gel. But that's why they play the games, right? We shall see...

59-23, Central Division Champs, and a bunch of surprises along the way, for better or worse. Go Pistons.

Unknown territory...

2006-10-01T18:12:00.000-04:00

It's humbling to see the Tigers heading into the postseason with a four-legged limp, in the midst of a five-game losing streak to the Blue Jays and Royals in which they allowed no fewer than seven runs in a game.

But on Tuesday night, when they dig into the batter's box on perhaps the most famous baseball diamond in the world -- Yankee Stadium -- that bitter taste will be gone. Nineteen years of futility will be erased. And the start of a great run could begin.

Don't count on it, though.

Think about it. If the Yankees had been watching the Tigs as intently as I have for the past few days, would they be worried? Not with that land-mine of a batting order looming.

Damon. Jeter. Rodriguez. Giambi. Matsui. Sheffield. Cano. Posada. Williams. Ruth. Mantle.

OK, maybe not the last two, but you get the picture. They're more stacked than the Girls Next Door. They're all stars. They're all All-Stars.

Obviously, the Tigs would have preferred to be home at CoPa hosting the A's. But does that ensure they'd advance?

No. There's more parity in the AL than people think. Yes, the Yankees have more big names and much, much more experience. That's why they're favored. But when you break it down, each American League team has a good chance to be playing deep into October, when the frost begins to bite and the drama intensifies to the point where it makes me want to pee.

I began this short blog Sunday after the 12-inning loss. I finished it Monday evening, less than 24 hours before the first pitch. In that time, my natural optimism has influenced me more, and it's allowed me to make a more "Rog" decision. I'll unveil it in the morning, when I'll honor the 19 years of idleness in Detroit with 19 reasons the Tigers could roar all the way to the World Series.

Oh Six Picks

2006-09-07T12:04:00.000-04:00

The 2006 NFL season begins tonight. While I'm not as big a fan of pro football as college, I do respect the way it's marketed, and I find it hard not to watch sometimes.

Many intriguing unknowns lie ahead for teams with new players, new coaches and players coming off injuries this year. I'll be following relatively closely through my fantasy league (which I won last year, thank you.)

My top dogs are Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. I'm crossing my fingers that Palmer stays healthy and that celebration penalties don't count as negative points.

Now, without further ado, I shall unveil my predictions for the records of each NFL team, based on extremely minimal research by me. So don't bet any scrilla on these; they're just for fun.

NFC North

Minnesota (9-7)
Chicago (7-9)
Detroit (4-12)
Green Bay (4-12)

NFC South

Carolina (11-5)
Tampa Bay (11-5)
Atlanta (10-6)
New Orleans (3-13)

NFC East

NY Giants (11-5)
Dallas (10-6)
Philadelphia (8-8)
Washington (5-11)

NFC West

Seattle (11-5)
St. Louis (8-8)
San Francisco (6-10)
Arizona (5-11)

AFC North

Cincinnati (14-2)
Pittsburgh (12-4)
Baltimore (9-7)
Cleveland (4-12)

AFC South

Indianapolis (11-5)
Jacksonville (9-7)
Houston (5-11)
Tennessee (4-12)

AFC East

New England (11-5)
Miami (9-7)
NY Jets (7-9)
Buffalo (6-10)

AFC West

Denver (9-7)
San Diego (8-8)
Kansas City (8-8)
Oakland (7-9)

Super Bowl XLI in Miami: Cincinnati over Dallas

September to Remember? We shall see...

2006-09-05T22:59:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Tigers lead the AL Central by four games over the Minnesota Twins. A few weeks ago, that lead felt a little more comfortable. But you know what ... if it weren't this close, it wouldn't be as fun. The Tigs begin a four-game series with the Twinkies Thursday in that tomb they call the Metrodome. And I'll be on the edge of my seat for each contest.

I said back in April that as long as the Tigers had some meaningful September games, the season would be a success. Now they do, and so far, the season sure has been successful. But man, is it hard not to get greedy. All Tigers fans, I'm sure, would feel a twinge of disappointment if they didn't roar on into October. But all we can do is sit back, cheer and see if they're worthy.

Here's what we can most certainly depend on:

PITCHING: Obviously, with a team ERA of 3.67 (lowest in the bigs), this has been the Tigers' strength. Kenny Rogers, who had a blip after the All-Star break, is back on track, as reliable as ever. The Cy Young talks for Justin Verlander have cooled off, but his stuff has not; he's as crafty and tough to hit as he was earlier in the season. Jeremy Bonderman is always dangerous, and while he hasn't been super consistent, he still has the fifth most strikeouts in the bigs, and one of the nastiest sliders, too.

There are some question marks. Nate Robertson has thrown some beachballs. In the same breath, he gets the worst run support of any of the Tigs' pitchers. Mike Maroth may not be back at all. Zach Miner has been sent to the pen. Wilfredo Ledezma has stepped in nicely. Can he pitch well in big games down the stretch, though? Question mark.

I won't say much about the relief, other than it's been stellar. I must apologize to Todd Jones, however. I lambasted him earlier this season. And even though he blew a game last week, he has, for the most part, been magnificent. Thirty-five saves? Holy Fu Manchu. (I still don't completely trust him, though. He throws a strike every pitch. You don't think the Yankees won't eat that up in a Playoff series?)

What's less consistent, and could hurt them:

HITTING: Free swingers and a lack of bunters (other than Ramon Santiago, who probably won't play a lot when Carlos Guillen gets healthy) make this a team that depends heavily on the three-run jimmy-jack. It's fun to watch them when they're spraying the ball, piling on run after run and putting together big innings. But that is RARE. (They're 10th in the ML in home runs, with 168. They're 27th in on-base percentage, at .327. Meanwhile, the Yankees, whom I fear more than any other team, lead the bigs in OBP by 10 points, at .364. That's huge.)

FIELDING: Brandon Inge makes tremendous plays night in and night out. Pudge is arguably the best catcher in baseball. But Magglio Ordonez in right and Guillen at short make me nervous every time a ball is hit their way. Maggs gets bad jumps and has a below average arm. Carlos is nonchalant -- which helps him a lot in making super tough plays -- but hurts him on the routine ground balls. (He leads the league in errors, with 25.)

What will definitely hurt them:

SPEED: Curtis Granderson is quick, but not terribly fast. Guillen leads the team in steals with 17, but even he looks slow as he rumbles on the basepaths with his pockets hanging out of his pants and his tobacco hanging out of his mouth. Craig Monroe and Marcus Thames aren't slow, but they're not fast. Pudge, ehh... he never runs hard. And then there's Dmitri Young, Maggs, and the slowest of the slow: Sean Casey. Jeez. With each of these guys, any ball hit in the infield, no matter how much it's bobbled, is an out. Maggs got thrown out tonight on a ball thrown over the first baseman's head and virtually into right field. There was no question he should have gone to second. Mario Impemba (of FSN) even said, "And he'll be safe at second." A bit premature, Mario, as the Mariners' catcher ran down the ball and gunned down a bewildered Maggs. And don't get me started on Casey. I can't tell if he's running hard -- perhaps he is -- but he makes Cecil Fielder look like Chet Lemon. Even slow bouncers up the middle -- tough plays for most everyone -- become routine outs. (I won't delve deeply into his gaffe when he got thrown out on a ball hit into left field; I mean, it was a clear case of misunderstanding. But come on. A 5-7-3 putout? Sean, my man. Let's stretch out a little more, or something.)

So there you have it. What to expect, what to worry about, what to hope they improve upon and what to simply write off as hopeless.

One more thing's for sure: It's going to be a hell of a month.

The secret to Tiger's success

2006-09-05T21:14:00.000-04:00

Tiger Woods. What a fun athlete to watch.

I've caught him on TV in each of his last five starts, and he's won every time. Some people dislike golf on television, saying it's dry, it's boring. Some may find it even more boring when you know exactly who is going to win each week. But if you truly appreciate the game of golf, watching Tiger Woods is the furthest thing from a yawn.

With a big lead, with a small lead, when he's tied, when he's down ... he's still going to win, and if you bet against him, you're, well, an idiot.

Some people think Tiger wins all the time because he's so much more talented than anyone else on the PGA Tour, but in actuality, Tiger wins because he's so much smarter than anyone else on tour.

Don't get me wrong: Tiger is a mega-talent. Not too many players can shape the ball like he does. Few possess his creativity. But Tiger makes his money because of where he chooses to aim and where he chooses to miss. Yes, he chooses to miss.

When he has a four-shot lead on Sunday, there is absolutely zero chance of him blowing it. He aims for the center of the green, and he always hits it. Then, on his putts, he misses on the pro side of the cup more often than not. (For you non-golfers, the pro side is the high side of the break, which means if the ball is close to the cup, it still has a chance to fall down into the hole. If it misses on the other side, there is no chance for it to fall.) Tiger also has impeccable pace on his putts, so he rarely leaves himself a tough come-backer. On top of that, he tends to leave himself an uphill putt coming back instead of a downhill one, more difficult.

These simple actions add up. Tiger does them every time, which is why he wins more than everyone else.

Now let's look at a guy like Phil Mickelson. He doesn't win as often as Tiger. But it's not for a lack of talent. Players, caddies and golf experts will all tell you that Big Philly Style has mad game. He might even be a better shot maker than Tiger (at times). But he doesn't have half the head game, and that explains why Tiger has 12 major wins and Mick only three. Phil misses close putts. (One of the golf analysts this weekend said Tiger hadn't missed a four-foot putt all year.) Phil hits driver when he should hit 3 iron. And because he's great around the greens, he often tries for the spectacular chip to within a foot of the hole, when the right shot is actually the safe one, the chip to within 20 feet of the hole, smack dab in the middle of the green.

Tiger makes the bewildering flop-shot chips just like Phil. But only when there are more chances for reward than for potential danger.

Tiger is a machine. There's no getting inside his head. As Dan Patrick used to say, "You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him." At just 30 years old, everyone else on tour will be doing their best to contain him for another 20 years. That's what's so scary. His best rounds are still ahead of him.

Roar with me

2006-08-21T22:28:00.000-04:00

In my last post, I posed a question: whether Sean Casey's arrival would at all disrupt the team chemistry that had been established -- with Chris Shelton, despite his mediocrity -- during the major chunk of the season.

Monday, Big Case answered it for me. He had three hits, three RBI and several great plays down at first base to help the Tigs to a big 7-1 win over the ChiSox. He hasn't disrupted team chemistry; he's enhanced it. He's a tremendous clubhouse guy. Some joke that he might be even too friendly. But he's the last integral piece to this increasingly-hard-to-believe jigsaw puzzle called the 2006 Detroit Tigers. (I'm not counting out Neifi Perez, whom Dave Dombrowski acquired Sunday, I'm just saying Casey will be more influential as we go.)

Who would have predicted this? A first place team in mid-August? The remarkable thing about it is, really, how far they've come since 2003, when they had one of the most putrid records of all-time. In this story by Detroit News beat writer Lynn Henning (see here), he points to statistical and historical evidence that the Tigers' turnaround is virtually unprecedented in the last CENTURY of baseball.

Folks, this is remarkable. It's gotten to the point where I have trouble remembering all the bad years. (Well, it's not that hard. All I have to do is remember names like Brian Moehler, Kimera Bartee and Rob Deer. Uggghh. OK, let's move on.)

But if you do remember those years, then you thrust yourself into the fun and excitement and success of this year's team ... is that enough? Just to be excited about baseball at this time of the year?

Well, it doesn't quite work that way. Once you've had the sip, you want the whole beer. It's time to start paying attention, every day, to what's going on at Comerica Park, or wherever else the Tigs may be. Because they're headed for the Playoffs, and anything less would be a disappointment, no matter how fun this summer has already been.

Now I know they've been slumping of late. Thing is, they haven't had a lull like this yet, and 162 games is, well, a lot of games. And while Monday's win is no sure indication that they're going to end for good this rather lackluster August baseball, it sure was a start. They looked sharp, and they looked more motivated than they had been in the past two weeks. It's a good sign, and I see them winning at least three games this series and calming everyone's worries.

Yes, they seem poised for October. How far will they go? Well, let's worry about that when autumn rolls around.

Tigers Den: How important is chemistry?

2006-07-31T12:35:00.000-04:00

The Tigers acquired first baseman Sean Casey from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday in exchange for pitching prospect Brian Rogers.

Casey has established himself as a reliable player in the bigs. At 32, he's a three-time All-Star who has batted .304 with 121 home runs and 634 RBIs in 10 seasons with the Pirates, Indians and Reds. In 59 games this season with the Pirates, Casey hit .296 with three home runs and 29 RBIs.

His addition, however, calls for the Tigers to send down everyday first baseman Chris Shelton to the AAA Toledo Mudhens. On paper, this makes sense. Shelton has been mediocre, at best, since his torrid start in April, when he hit 10 home runs in what felt like 10 consecutive games.

He's been warm of late -- hitting .303 in his last 19 games -- but overall, his .277 average and 16 home runs won't be missed. He's also not a terribly reliable player in the field; he has five errors on the season and committed one during Detroit's catastrophic eighth inning Sunday in a 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

But the question must be asked: How much did baseball's best team need to make such a dramatic change? Although he's no All-Star, Shelton's presence at first base is a familiar one for his teammates, as are his bat in the lineup and presence in the clubhouse. By taking him out of the mix so late in the season, the surrounding players will surely feel something different.

While chemistry is not as important in baseball as in basketball -- a sport so dependent on togetherness -- it still matters. And when the ship ain't broke, why fix it?

I pose the question because all seems as though it's going swimmingly. The Tigers have the best record in baseball. Shelton's a big part of that. They've been winning two out of three games in every series since the All-Star break, and they've showed zero major weaknesses, no signs of slowing down.

That said, general manager Dave Dombrowski knows a thing or two more than I do about constructing a winner. (He put together the two Florida Marlins teams that won World Series in 1997 and 2003.) He must feel that Casey can integrate himself into the operations smoothly, and that by October, his presence will be more valuable than Shelton's. He must feel that as well as things are going now, the Tigers can still get better. That's a hard hunger to have when you're in first place. But I like that.

While I do feel a bit badly for Big Red, the Tigs may bring him back up for the playoffs. He's still a good hitter, even after his monumental slump this season, and he could be a great guy to have on the bench for pinch-hitting situations.

For the time being, I'm sure the Tigers and their fans will welcome Casey to the club with open, hopeful arms. First-place Case: Batter Up.

The recipe

2006-07-16T15:46:00.000-04:00

The third installment of random thoughts and observations, long overdue...

Here's a question for all of you sports fans: What is the most grossly overcovered topic in sports, the "news" that when it comes on ESPN, you immediately change the channel? Here are three of my many:

- Michelle Wie. What has she ever done? Yes, she's talented. Yes, she can hit the ball 300 yards. But so can a million other golfers in America. Until she wins a tournament on the LPGA Tour, she shouldn't compete with the men, and she most definitely should not command headlines on SportsCenter and elsewhere.

- Barry Bonds. Is there one person on Earth who honestly believes this man has not taken steroids? It's obvious. So why do possible indictments and "new discoveries" become you've-gotta-hear-this news? I'll never understand. The legacy of this man is forever "asterisked," and it's sad. But whether it's proven in court that he took steroids ... that really doesn't matter.

- Barbaro. He's a fricking horse. Millions of his brethren are slaughtered daily so people around the world can eat. Just because he won one big race doesn't mean people care how he's feeling at every hour of the day. Seriously, one day, it's "Barbaro feeling under the weather, death not far off." The next, it's "Barbaro's condition improves, horse in good spirits." Give me a break. It was unfortunate that he couldn't compete for the Triple Crown, but come on. Once he went down, that was it. Tip your cap, admit it was a shame, and move on. That horse sure doesn't give a hoof about you.

So what do you think? Care to defend my picks? Care to chime in with some other topics (like Kobe/Shaq subplots, Roger Clemens retire/unretirements, Terrell Owens antics), feel free...

... So how about the Detroit Tigers? It's hard for me to contain my excitement after weathering the storm of futility for so many years. Now, they're the best team in baseball. The big question every loyal Tigers fan should be asking themselves: What will it take for this to continue?

I think Jim Leyland has them in a mindset where they never get too high, never too low after wins or losses. And that's a hard attitude to harness. I also think he has them focused on winning every day when they arrive at the ballpark -- regardless of what happened a day earlier or who their opponent is in the dugout next to them. If that sustains through the end of the summer, they'll be in good shape.

The big question mark will be if they can avoid injury. In baseball, it's hard. They still have 70 or so games to play, then potentially a long playoff run. Their current lineup is so well-balanced -- you never know who will be a hero one day, go 0-for-4 the next -- that one injury wouldn't throw them off too much. Plus, their bench can be counted on. If a guy like Carlos Guillen pulls a hammy and has to sit out for two weeks, Ramon Santiago and Omar Infante can fill in, and hardly anyone would notice.

General Manager Dave Dombrowski may make some personnel moves before the trade deadline at the end of July. Many people say he'll try to get a big left-handed bat in the lineup. To me, that's not their biggest area of concern. They rarely have trouble putting runs on the board. I'd still like to see them dump Todd Jones. He's not the kind of closing pitcher that wins World Series. Intimidation and his name are not synonymous.

But if they can stay humble, hungry and healthy, October is in their future. Let's root our stripes off to help them get there...

... Rob Parker of the Detroit News reported that Rip Hamilton has cut his braids and will sport a fade cut next season. I never really liked Rip's braids. He seems like more of a tight-fade type guy to me -- like he was at UConn. I just hope the lighter weight will help him hit his jump shot more effectively than he did in the postseason...

... I'm glad the World Cup is over, and only because of one thing. The flopping started to get to me. I'm no huge soccer fan, but when I lived in Spain, I began to like the sport a bit more. And because the World Cup comes on just once every four years, it's usually something I can stand. But to watch those Italians flop as they did, and to watch them win it all, I couldn't respect that. What was even sadder, though, was to see French star Zinedine Zidane go out like he did. Yes, the Italian who provoked him was probably over the line with family and race-oriented comments. But in any game -- especially on that stage -- you cannot do what Zidane did. Instead of being remembered as one of the greatest players of all time, he'll be remembered as the head-butting goat who blew the World Cup for this team and his country. It was one hell of a head-butt, though.

Breaking down Ben's departure

2006-07-06T01:41:00.000-04:00

When I first heard that Ben Wallace would run with the Bulls next season, I put my head in my hands for a minute or two, and then I thought, "You know what? Ben did us well. For six years, he worked his ass off for the red, white and blue. Contagious defensively, reckless on the offensive boards, and fun as hell to watch -- I'll miss him. But, in the end, Big Ben did what most people would do: He took the money."

So that was my initial reaction. Nothing big; not terribly distraught.

Then, as I was driving on a rainy, Nashville road today, I heard about his signing with Chicago on the radio, so I naturally began to reminisce.

My fondest memories of Ben are sitting courtside, watching him erupt out of the tunnel, just smoking of intensity, then clanking jumpers in warm-up lines. I also loved Game 5 of the '04 Finals. He had two ferocious tip dunks that game, not to mention a 3-point attempt in the middle of a big Pistons run that missed horribly, but what made it great was that if he had made it, my friends and I would have torn my buddy Dave's house down -- that's how rowdy it was.

My point is, Ben was all about energy. And nothing represented that more than Mason's announcing of his name. That's what really got me when I was driving today. I realized, I will never again get to say his name that way. I love reciting Ben's name in the way Mason intended for it to sound. It gets me pumped up -- not just for Pistons games, for my games, too.

So the Pistons will never regain that energy. But is it the end of the world? No.

If Joe Dumars had chosen to spend what the Bulls spent on him, he would have kept Ben in Detroit. But he also would have made a commitment that, quite frankly, wouldn't have been worth it.

Ben showed us this year more than any other what a liability he is on the offensive end. Yes, he led the NBA in offensive rebounding, and yes, he can dunk the ball as hard as anyone. But he has small hands and such an erratic jump shot that no one really needs to guard him. He also outdueled Shaq this season for the prestigous The Biggest Joke at the Free Throw Line award.

What he gave us on defense can never be replaced. That said, the NBA is evolving -- actually it's reverting to what it used to be like -- into a high-scoring league with less and less defense. Could the Pistons have still won playing their style of old? Probably, but it would have been a much harder journey than their W versus the Lakers. These days, they'd have to play virtually perfect ball.

Now, minus Ben, we'll see the Pistons change. Expect a higher scoring starting five next year, one that might expend more energy on that end than in past years.

For them to get back to the Finals, they'll need another big man with a scoring presence. Amare would be an obvious choice, but there's no way Phoenix is letting him go. A more realistic idea is Chris Webber. They could trade somebody for him, I'm sure. Expect Joe to be dealing at some point before October. (They've already signed Nazr Mohammed, which doesn't really excite me. Nazr can walk and chew gum at the same time, and that's about it. They'll need someone who can add a third dimension or more for them to get back to the Finals ... or maybe Jason Maxiell could just blossom into a star, like Ben, with a little more touch on his J.)

Still, it's the end of an era. Never again will a 'Fro as mighty roam the Palace in red, white and blue. Never again will shots be altered so repeatedly. And never again will the Pistons be subject to Hack-A-Ben.

But, sometimes, it was worth it. You gotta admit, Ben made you smile a lot more than he made you cringe. Thanks for the memories, Big Ben. One more time, for what it's worth...

B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-Ben ... wwwwwwwwwwWWWWWWWWWWallace!!!

Nashville Sounds

2006-06-27T01:31:00.000-04:00

Actually, that's the name of their minor league baseball team here -- a AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers -- but I thought I'd use it as the title for my weekly SOUND-off on my experiences here in Tennessee.

For those of you who don't know, I'm living in Gallatin, Tenn., for the summer, at my friend Mike's house. His parents just moved down here from Wisconsin. Gallatin is about 20-30 minutes northeast of downtown Nashville and about 50 minutes to an hour from Murfreesboro, where I work at the Daily News Journal.

It's a full-time internship -- 40 hours a week -- and I've already had a few clips published on A1 (that's journalistic speak for the front page). I think it's going to be a valuable summer for me in terms of my development as a journalist.

That aside, living in Tennessee has been a blast. Two things come to mind when Nashville is mentioned: Great food and great music. I've been fortunate to experience a bit of both already in less than two weeks.

On my very first day, I stopped off at a Bar-B-Cutie restaurant for some great barbecue chicken, tasty turnip greens and out-of-this-world baked beans. A few days later, I tried the Slick Pig BBQ for some pulled pork sandwiches, spicy ribs and hickory smoked chicken wings -- all of which made me smile big.

I'll continue to try different establishments as the summer wears on, and all the while I'll search for the ultimate barbecue sauce, although I don't know quite what that is. Yet.

In terms of entertainment, Mike and I have stumbled upon several of the honky-tonk bars in downtown Nashville, my favorite of which was Robert's Western World. I wasn't a big country fan before I came down -- and I'm still not -- but still, it's a hoot to watch it live, right in front of you, after a beer or two. And there's so much talent in this town that even the street vendors are worth listening to for awhile. They're all good.

One night when we were wandering around, we encountered Mike Miller, of the Memphis Grizzlies. He was standing against a wall outside of Robert's Western World, textbook hot blonde beside him, and I went up to him and asked him if he would like to accompany us to Coyote Ugly. He nodded his head and asked where it was. I told him it was a block or two down, and that if he came with us, I'd pay his cover. He just kind of laughed and told me he was waiting for his ride. So we walked away. I regret that now. We should've stayed and piled into his limo with him. A night out on the town with an NBA player? That would've been one to remember.

Maybe we'll run into him later in the summer. Or perhaps new Titan Vince Young will join us on a bar hop or two. One thing's for sure, though: The adventures are just beginning.

A ring well earned

2006-06-21T00:33:00.000-04:00

The Miami Heat sure deserved to win the NBA Championship this year. They proved it every time they laced 'em up.

Before Tuesday night's series-clinching 95-92 win over the Mavs, Pat Riley reportedly told his players to go after every ball, help on every drive, grab, steal, scratch and claw their way to a win. They obeyed.

Alonzo Mourning had five blocks. Dwyane Wade had four steals. Four Heat starters had double digit rebounds -- including Antoine "Tippy-Toes" Walker, who looked more nimble than normal, asserting himself all over the floor and pulling down 11 boards. Oh yeah, Wade scored 36, too.

Yes, the Heat truly seized this one. They grabbed the Mavs by their hooves. But Dallas still had its chances.

All Playoffs long, Jason Terry had been magnificent. Tuesday, he looked like he didn't belong at all. He made 7 of 25 shots and connected on just 2 of 11 triples. Down the stretch, when he shot the ball, his feet were never set, his releases always rushed. It's a wonder why Avery Johnson didn't take him out, or calm him down, or demand that Dirk Nowitzki shoot those shots. But it didn't happen, and the low percentage field goal attempts killed them.

Dirk played well, but not when it counted. He finished with 29 points, only two of which came in the fourth.

The most impressive Mavs were Jerry Stackhouse and the little-used Marquis Daniels. Stack hit two big 3s in the fourth, and Daniels sparked Dallas from the point guard spot in the third, preventing the Heat from pulling away.

In the end, Wade, Shaq and the bunch proved too much. Although Shaq scored only nine points, his 12 rebounds and distracting presence inside made things easy on his teammates -- and tough on the Mavs.

His two primary defenders, DeSagana Diop and Erick Dampier, stifled the Big Aristotle to some degree, but their non-existence on the offensive end (just three points combined, and not too many more for the entire series) was, ultimately, more of a deterrent to Dallas than their D was a help.

On the Mavs' second-to-last possession, Dirk came off a screen from Dampier and found the big man open rolling to the basket. When the ball came his way, Dampier fumbled it directly to Wade.

A few possessions earlier, Wade missed a rare fourth-quarter field goal attempt, and Udonis Haslem (who was gigantic in the game, scoring a surprising 17 points on 8 of 13 shooting) pushed Dampier over like he was a cardboard cut-out, easily gliding in for the offensive rebound and putback score.

No wonder why Shaquille calls him "Ericka."

As a Pistons fan, I watched Game 6 -- and the entire series for that matter -- free of frustration. I appreciate the way the Heat played in May and June. They played well together. When they needed to, they got out of the way and let D. Wade do his thing. Talk about a luxury. (The Pistons could have him, you know.)

The Mavs were impressive, too. All of their individual players were fun to watch. They can get back, and they can win the Finals, if they only play as a team more effectively. Tuesday, they had too many turnovers (12, to only 16 assists) and too much standing around on offense to win.

They'll be back. So might the Heat. But don't count out the Pistons, either. They'll be as tough to beat as anyone next season (which I will illustrate in my long overdue State of the Pistons Address, coming soon).

I'm already eager for November.

Five Keys to Wednesday's Game 5

2006-05-31T00:45:00.000-04:00

While the Pistons are down, they are by no means out. With a Game 5 victory Wednesday night versus the Heat, momentum can shift back their way. Here are five keys to the game:

1. FEED 'SHEED

If the Pistons can get 'Sheed going in the post -- early and often -- he'll gain some confidence and, I hope, rouse the troops. It's clear that the team plays much better when 'Sheed is scoring. He becomes animated in a positive way. His energy is contagious. And, as you may well know, when he scores 20 in the Playoffs, the Pistons are undefeated. That mark can be achieved if he's utilized on the block and if he's encouraged to make moves toward the basket. He need not fade away from Haslem, who's not that great of a defender.

2. USE THE BENCH WISELY

Say what you want about Flip Saunders, but realize that, despite all his shortcomings, his biggest mistake throughout both the regular season and the Playoffs has been his failure to find a substitution pattern. A team's bench is something to be valued. For the Pistons, a team with a potentially tremendous bench, it's been terribly misused. Lindsey Hunter and Tony Delk have proven that they play well together. They spark the defense. They're both good outside shooters. So far this Playoffs, however, they haven't seen the floor as a duo too often. Maurice Evans has proven himself as a high-energy guy with a high-percentage 3-point shot. So why did Carlos Delfino, someone who wasn't used in crucial minutes at any other juncture in the postseason, take Evans's place for two games in this series? To me, it seems inexplicable. McDyess seems to know his role, but his fellow big man, Dale Davis, does not. He needs to play three three-minute stints a game. In each stint, he needs to foul Shaq two times. If he fouls out, it's no big deal. But if Ben or 'Sheed do, it spells trouble.

3. RIP RIP WHEN HE'S INEFFECTIVE

In Game 4, Rip Hamilton committed four turnovers in what seemed like four consecutive possessions. It was the most frustrating point of the game, and it could have been prevented. The simple remedy is to tell Rip not to drive at Shaq and 'Zo and the other trees so much. He needs to pull up and take his patented J some more! Or, Flip could just yank him from the lineup and calm him down. Either way, he needs to avoid plays where he throws it directly into Shaq's extended forearm and allows the Big Aristotle to rumble coast to coast for a lay-in. Those plays are not good.

4. FALL, AND DO NOT STAND UP

Dwyane Wade's Converse commercial proclaims that for every seven times he falls, he stands up eight. This is impossible, of course, but that doesn't mean that the Pistons can't convince the Converse people to edit their ad. If they can successfully put No. 3 on his rear end and make him stay there awhile, if they can become the Bad Boys that their predecessors were, perhaps the Converse people will change their slogan. The Pistons have already done everything they can to deter Wade from scoring. Now, they need to do something dirty. Before the end of the night, the ad should read: Fall seven times, stand up six.

5. KEEP THE FAITH

I know the Pistons can come back from this deficit. Many other fans do, as well. However, all the media this side of the Atlantic are saying that it's over, that the Pistons' run as Eastern Conference Champs is over. But what do the Pistons think? Are they so frustrated that they're eager for the season to end? Will they put the bickering and the futility of the past few days behind them and re-discover the 64-win team of the regular season, the championship caliber team of the past two seasons? My guess is yes, they will. They have too much pride to go quietly into the Detroit night. Barring an injury or another foul-ridden game like Game 4, the Pistons should take Game 5. Then, they'll breathe a big sigh of relief, regroup quickly, and pack their bags for another day or two amid the sun and debauchery that is South Beach.

State of the Pistons Address (May 29)

2006-05-29T23:09:00.000-04:00

The offense is as putrid as it has looked all season long. The players look disinterested. And their opponents are white hot. Yet the most influential factor that has the Detroit Pistons down 3-1 to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals may be a decision Joe Dumars made three years ago.

Without question, the most impressive player in the series has been third-year superstar Dwyane Wade.

The Pistons had the second pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, and Dumars decided to opt for Darko Milicic, an unproven teenager from Europe. Meanwhile, the Heat drafted Wade with their pick at No. 5, and ever since, he’s been mesmerizing the basketball world.

In Monday night’s 89-78 victory over the Pistons, Wade led the heat with 31 points on just 8-of-11 shooting from the field. Twelve of those points came in the fourth quarter, when Wade became the spitting image of another phenom who wore No. 23 in Chicago for years throughout the 80s and 90s.

His first field goal of the quarter made him look like a high-flying acrobat. Wade split two Detroit defenders at the top of the zone and dribbled diagonally through the lane. Eight feet from the basket, he leapt into the air and ran into Antonio McDyess. After the collision, Wade began toppling toward the floor. Just before impact, he flipped the ball over his right shoulder and it spun off the backboard and through the net. The arena erupted, and the three-point play put the Heat up 65-61.

“He didn’t have a lot of open looks,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said, which made Wade's performance all the more impressive. The Pistons were draped on him for 48 minutes, and he still managed to put the ball in the hole.

“You play good defense for 22 seconds, then he makes an unbelievable play,” Saunders said. “It’s demoralizing.”

Even more demoralizing is the what-could-have-been images that come to mind – thanks to the 20/20 beauty of hindsight – when one thinks about Wade in a Pistons red, white and blue uniform. Chances are, he wouldn’t be as confident a player, as sensational a player, as he is now simply because he would not have had the playing time and the green light he’s had in Miami.

Still, if Wade were on the Pistons, he wouldn’t be on the Heat, and they’d have to win with Shaquille O’Neal and little else.

But he’s not. He’s wearing No. 3 on South Beach, and unless the Pistons can find a way to stifle his hotness – or at the very least outscore him – they’ll be spectators for the NBA Finals for the first time in three years.

So how will it happen? How will the Pistons recapture the Eastern Conference crown they’ve had a stranglehold on for two seasons?

It starts with the offense. While the Heat have outplayed the Pistons on both ends of the floor this series and Wade continues to drop jaws, it’s glaringly obvious that Detroit’s low scoring output is losing the team ballgames.

Its ball movement is stagnant. Its scoring is way down from the heights it reached in the regular season. Yet its defense is basically the same.

In the postseason, the Pistons have allowed 89 points per game; in the regular season, they gave up 90.

In 82 games offensively, they averaged nearly 97 points a game. Since the Playoffs began, that number has dipped to 92 per game. Since the second game of the Cavs series, it’s been even lower.

Monday, though, they showed hints of improvement. To start the second half, Chauncey Billups hit three straight shots and Rasheed Wallace got his shot going a little bit, but foul trouble forced both players to sit for a chunk of the half, and the rhythm they had built could not sustain.

If they can harness the energy they had to start the half, they’ll give themselves a much better shot to keep the series going. So will fewer fouls.

“We gotta win one game, and then we can focus in on the next one,” Chauncey Billups said.

While it is the ultimate cliché – one game at a time – it is the focus the Pistons need to carry into Wednesday night’s Game 5. One game can rejuvenate this team. One game can get the ball moving more consistently. One game can throw off Wade.

And for the Pistons – a team so accustomed to overcoming deficits and playing well with their backs against the wall – that game must be Wednesday.

If not, it’s summertime, and Wade will take one step closer to cementing himself as the Heirness.

It's up to Chauncey

2006-05-26T04:26:00.000-04:00

Dear Chauncey,

Where have you gone, Mr. Big Shot? Since Game 2 of the Cleveland series, you have not looked like your normal, clutch-shot-taking, fundamental-pass-making self. You're forcing passes and turning down shots - you don't look like the MVP candidate everyone considered you to be at the end of the regular season.

That Chauncey Billups looked confident. That Chauncey Billups made good decisions with the basketball. That Chauncey Billups would have closed the Cavaliers out in five games and propelled the Pistons to a Game 1 victory over Miami on Tuesday night.

Instead, the Cavs made it a seven game series. Instead, the Heat won Tuesday, 91-86.

It's not panic time. I still trust you'll come through, Chaunce. You always do. But it must happen tonight in Game 2. There will be no return trip to the Finals - the place you've grown so accustomed to going each June - with a loss tonight. The Heat are tough at home, too, you know, and if you are in an 0-2 hole heading down to Florida, you'll be six feet under in white South Beach sand. And there's no climbing out of that.

Now how do we remedy this situation? Let's glance at your numbers. In the regular season, you averaged 18.5 points and 8.6 assists. You shot 89 percent from the line, 43 percent from three, and 42 percent overall. You also led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.11 to 1.

In the six games since Game 2 of the conference semis, you've averaged just 15.7 points and 5.2 assists. You've remained steady by going 90 percent from the line and 41 percent overall, but your 3-point percentage has dipped to an icy 29.4 percent. Your assist-to-turnover ratio is a depressingly low 1.7 to 1.

So what's up? Why are you dribbling into traffic when you could be swinging the ball around the perimeter? Why are you flailing your legs on 3-pointers when your defender isn't even near you? Why must you insist on trying to make the spectacular pass when the easy one will suffice?

I ask you these questions, Chauncey, because you make this team go. While Ben Wallace is its backbone, you are its central nervous system.

I know, I know. It's not fair to pin all the blame on you.

If Rip Hamilton would take a few more of his patented pull-up jumpers instead of driving into the trees - Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning are sizable impediments - I think he could be more of an effective scorer.

Rasheed Wallace could help you out by not taking nights off, like he did in Game 1.

Tayshaun Prince has been steady, but maybe he needs to kick it to you a bit more when he's posting.

Big Ben is Big Ben. He was brilliant defensively in Game 1. Now if he could just make one darn free throw…

And the jury is still out on Flip Saunders, who I think is still searching for a substitution pattern. My, how that could help.

But Chaunce, I'm afraid it all comes back to you. You facilitate the ball movement. You can fire up a guy like 'Sheed. You can tell Rip - "Hey, come off that curl and let it fly! No use in driving right at Shaq." You are this team.

That sounds like a lot of pressure, but I know you can handle it. After all, you are Mr. Big Shot.

Now it's time for you to remind us all how you got your name.

With hope and confidence, on the behalf of Pistons fans everywhere,

Your Wake Up Call

Who deserved their award this year?

2006-05-11T23:14:00.000-04:00

The Pistons don't play until Saturday, and I feel empty. This time of year, I live through them vicariously, and when they're idle, I feel the same way. I expect them to play every other day. But they need their rest and so do my State of the Pistons addresses, so here are my thoughts on the NBA awards, the _______s of the Year...

COACH: Avery Johnson ... He did a nice job in Dallas this year and is surely among the league's best coaches, but I felt the award should have gone elsewhere this season, and the place was Los Angeles.

Both the Clippers and the Lakers made the Playoffs this season. For the Lakers, it wasn't a huge surprise, given that any team with Kobe Bryant has a shot to win any game on any night. But his supporting cast was mediocre at best, and the man who willed the Lake Show to the postseason was Phil Jackson, there's no doubt about that. They won 11 more games than they did last season. The man who's won nine titles in his coaching career has been awarded the COY only once. This year, PJ deserved number two.

The other tenant of Staples Center, the Clippers, made the Playoffs for the first time in 25 years this season. They won 10 more games this year than last. Their head man, Mike Dunleavy, was a big reason for that. He emphasized defense among a bunch of good offensive players, and the fact that they're still alive in these Playoffs, giving the Suns all they can handle in the Western Conference semis, says a lot. Either he or PJ should have gotten the nod instead of Avery.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Boris Diaw ... I agree with this one. To tell you the truth, I had never even heard of the guy before this year. He's only 6'8'', but he goes out and guards centers every night. He also averaged 13, 7 and 6 after posting microscopic career numbers previously. Will he ever be an All-Star? Probably not. But if his improvement continues steadily, look out.

SIXTH MAN: Mike Miller ... Had Ben Gordon not found his way into Chicago's starting lineup by midseason, I would be up in arms over this selection. Or if Dallas's Jerry Stackhouse hadn't spent the bulk of the year out due to injury, he'd be a worthy recipient. Also, if Detroit's Antonio McDyess had begun his campaign like he finished it -- meaning he didn't start playing well until the second half of the season -- I would have argued for him, too. He's clearly the Sixth Man of the Playoffs, that's for sure. But to give it to Miller for his regular season exploits seemed fitting. The 6'8'' sharp-shooting former Gator was efficient all year long for the Grizzlies, scoring 14 a game and hitting 40 percent of his 3-pointers. The Hornets' Speedy Claxton took second place, but his team was far worse than Memphis.

ROOKIE: Chris Paul ... Absolutely the most deserving ROY in years. Paul did everything for his team this season, averaging 16 and 8 while spearheading the 20-win improvement the NO/OK Hornets built after a dismal '04-'05. On draft day, I would have chosen Deron Williams or Andrew Bogut to be more likely winners of this award, but they didn't have as much of an effect on their teams. Bogut's made the Playoffs, and Williams -- who I think could be the next Jason Kidd -- put up 11 and 5. But Paul's presence was more influential. He'll be an All-Star within two years.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Ben Wallace ... Had Ron Artest had a full season, he'd be the only other player even close to touching Ben on the defensive end. Bruce Bowen in San Antonio is good, but he doesn't lock down everyone he guards. Artest comes close. Wallace succeeds. Big Ben doesn't just defend his guy, he defends everybody -- point guard or big, in his area or 20 feet away. He's incredible at recognizing a driver and coming over to provide the help for his teammate. His feet are unbelievably quick. It helps that his surrounding teammates are terrific defenders, too (Tayshaun and Chaunce both made the All-D second team). But until another help defender comes along that's better than Big Ben, he could win this award until he retires. He has that dog in him that will push him to block and steal and take charges with the same frequency until he's ready to hang 'em up.

MVP: Steve Nash ... No way, not this year. Perhaps the voters who awarded it to him last year felt that since his numbers improved this season he deserved it again. Well, he didn't. The reason for those inflated numbers was the absence of Amare Stoudemire. Some could argue that since he was gone and the Suns were still good, he was even more worthy of the award, but that's hogwash. If you take Nash out of that lineup and start Leandro Barbosa all season long, the Suns still make the Playoffs. That's because Barbosa is ten times the defender Nash is, pretty comparable as a scorer, just not as good a passer. So who should have won it?

Chauncey Billups was a candidate, but I think his teammates are so good that to give him the award would diminish the concept of team play.

LeBron James had a sick year, posting numbers unbelievable for a 21-year-old and forcing people to admit that yes, they were witnesses. His triple-double average for a season and his own MVP are not too far off. But the man who should have won wore No. 8.

Kobe Bryant averaged 35 points a game. He scored 81 on one midseason night of magnificence. He made guys like Smush Parker and Kwame Brown -- guys who had formerly not even walked and chewed gum at the same time successfully -- look like legitimate pros. You take him out of their lineup, the Lakers win 15 games, 20 at best. The same could be argued for an absence of LeBron in Cleveland, but the difference between the King and Kobe is on the defensive end of the floor. Kobe gets in your grill. He's on the All-D first team. He's such a competitor, he'd rather have his opponent score zero and him one than his opponent score 34 and him 35. He locks down. LeBron simply waits for the offensive possession to begin. Watch him in Game 3 Saturday. He coasts around, rarely gets his hand into shots, and doesn't fight through screens. He waits. That said, he's a better defender than Nash, which makes me wonder even more why Nash won the award. In the end, it's up to a select number of writers -- not players, coaches and fans -- who vote, and if I ever have a say, I'll do my best to justify it more effectively than any of them could, if asked, this year.

*Just an idea: What if the awards were voted on and handed out after the postseason. Then any close races could be justified if players' teams went deeper into the Playoffs. And perhaps MVP candidates could even match up against each other in late Playoff series, like a potential Billups/Nash encounter in the Finals. If that happened, no doubt the award would find its way to Motown...

State of the Pistons Address (May 9)

2006-05-09T23:28:00.000-04:00

It's difficult to pick bones when you're up 2-0 and 'Sheed scores 29 and he looks like the best player in the league and Tayshaun continues to assert himself and scores 20 and you rack up 20 assists to only eight turnovers and Big Ben scores in double figures for the first time in what felt like a decade and Rip goes 15-for-18 from the line, but I'm going to do it anyway.

The Pistons won Tuesday, 97-91, but it should never have been even remotely that close. Up 52-36 at halftime, Detroit was, as Dan Patrick would dare say, en fuego. They distanced themselves from the Cleveland Jameses even more in the third, going up 18 before the last quarter.

Then, the Cavaliers took out their swords and started to play. And run. And pass. And score. And defend. By mid-quarter, they whittled the lead to single digits. It got as close as five. Detroit hung on and the game will probably go forgotten in no more than a few days, but something must be mentioned: Flip Saunders needs to utilize his bench more in situations like Tuesday's fourth quarter.

The starters were tired and their play turned lackluster (they all played more than 39 minutes). They settled for tough outside shots rather than working the ball around for good ones. They failed repeatedly to get back and lock down on defense while the Cavs were running frantically. They almost made it to a finish line. Flip could have prevented it.

At the first sight of dragging legs and uncharacteristic play, Flip needs to pull out the starters -- all five of them -- and go with Lindsey, Tony, Mo, Dyess, and Dale. Each of those guys knows their role: Be ready to go and give a spark when called upon. With the exception of Mo, they're your consummate savvy veterans. A jolt from them surely could have slowed the Cavs' momentum and stymied any hope of a comeback, and the starters weren't about to provide that.

I understand why Flip hesitates to overhaul his five on the hardwood; after all, the Pistons do have the Best Starting Five on the Planet (as George Blaha loves to say). But everyone knows how easily they become bored. Up 20, there's no sense of urgency for them, no interest. They're like a fourth grader who's finished his timed math test ahead of the rest of the class and must wait for them to finish. There's a subtle arrogance to that. And as the Cavs showed Tuesday, it can be problematic.

Instead of fearing an anger that could arise from starters upon being pulled out of their typical substitution pattern, Flip should welcome some fire. Think about it: Is Chaunce gonna smile at Flip if he is yanked with 10 minutes to go in a game still undecided? He'll root on Lindsey and all, but he won't be happy. He's a competitor. Same for the other four. But what I think Flip doesn't realize is that the starters' anger will translate into a chip on their shoulders when they're put back into the game. Give the bench four minutes to stifle the Cavs' surge, put the starters back in with a little something to prove -- that they won't blow a lead and that their attention was gained -- and you're victors by 38.

Perhaps that fourth quarter lull will be the only one in this series (similar to the Game 3 debacle in Milwaukee in Round 1) and the Pistons will sweep the Cavs and rest while watching the Heat and the Nets slug it out in the other Eastern Conference semifinals. But Flip and the Pistons should recognize that the bench is something not to be dreaded but to be greeted warmly. They’ve proven their worth and they deserve a little more tick. In the end, it may save them a valuable game.

Bring on Round 2

2006-05-07T13:45:00.000-04:00

The first round of the NBA Playoffs is over, and it's time for me to review my picks.

Detroit over Milwaukee in 5 (4)
Miami over Chicago in 6 (right)
New Jersey over Indiana in 6 (7)
Cleveland over Washington in 6 (Wash in 6)

San Antonio over Sacramento in 6 (5)
Phoenix over LA Lakers in 7 (6)
LA Clippers over Denver in 5 (Den in 6)
Dallas over Memphis in 4 (5)

So my only two incorrect series were Cleveland and LAC. The Cavs surprised me with their ability to win close games. LeBron was phenomenal, and so was Gilbert Arenas, but Arenas choked in Game 6 (after making a miraculous 3 to send it to OT) by missing two free throws that gave the Cavs the chance to take the lead, and Damon Jones's deep 2 from the corner sealed it. The Wizards just couldn't stop LeBron, or the rest of the Cavs for that matter.

The Clips killed the Nuggs, and it made me wonder why I always pick the Nuggs to go deep. I like George Karl. I like 'Melo. I think Camby is a great interior defender. But they just don't have great team D or many other scorers than 'Melo. Not having Kenyon Martin (suspended for actions detrimental to the team) hurt them, too. But kudos to the Clips on their first Playoff series win in 25 years. Cassell runs that team well and I wouldn't be surprised if they beat the Suns in Round 2. Their D is good enough. Here are my new Round 2 picks:

Detroit over Cleveland in 5
Miami over New Jersey in 7

San Antonio over Dallas in 7
Phoenix over LAC in 7

Let's get it started...

State of the Pistons Address (May 4)

2006-05-04T13:20:00.000-04:00

Ten things to love about Wednesday night's win:

10. No longer will I have to look at that appalling purple and green.

9. Tayshaun's half-court shot at the end of the first quarter to give the Pistons 39 points -- a franchise record for Playoff points in a quarter. After the shot went in, he looked at the crowd sheepishly, then turned to TNT's Reggie Miller and gave him a tiny bow before heading to the bench.

8. B-b-b-b-b-b-Ben was b-b-b-back. 14 boards, two steals, and three crafty assists. And although he only scored two points, they came on an emphatic flush -- his first field goal in two games. When he's involved in things, the Pistons are infinitely better.

7. The discovery that Dan Gadzuric could have hurt us in this series. He didn't play until there were nine minutes left in the fourth, and he ended up scoring 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He's a much better offensive player than Jamaal Magloire, yet Bucks coach Terry Stotts -- who? -- didn't play him. I think he would've given us more problems than Magloire did. So I guess all I have to say is thanks, Terr.

6. Kelvin Cato's double single. He was magnificent in three minutes, scoring two points and ripping down two rebounds. What a game, KC.

5. Flip finally got out of a first round comfortably. In Minnesota, he spent years exiting in the initial round of the Playoffs, but now he need not worry. I'm confident he'll now spend years using the first round as a mere arena for fine-tuning.

4. Rasheed was feeling it. He had three consecutive triples in the third quarter and sent the Pistons into coast-mode for the rest of the game. 'Sheed ended up with 22, and in the process, he had to have made some people wonder: Why did the Bucks help off of him so much in this series? He made 13 total 3-pointers in five games. Milwaukee just had no clue.

3. More than any other player in the league, 'Sheed can make me laugh. His constant chatter, his random left-hand 3-point attempts, his wide grin. It's all hilarious. Even before last night's game began, 'Sheed had me in stitches. Wearing a blue headband on top of a red one, he crept up behind Reggie Miller as he was doing his pregrame broadcast for TNT and started barking in Reggie's ear, dancing and snickering, trying to distract Mr. Miller from his task at hand. (See here.) Reggie kept his cool, but he couldn't stifle a smile. Neither could I.

2. RIP Injured Rip. Welcome back Normal Rip. He scored 40 points, most of them coming on his now quotidian mid-range daggers, and he looked like his old self. He got a little revenge on Michael Redd, too, which was nice to see, and he also made sure that he'll have a few days to rest the ankle and get it to 100 percent for Round 2.

1. 1/4 of the journey is complete. Bring on the Cleveland Jameses. Or will the Wizards get magical in Games 6 and 7? The Pistons have the luxury of sitting back, relaxing, and resting. They'll wait and see.

The most exciting two minutes in sports

2006-05-03T15:25:00.000-04:00

This weekend at Churchill Downs, beautifully-groomed horses and miniscule jockeys will compete in the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby.

Most people know about the exciting finishes, accentuated by NBC's broadcaster -- whoever it happens to be that day -- announcing, "And down the stretch they come!"

Common knowledge, too, is that the infield at Churchill Downs is chock full of kegs and drunken fans, all there to bet and do other things, I'm sure, but above all, take in the most exciting two minutes in sports. I'd love to go witness the madness someday.

Inside the world of horse racing, there are many important entities that affect each horse that jumps in the starting gate. The trainer. The jockey. The owner. The breeder. And, of course, the horse itself.

Through the years, I've been a biggest fans of the horses, their amusing names always able to elicit from me a chuckle or two. Of the 20 horses running this year, I will list my five favorite names:

1. Sinister Minister 2. Deputy Glitters 3. Bob and John 4. Lawyer Ron 5. Keyed Entry

While the horse with the best name rarely wins, I still root for it anyway.

I've tried to make it a point to watch the Derby every year since I was little, and I haven't yet gotten caught up in the whole betting facet of the race. (Although I did win $14 this winter betting on greyhound races in Tampa, Fla. A huge thrill. Seriously.) Sure, there's money to be won and it's always fun to root for something you've invested in, but there's also a downside to it.

This column by ESPN's Pat Forde shows the darker side of horse racing: the plight of the jockey. Many jockeys are pressured to lose weight, much like a super model or a wrestler, right before their races. It's understandable -- the lighter the weight on the horse, the more easily it can stride, no doubt -- yet I don't see why it has to happen. Perhaps it's the $2 million purse. Or the competitive nature of jockeys who seek the glory of victory at all costs. I just think it's sad.

What if jockeys came in all shapes and sizes? It would make the turns and the skill of the horse all the more important. I'm 6'4'', 210 lbs. Could I be a jockey? Every horse trainer out there would tell me to take a hike. But what if I honed my skills privately and became crafty, specializing in turns and positioning and creative tactics for inspiring my horse? Would it even matter? Is the weight atop the horse that much of a factor? Probably. I think I just thwarted my dreams of becoming a world class jockey before they even left the ground.

Still, it's sad to see bulimia and anorexia so associated with something like the Derby -- a sport, a game. It's equivalent to steriod use in baseball. To ruin your body for the sake of a horse finishing a split second faster in a race or hitting a ball 10 feet farther? Not worth it to me. I guess that's why I'll never win a Triple Crown -- in either sport. I'll never have roses draped around my horse's neck celebrating a win at Churchill Downs. But if I ever did have the chance to ride, my horse would surely have the best name of the bunch.

I'd call him Resplendent Pendant. Beat that.

State of the Pistons Address (May 2)

2006-05-02T20:35:00.000-04:00

The Pistons have only played four games this postseason, and I'm already overjoyed. It's not because of the way they're playing -- which, quite frankly, isn't exemplary. Nor is it because they're up 3-1 in their series with the Bucks. It's quite simple, really. It's because I can watch them. Every second of every game.

Last spring, as I basked in the countless joys of a two-month study abroad experience in Madrid, Spain, I had myself a ball. But I had little basketball. The Pistons rarely came on TV across the pond. When they did, rest assured my buddies and I were enchanted in front of the tube in a crowded, rowdy bar in downtown Madrid, donned in red and blue, high-fiving with every exciting dunk and jumper and dime. Still, I saw less than 30 percent of their games.

So when the regular season started up again in November, I may have been more excited than most Pistons fans; I hadn't had a consistent dosage of them in months. Too long. Now, as their Playoff run is in its first steps, I seem to have forgotten how hard it is to win an NBA championship. The Bucks are better than I've given them credit for. They proved it Monday by pushing the Pistons to the wire, losing 109-99, and they most certainly proved it Saturday in their 124-104 romp.

While I picked the Pistons to sweep Milwaukee (and sweep Miami and San Antonio in later series), I regret that now. My predictions were clouded with memories solely of a dominant regular season, not of difficult Playoff journeys past. Remember, last spring, the Pistons beat Philly in five, Indiana in six, and Miami in seven before losing to San Antonio in the Finals in seven. (That still makes me want to yell obscenities until I lose my voice.)

In these Eastern Conference quarters, the Pistons are better than the Bucks, but still, the purple and green (perhaps the ugliest color tandem possible, I must say) are worthy of their Playoff appearance and are good enough to make the Pistons work. I wouldn't be surprised to see them extract some heroics from Chaunce or 'Sheed at the end of a barnburner Wednesday in Game Five. But I don't expect them to win.

The Pistons will win in five, but it's still important to critique their play. Round Two will only bring on a tougher opponent and force them to step up their games.

Right now, there are several concerns. Big Ben has been a non-factor. Rip has shot poorly and is committing too many turnovers. The defense is anything other than stifling. And before last game, Tayshaun looked like a rookie.

Meanwhile, Chaunce has been rock solid. For three games, 'Sheed carried the team offensively. And the bench has contributed more than expected. So in Game Five, and in the practices before the Eastern semis commence, the concerns must be addressed.

Ben needs to stay out of foul trouble early and try to ignite fast breaks via monstrous boards and quick outlets like he did in Game One. Rip needs to find his stride and shoot in rhythm while relinquishing the ball a little more on fast breaks and becoming more of a receiver than a facilitator. The defense should feed off of a hungry Ben, but if he fails to assert himself, Tay and 'Sheed will need to rally the troops. And if Tay stays aggressive to the hoop like he was in Game Four, all will be well.

Wednesday night prediction: Pistons 98 Bucks 90 ... 30 for Chaunce, 20 for Rip, and 17 boards for a rejuvenated Ben.

Lions, Tigers, and some worthy commentary

2006-04-30T23:24:00.000-04:00

Mel Kiper, go back to your cave: The 2006 NFL Draft is over.

How did the Lions do? Well, ESPN will probably come out with reports by early Monday that grade the draft performances of every team. Maybe the Lions will receive a B. Or a C. I don't know. I'm not too disappointed or too happy with their picks. But I'm not going to give them a grade.

To evaluate draft performances before any draft picks have set foot onto an NFL field is a waste of energy. You see, the Lions may have made a huge mistake in passing on Matt Leinart yesterday. That said, he could become the next Joey Harrington -- a huge bust. Who knows?

The Draft Guru -- Mel Kiper -- knows. He knows all. For any such predictions and evaluations, I would go to him. But he's also the same Draft Guru who four years ago said Joey Harrington would have a good NFL career and was a worthy pick for the Lions at No. 3. And while much of Harrington's failure is due to the inept coaching in Detroit the last three seasons, he still has not vindicated Kiper's prediction.

Leinart has not proven a thing, either. Will he do well in Arizona? I don't know. My guess is yes, he will. My guess is that the Lions should have taken him at No. 9. But I also don't know anything about the guy they did take, this linebacker Ernie Sims -- other than he hits hard.

I like that they covered many bases with their picks as the draft progressed. They drafted two linebackers, two defensive backs, two offensive linemen and a running back. No receivers, good. No "D" linemen -- which has been our strong area in recent years -- also good. So at this point, all appears OK. But there's still the Leinart factor. Will we regret picking him? Will he haunt the Lions, similar to the likes of Randy Moss, Jevon Kearse, Daunte Caulpepper -- all players on whom the Lions passed in recent years?

Remember, if Leinart had won the Heisman again this year, and his Trojans had held on to win the national title game at the Rose Bowl versus Texas, Leinart would be in consideration for the greatest college football player of all time: three national championships, two Heismans.

Alas, he only ended up with two titles and one Heisman. Still not too shabby. He's got all the tools to be great. So if you're going to evaluate the Lions' 2006 Draft, it comes down to one thing: how well Leinart does as a pro QB. Now we must wait and see...

How 'bout those Tigers? They just stomped all over Minnesota this weekend, sweeping the series and outscoring the Twinkies 33-1. That's right, 33-1! They became just the fifth team since 1951 and the first since 2002 to post a +32 run differential against a team in a three-game series.

This combination of heavy hitting and stellar pitching hasn't been seen in Detroit in years. I just wish they would've saved a few runs for when they'll need them as the season marches on.

But with April gone and the Tigers sitting in second place in the central with a record of 16-9, it's only proper to sit back and revel in the moment. At least until the World Series talk begins next month.

State of the Pistons Address (April 30)

2006-04-30T21:32:00.000-04:00

I was in Milwaukee for the Pistons' frustratingly ugly 124-104 loss Saturday. Donned in red, white and blue and a Tayshaun 22, I was an easy target for Bucks fans after the game. And the shouts rained down from every direction.

"Detroit sucks! ... Overrated! ... A series doesn't start 'til a team wins a road game!"

My response: Come talk to me in June, Bucks fans, when your players have been sitting on their couches for a month and your Bucks apparel is already collecting dust in your closets.

Yes, you were better Saturday. You were better in every facet of the game. But that don't mean diddly. The Bucks will not win another game this series.

The game Saturday, for as bad as the Pistons played, is not reason for concern; the Pistons see it as a wakeup call, not a setback.

In each of the past two springs, Detroit has needed fuel to get its Playoff pistons churning. Now they have it. The sheer futility of their play Saturday night will be inspiration enough Monday to get them back in the win column. I'm 100 percent confident of that. But Saturday sure was disappointing; it was the definition of uncharacteristic. Here's why:

1. Ben Wallace seemed to have missed the plane to Milwaukee. He was virtually non-existent. Five rebounds, and one each of the following: point, assists, steal, block, FG attempt and offensive board. He got in foul trouble early, but he didn't pick up another one after the first quarter. He disappeared. Whenever Ben has a game like that -- actually, whenever the Pistons have a game like they did -- he takes it upon himself to will them to victory the next time they take the floor. He's their backbone. Trust that he will be all over the place Monday.

2. Rip lost his temper, and it affected him at both ends of the floor. Usually No. 32 is the one running circles around and frustrating his opponents, not vice versa. Well, Michael Redd was Rip Saturday. He couldn't miss. Rip chased him everywhere, and Redd responded by splashing in Rip's face. We call those eyeball sandwiches. Rip responded with a technical and a flagrant in the second half. That won't happen Monday, for two reasons. First, I expect Redd to come back down to earth and miss a few more than he did Saturday. He's a terrific shooter, but he's not as consistent as some of the league's bigger stars. I also don't expect the Pistons to guard him the same way. They should switch when he curls. They should use different defenders on him to keep him off balance. And they should double team him at times when he's backing down, because he's not a great passer and they need to force him to try and distribute instead of lift and lift and lift. His demise will be to Rip's benefit, and I expect Richard to score more than 10. That is a sure bet.

3. The Bucks shot 60 percent from the field. They had 35 assists. Dinosaurs Toni Kukoc and Joe Smith combined for 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting. This will not continue. How did it happen? Why did it happen? Well, you could say even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a great while. You could also say that Ben's absence due to foul trouble early in the game took away the Pistons' defensive edge and they could never regain it. But I'd say it was more the former. The Bucks were unconscious. They got comfortable in their home barn; they fed off the white-towel-wagging crowd; and when they got way up, their wrists got loose, and their shots fell more easily. There's a lot to be said for a player shooting with nothing to lose. That's how they felt up 20 in the third quarter. And the shots kept ripping the net. They won't get a lead like that again, though.

Yes, I left the Bradley Center with my head down, but that was more because of the energy I had invested and the drive my buddies and I had made -- not because I thought the Pistons were in trouble. No, no, I was not disconcerted. I still believe the Pistons will win in five. I'm just sad that I will forever hesitate to attend a road Pistons Playoff game in the future, for I am, unquestionably, bad luck.

The recipe

2006-04-27T11:21:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back, I posted "The recipe" for the first time. This is the second installment of random thoughts and observations...

The Pistons' win over the Bucks last night sure was a joy to watch. 30 assists on 42 baskets says a lot. So did Lindsey Hunter's pass to Tayshaun Prince for a super slam toward the end of the third, when Linds could have easily laid it in, but gave it to his teammate for the flush. I stood up in the bar and told all the Pistons' faithful: "That's why they win! Unselfishness!"

Michael Redd got off finally (29 points), but other than that, Detroit's "D" was ruthless (six steals, six blocks, great outlets leading to a season-high 28 fast break points).

Most of the night, it appeared as though the Pistons were in cruise control. I think that shows how this series will be over in four games.

"We're not playing Milwaukee -- we're playing ourselves," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said after the game. That's right, Flip. This is a merely tune up for the conference semis...

... Did you see Kobe's BOOM on Steve Nash last night? Oh my goodness. Talk about MVP (Most Viciously Posterized). I saw that on espn.com this morning and giggled, shook my head, and just sat and thought about the dunk. Then I watched it again. What an athlete. And what a statement. Really, Nash should not be the MVP (it was announced yesterday that he'll win the award for the second straight year). He isn't the MVP. Kobe is. I feel as though the writers who voted for Nash last year felt compelled to vote the same way this year because Nash had a better season. But if you take Kobe off the Lakers, there's no way they beat the Suns last night. There's no way they even make the Playoffs. To be honest, they'd have a tough time winning 25 games without No. 8, soon to be No. 24 (he's changing it next year). Odd...

... Keith Jackson is retiring. The legendary ABC announcer, known for his saying, "Whoa, Nellie!" will leave the broadcast booth at age 77. The thing is, this isn't the first time he's announced his retirement. In 1998 he planned to retire after that season, so as he went around to different colleges, they honored him and bade him farewell as a celebration of retirement. Then, the next season, he just kept announcing games and I was bewildered. I had thought he retired. Turns out, he just couldn't walk away. This time, he says it's for good. I just hope he doesn't make a second farewell tour. The first one ended up looking pretty arrogant, if you ask me...

... The whole Brett Favre thing in Green Bay really annoys me. Just because he's had a great career there doesn't mean the Green Bay organization has the right to throw away seasons just to accommodate his departure. What I mean is, after last season, why would they possibly want him back to lead the team this year? He was arguably the worst quarterback in football. 29 interceptions? Why not play Aaron Rodgers? Heck, with the fifth pick in the draft this year, why not draft Vince Young? There's a great chance he'll be available there. He may end up being a superstar. An even bigger one than Favre ever was. At the very least, he would undoubtedly be more effective than Favre will this year. I don't know what the Packers are thinking. He cannot be resurrected. His better days are buried beneath a gigantic pile of smelly cheese...

... With the ninth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select... Santonio Holmes! Wide receiver from The Ohio State University. Oh man, let's hope not. I'm out.

Milwaukee: What is this salty discharge?

2006-04-26T09:44:00.000-04:00

I thought Bucks were big, powerful animals. Brawny animals. Not this bunch.

The Milwaukee Bucks lost by 18 to the Detroit Pistons Sunday in Game One of the NBA Playoffs. The Pistons outworked the Bucks, they played with more physicality, and they showed more mental toughness -- as are the trademarks of most successful teams.

The Bucks' response, instead of bearing down and toughening up and practicing ways to counter the Pistons' aggressive play, seems to be to cry.

"Michael Redd was being held and grabbed a lot," Bucks coach Terry Stotts whined.

Charlie Bell complained of scratch marks on his stomach. He said his wife was wondering what had happened. Hey Mrs. Flintstone: It's part of the game.

Players do anything and everything to one another to gain an advantage. Yes, they hold and they grab and they scratch. They also tug, punch, break, strangle, elbow, kick, and gouge. Especially in the Playoffs.

To hear the Bucks whimper is to see an inexperienced playoff team at work. There's no way they will beat the Pistons in this series; they're too young, they're too weak, and they're not nearly assertive enough to dictate the tempo of more than a three-minute stretch.

To admit Detroit is a physical team will not rob the Bucks of their manhood, (however little of it exists). Everyone in the league knows that when they're playing the Pistons, they're in for some banging and bruising. I guess the Bucks just don't know how to deal with it.

My advice to them is to keep their mouths shut and grow a pair of you-know-whats to accompany those antlers. At least then this will be a series.

A quasi-Bulls fan's last request

2006-04-24T12:01:00.001-04:00

Give Ben the ball, get out the way, and watch what he do wit' it.

No, Pistons fans, I'm not talking about Ben Wallace. I'm talking about the Bulls' Ben Gordon -- one of the greatest scorers on one of the worst teams in the playoffs.

This post is overdue, seeing as how the Bulls played on Saturday, but I wanted to voice my opinion about something that troubled me through the weekend.

I'm a Pistons fan, number one, always. But when the Bulls are playing against any opponent other than the Pistons, I tune in because I enjoy watching Ben.

So when his Bulls crumbled in the fourth quarter versus the Miami Heat Saturday, eventually losing 111-106, I had an idea for them.

LET BEN BRING THE BALL DOWN THE FLOOR.

Yes he had 35 points and did all he could to help them win, but when his teammates were trying to find him as the shot clock ran down, they left their feet with no intention of shooting, couldn't find him, or anyone, and ended up throwing the ball directly into the hands of the Heat. This happened at least three times. Hey Bulls: you wear red.

The interesting thing about Gordon's 35 is that only nine of them came in the fourth. On a normal night when Ben scores 35, AT LEAST 34 of them come in the final period. OK, that's hyperbole, but you get what I'm saying.

His game is jacked up for the Playoffs. While he's usually at his best in the fourth, EVERY quarter seems like a fourth quarter now. And for a team that should probably lose big to the Heat in this series, it's a wakeup call to the only possible, employable strategy that could steal a few games.

Ben should ALWAYS get the ball in the fourth quarter. Every possession. Just a touch. Get out the way and watch what he do.

I guarantee it's something electrifying.

State of the Pistons Address (April 23)

2006-04-23T21:47:00.000-04:00

One up, one down.

That's about all this game really meant. The Pistons are 1/16 of the way through a long journey.

Their 92-74 win over the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday was fun to watch; the Pistons played OK -- not great, not poorly, just OK.

What made it fun was their two surges in the second half. Everything was clicking -- especially the fast break, keyed by some beastly blocked shots -- but then they'd fall into some lapses.

The first surge began at the outset of the half, and then when the Bucks pulled within four toward the start of the fourth quarter, Detroit found that second gear yet again and coasted to the win.

It would have been a different story altogether had 'Sheed not carried them in the first half, though.

He scored 17 points and hit three 3s, playing with an obvious energy not quite present in any of the other four starters. (That energy was really there early in the second half, too, when he picked up his first technical of the Playoffs. I thought Flip should have left him in the game, to key off the energy, to tap into his increased productivity that seems to inevitably follow a cheap technical. But he put in Dyess, who played well, and all worked out fine.) 'Sheed has the tendency to coast through games, but when he's on, he is the most influential of any of the Pistons. They were lucky he was there mentally for the duration of this game, because they could have fallen into quite the hole had the Bucks kept up their hot start and the Pistons had remained tepid.

But when Ben came alive in the second half and facilitated some breaks with rejections and great outlet passes, Rip and Chaunce got going, and everyone and everything else fell into place.

So the best thing you can say about the game is that the Pistons played OK and still won by 18. Granted, the Bucks didn't shoot well after the first quarter and I'm sure that their percentage will climb slightly as the series progresses, but I don't think that will matter. I don't expect the Pistons to play just OK -- I expect them to come out with an intense focus from the get-go and win even more convincingly. Which is why they will sweep the Bucks.

NBA Playoff predictions

2006-04-21T18:35:00.000-04:00

I've decided to predict the outcomes of the 2006 NBA Playoffs. I do this hesitatingly for two reasons: one, I did it last year and the Pistons didn't win it all (but I'm not that superstitious); and two, when I did do it last year, I did it terribly unsuccessfully. Nevertheless, I'm ready to give it another stab. Here goes:

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Detroit over Milwaukee in 4
Miami over Chicago in 6
New Jersey over Indiana in 7
Washington over Cleveland in 6

Western Conference Quarterfinals

San Antonio over Sacramento in 5
Phoenix over LA Lakers in 6
Denver over LA Clippers in 6
Dallas over Memphis in 5

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Detroit over Washington in 5
Miami over New Jersey in 7

Western Conference Semifinals

San Antonio over Dallas in 6
Denver over Phoenix in 6

Eastern Conference Finals

Detroit over Miami in 4

Western Conference Finals

San Antonio over Denver in 5

The NBA Finals

Detroit over San Antonio in 4

Yes, the Detroit Pistons will be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy come June. I don't see anyone coming any close to them, as long as none of their key players are injured (as I say this, I knock on the biggest piece of wood I can find). Their only blip will come in the conference semis versus Gilbert Arenas and the Wiz. I see him mustering an unstoppable 3-point barrage for at least one game of the series.

The most entertaining series of the postseason will be New Jersey/Miami. I see that one having a lot of close games. But the winner's efforts will be all for naught when they collide with the Pistons in Round 3.

Pistons just beginning to rev

2006-04-21T17:57:00.000-04:00

No matter how many accolades they receive or how much praise they are given, the Detroit Pistons always find a way to stay motivated.

This season, they had countless reasons to celebrate. Four All-Stars. A franchise record for wins. Hegemonic control of the NBA standings from Day One. All impressive things. But to this team, all meaningless things.

"This is what we've been waiting for," Rasheed Wallace told the AP last week. "We got up for a couple teams, but we weren't really excited about the regular season. We've been waiting for the playoffs since Game 7 last year."

By Game 7, 'Sheed of course means the 81-74 loss to the San Antonio Spurs last June - a game which, if the Pistons had played better in the fourth quarter, would have been theirs and would have made this year's pursuit one for a three-peat.

That loss, though, made these Pistons infinitely hungrier. As training camp commenced in October, 'Sheed sent a message to the team, to the league, that there would be no repeat of last year. He arrived in great shape - antithetical to his usual preseason overweight poundage. After the Pistons won the title in 2004, 'Sheed admittedly spent most of the summer celebrating. And you know how 'Sheed do.

But now, the waiting is over. The Pistons' time has arrived. The Playoffs begin Saturday.

Regardless of how insignificant the Pistons cast off the 2005-2006 regular season to be, it was a historic one. Let us remember 10 of the most exciting and important moments of the campaign chronologically:

Nov. 4- Only the second game of a long season, it jumpstarted the Pistons' momentum. With eight tenths of a second left on the clock, Detroit had the ball on the sideline down one in Boston. Tayshaun Prince triggered and found Rip Hamilton in stride off a curl, and his lightning-quick release swished through the net from 18 feet out as the buzzer sounded for a Pistons' victory. They went on to win their first seven games and 15 of their first 17.

Nov. 10- A beautiful display of the Pistons' mettles: teamwork, grittiness, and clutch play. Against the always-running Phoenix Suns, all five Detroit starters scored in double figures. But with 4:56 to go, the Pistons trailed by six. The men in blue and red then proceeded to score 17 of the game's final 21 points to win, 111-104, cementing themselves as the league's powerhouse and setting the tone for the season that no lead is insurmountable.

Dec. 25- In a Christmas Day rematch of the NBA Finals, Detroit hosted San Antonio at The Palace. Ready for revenge, the Pistons were prepared for a close battle, but the Spurs showed up with coals in their stockings. Detroit dominated every facet of the game, winning 85-70 and outrebounding San Antonio 57-30.

Feb. 15- So long, Darko Milicic. His days in Detroit as the Human Victory Cigar ended in a trade with the Orlando Magic that also sent point guard Carlos Arroyo to Disney World. In return, the Pistons acquired center Kelvin Cato and a future first round pick. Parting ways with Darko was bittersweet: While it robbed the Pistons of a No. 2 draft pick still with great potential, it also freed up valuable cap space for the future re-signings of Chauncey and Ben Wallace, whose contracts expire in the next two seasons. And I didn't like seeing Carlos go. His on-court connection with Antonio McDyess seemed too innate to be over. But Dyess surged forward and so, too, did Arroyo. He's now the face of the Magic in Central Florida, which boasts a large Puerto Rican population.

Feb. 19- Four Pistons converged on the All-Star court in Houston and represented the team fittingly. Not only were Chaunce, Ben, 'Sheed, and Rip part of the Eastern Conference's 28-13 second-half run that led to an eventual victory, they wrote tributes to Tayshaun, the only other Pistons starter not to be named an All-Star, on their shoes. Talk about a team.

March 1- Pistons' President Joe Dumars announced the signing of free agent and 10-year veteran Tony Delk. At the time, it didn't appear to be a major move, as Delk had only played one game all season. But Detroit fans and the rest of the NBA soon learned that Delk's game was on point. He went on to shoot a scintillating 45 percent from behind the arc as a bench spark in the seasons' final months, averaging eight points per game. Why his former team, the Atlanta Hawks, played him in only one game before his release remains a mystery.

March 22- In Miami a month earlier, the Pistons had succumbed to the forces of one Dwyane Wade - perhaps the league's "next Jordan" - as he scored the Heat's final 17 points and willed them to a 100-98 victory. So this game was redemption; the Detroit "D" reawakened. Wade was held to just 13 points on 3-of-15 shooting. While the calendar may have welcomed spring, the Pistons were unwelcoming hosts for their Miami visitors, winning 82-73.

April 2- Despite a late arrival from 'Sheed, who forgot to spring his clocks forward for daylight savings, Detroit did in the visiting Phoenix Suns and Chaunce showed the world who the league's best point guard is. He walked all over reigning MVP Steve Nash, scoring 35 points and holding the Canadian to 13. The game also marked a milestone for the Pistons' starting five, who made their 73rd consecutive start as a unit, an NBA record.

April 3- Pistons president Joe Dumars is one of the league's most crafty general managers. In his playing days, he was one heck of a shooting guard, too. On this day, Dumars - who played in six All-Star games, won two championships and was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team four times in his career - was selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It's only a matter of time before he is enshrined as an exemplary executive, as well.

April 16- With a 103-97 win over the visiting New York Knicks, the Pistons won their 64th game of the season and became the winningest team in franchise history. When they look back on it years down the road, the players are sure to be proud of the milestone. But for now, there is no basking in their success. The glory has yet to come. Their focus is on one thing: another ring. NBA Playoffs, welcome.

In response: Farewell Tiger Stadium?

2006-04-13T22:06:00.000-04:00

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick says he will make a decision in May on whether or not Tiger Stadium should be demolished. See article.

Tiger Stadium is a hallowed Detroit landmark, and the day it ceases to exist won't be a happy one. But if Kilpatrick does decide to raze the historic ballpark, I'm not going to shed any tears. And if uproar ensues upon a go-ahead from Kilpatrick to bid the stadium good bye, I'll be thoroughly surprised.

Let's consider what it is: a building with tremendous history, yes -- but also a building that is idle, much like numerous other unused edifices around the Motor City.

What separates Tiger Stadium from those eyesores, though, is its remarkable yesteryear.

For countless Detroiters, the landmark at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull represents much more than the site where the Tigers took to the diamond for upwards of 90 years.

Originally called Navin Field when it opened in 1912, it became Briggs Stadium in 1938. Then in 1960, when John Fetzer became the team's owner, he gave it its lasting title: Tiger Stadium.

The Corner has played home to two World Series teams (1968 and 1984) and more than 100 million fans have passed through its turnstiles. It's a cathedral of sorts, full of timeless memories and echoes of long, unforgettable summers past.

But the sources of those echoes are long removed from the stadium's walls. Various events have been held there since its closing in 1999 when the Tigers' new home became Comerica Park. Movies have been filmed and other minor sporting events held, but nothing that has added to the well-being of the city. In fact, Detroit has spent nearly $4 million maintaining the stadium for the seven years since its last game, which, to me, seems absurd.

These days, it sits peacefully, neither a distraction or a subtraction. While many of Detroit's buildings are eyesores and reasons for critics -- Detroiters and non-Detroiters alike -- to spit condemnations, Tiger Stadium lives. And it’s OK. Just OK.

Everyone should realize, though, that if it's not torn down soon, it, too, will be labeled eyesore. I don’t want to see it defaced with graffiti, broken into, or begin to fall apart. While its memories will never fade, the longer this stadium stands, the more its holiness will evaporate.

Tiger Stadium's true farewell came on Sept. 27, 1999. I was fortunate enough to be there. Alongside my dad, we watched the Tigers dispatch the Kansas City Royals, 8-2. The win was punctuated by the game's final hit -- a grand slam by Tigers catcher Robert Fick which caromed off the black roof in right field. It stirred memories of Cecil Fielder and other “long gone” -- if I may borrow respectfully from Ernie Harwell -- former Tigers bombers.

After the game, a parade of Tigers legends graced the field. Names like Gibson, Kaline, Trammell, and Whitaker -- fully donned in bright Tigers white with the Olde English D -- trotted out for one last ovation. Next to me, my dad started to cry as the roar became deafening, and I couldn’t help but get a little emotional, too. Once the celebration subsided, the Tiger Stadium home plate was moved to the team's new home: Comerica Park.

I’ll always remember the events of that day because they were so fitting: a Tigers win in front of Tigers legends and true Tigers fans. It should have meant closure.

But Tiger Stadium lingered and lingers. When it comes time to demolish the sacred grounds, just remember that they have already been given a proper good bye, and let it go in peace.

The best when it counts

2006-04-11T23:16:00.000-04:00

When healthy, Tracy McGrady might be the most talented player on the planet. Dwyane Wade's game is on the rise, too. LeBron James is perhaps the most physically gifted player to ever grace a basketball court. And Kobe Bryant is, well, Kobe.

But for my money, the most electrifying player in the NBA wears the No. 7 on his jersey for the Windy City. His name is Ben Gordon.

He's listed at 6'3'', but he looks more like 6'0''. BG is explosive, yet the majority of his game takes place below the rim. And he's quiet, which makes his big-time abilities scream out at you, like the jolt of a jester exploding out of a jack-in-the-box.

I consider Ben the best player in the league.

In the fourth quarter -- you didn't let me finish. While Chauncey is Mr. Big Shot, and Paul Pierce is the Truth, Ben is the Savior, if you're a Chicago Bull.

When the Bulls are in a tight one in the fourth quarter, he doesn't just hit one or two big 3s to put the fork in his opponents (like Chauncey does with regularity). He doesn't just get to the line virtually every time down the floor, draining every sap of energy out of the other team (quotidian for P-double). Ben does more. Every night, when the clock strikes 12 for the fourth time, he puts the Bulls on his back and scores and scores and scores in inconceivable ways time after time after time.

Tuesday night, in a barnburner with important playoff implications, Ben took the Bulls on his ever-increasingly-broad shoulders for the umpteenth time this season and flat out told the red-hot New Jersey Nets, "Uh-uh. No, no. Not tonight. This is my game."

He finished with 36 points, including 19-of-21 from the free throw line. 21 of those came in the final 12 minutes. Eight of them came in a 50-second stretch with under three minutes to play, the Nets well within reach.

For a non-Bulls fan like myself, the display had to have been breathtaking. And he does this every night, in an array of mesmerizing ways.

Rainbow fadeaways with defenders draped all over him. (Those are called "eyeball sandwiches" in hoops jargon.) Quick-as-the-speed-of-light drives -- between towering big men, up and under swailing arms -- resulting in nifty lay-ins, often for the and-one. And once in awhile, if you're lucky enough to be watching, he'll show off his ballistic hops and let out a rare scream of emotion. It's tough to keep quiet when you've just put Anderson Varejao on a poster, your unspeakables right in his face.

Yes, Ben is the best when it counts. It's just too bad he plays for such a mediocre team.

Right now, Chicago is struggling to even make the postseason. Don't be surprised, though, if Ben strings together a series of games like the one he played Tuesday and wills the Bulls into the playoffs.

In fact, if they do manage to qualify, Ben is a good enough player to win his team a series. As long as it's not against the Pistons, whose own Mr. Big Shot -- while maybe not as electrifying -- ain't too shabby in the fourth himself.

Shifting gears

2006-04-10T08:36:00.000-04:00

I love the Masters golf tournament. Yes, because it's a tradition unlike any other, and because the glasslike greens, the picturesque rolling fairways, and the vibrant azaleas are as aesthetically pleasing as it gets when it comes to televised sporting. (Not to mention the CBS golf commentators are incredibly unique and crafty at what they do; if you had never seen a televised golf tournament, you'd think they were all kooky. But their soft, carefully plodded words underscore the drama which never ceases to exist at Augusta in the second weekend of April.)

But the Masters also represents a bridge between the NCAA Tournament and the NBA Playoffs. It's an imperative transitional event. While March is the most exciting month in sports because of all the hoopla surrounding the Dance -- brackets, speculation, and so forth -- sports throughout April, May, and early June are more consistently enthralling. Not as enthralling as the Dance, but what I'm saying is that because the tournament is only played on 10 different days, that's far fewer than the amount of days in the spring that will have a big game to offer. Sportscenter will have no nights off.

Let us walk through the itinerary.

The Tigers play their opener at Comerica Park today against the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. At 2-4, the boys from the south side aren't beginning their season the way their fireball manager Ozzie Guillen would have hoped. Which makes them dangerous. He's the best in the bigs, in my opinion, and he'll have them fired up in Detroit for the 1:05 first pitch this afternoon.

It should be fun following the Tigers -- especially throughout the early spring -- to see if they can continue their torrid start. Chris Shelton's stats at this point are through the roof. In six games, he's hit five homers, touched 35 total bases, and is hitting for a .583 average. As a team, they're hitting .308.

From the diamond to the hardwood, where the Pistons have five regular season games to go before they begin their playoff march toward a second NBA title in three years. Ben Wallace's recent actions -- while seemingly hurtful to the team -- will actually help. By refusing to re-enter Friday night's game against Orlando, he undermined Flip Saunders' authority. Then, yesterday against the Pacers, he went out and ripped down 22 boards. Chauncey might be the MVP and the face of this team, but Ben is its backbone. The disrespect he showed Flip is not reflective of Ben's personality in any way; it's a long season, and something like that is bound to happen. In fact, it's so rare on this team that it only speaks to its cohesiveness. Whatever your view, that one occurrence will recharge big No. 3 and make him hungrier, which will rub off on everyone else, and I think you'll see the best defensive team in this playoffs wearing red and blue.

Also this spring: the NHL Playoffs, the Kentucky Derby, the French Open, and my personal favorite, the Kalamazoo College men's tennis team's pursuit of a 68th consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship. Yeah, that's right. 68. I should write a story about them and submit it to ESPN. I doubt there's much knowledge of that great feat outside of Kalamazoo, not to mention any other record of similar stature to be found elsewhere in this country.

The recipe

2006-04-06T11:38:00.000-04:00

I shall call this the recipe, a random string of thoughts and observations it shall be...

Dwight Gooden's going to jail. One of the most promising pitchers of the last 20 years, in trouble again, this time for doing cocaine while on probation -- although he didn't have to be locked up. He had two options: one was to go to jail for seven months or so, which he decided to do. The other was to extend his probation, but if he violated it again, the sentence would be upwards of five years. I guess there's no lifestyle change in his forseeable future, eh? Talk about taking your medicine...

I watched the women's national title game Tuesday and was impressed. Maybe it was because the game was an OT thrilla and I hadn't seen any hint of that in the men's Final Four, but I actually saw some great plays and some great players. Maryland came from way down at halftime to take the lead with a few to go, and it seesawed until Tolliver the Terrapin hit an ultra-clutch three from the right wing to tie it. Then, the Terps looked like GM in the UConn game in the men's tournament, owning OT, then winning their first title. I usually don't like women's hoops, but this was a great game that I could not find myself turning away from with the remote...

The Tigs! It didn't take long for me to sniff October. A 14-3 romp of the Royals on Thursday cemented the inevitable truth that the men with the Olde English D on their hats will be playing in the Fall Classic come autumn. They're the best team in the history of baseball...

Pistons/Heat tonight. I don't like how Miami's starters are faking injuries before the playoffs. J. Williams is not injured, he just wants to delay another matchup with Chauncey before he's forced to succumb to his inferiority in May when the Pistons beat the Heat in the Conf. Finals for the second straight year -- this time in a sweep. White Chocolate, you wimp, you make me sick.
Pistons 134 Heat 6

March Madness holds true to its name

2006-04-04T11:45:00.000-04:00

Every March, in the midst of the NCAA Tournament, it seems as though I am making the same proclamation.

“This has to be the most exciting tournament ever,” I say, to whoever will listen.

Underdog teams make the Big Dance what it is: the most entertaining event in sports.

Last year, it was West Virginia almost making it to the Final Four as an eight seed, playing fourth-seeded Louisville to the wire in a regional final, only to let a 22-point lead unfurl as a Cardinal 3-point assault ended the Mountaineers’ hopes.

Later that night, Illinois beat Arizona in what I consider the greatest NCAA Tournament game I’ve ever seen. Channing Frye was magnificent, scoring in a variety of nifty ways, finding a way to put the ball in the hoop all night long against Illinois’ renowned defense. He catapulted the Wildcats to a big lead, and Arizona, a three seed, led by 15 with four minutes to go. That’s when the Illini’s Deron Williams spearheaded a frantic comeback. Steal after steal, 3 after 3, improbable make after improbable make, Illinois somehow surmounted Arizona and made its way to the Final Four.

Those two games, of many, are still ingrained in my mind from the 2005 tournament.

This year, after watching the first two weekends of the tournament, I was ready to deem the 2006 tournament the best ever; I thought it had one-upped its predecessor.

But the NCAA Tournament abided by its March Madness moniker almost too faithfully, as the three games of the Final Four — all played in April — were some of the least exciting contests of the Big Dance.

On Monday night, Florida played UCLA in Indianapolis for the national championship. While the game should have been the culmination of the season, of the Dance, this year’s matchup lacked the usual buildup a title bout deserves. It didn’t have the star appeal of, say, the 2005 final, when heavyweights Illinois and North Carolina, the two top-ranked teams in the tournament, went to battle in St. Louis. That game was a classic, down-to-the-wire thriller, and the Tar Heels needed 26 points from behemoth Sean May to hold on, 75-70, for coach Roy Williams’ first national title.

This year, the Gators and the Bruins shared the floor for one of the most one-sided title games in the history of the tournament. Joakim Noah’s six blocks and a barrage of second-half dunks from the Gator big men were impressive, but the Gators dominated every facet of the game, and the final score, 73-57, was actually closer than the game seemed.

Which makes the Final Four a letdown. Don’t get me wrong; Florida deserves credit for its game plan, for its near perfect execution (the Gators scored 73 points on a Bruin defense that had not allowed more than 45 points in its two previous games). But considering the numerous barnburners of the first four rounds — the buzzer beaters, the excruciating finishes — the Final Four, the tournament’s Last Dance, was a ballet. The first four rounds were a passionate Rumba.

The star of the 2006 tournament was George Mason, from Fairfax, Va. Before the tourney, many people would have asked, “Oh, what team does he play for?” Now, it’s safe to say the nation knows that George Mason is, indeed, not a player, but a team full of talented ones.

On weekend one, the 11th-seeded Patriots upended two of last year’s Final Four teams (six seed Michigan State and three seed North Carolina). The next weekend, after easily handling Wichita State in the Washington, D.C. regional semifinals, George Mason, from the Colonial Athletic Association, a team that had never won a tournament game before its first round victory over the Spartans, took on the Dance’s top dogs: the Huskies of Connecticut.

In the Game of the Tournament, the Patriots rallied from nine points down at halftime to take the lead late in the second half, only to be caught by the Huskies as Denham Brown’s last-gasp lay-up attempt hung on the rim, tried its best to fall off, but trickled through the nylon to force overtime.

That’s when the Patriots showed their mettle. In the extra period, George Mason looked like the Big East squad, the team that had been in the national spotlight and ranked in the top five all season long. Connecticut looked like the mid-major that didn’t belong, Huskies with tails between their legs. Mason hung on to win, 86-84, and became the first 11 seed to make the Final Four since LSU in 1986.

The Patriots fell to Florida Saturday, but they had already made their presence felt as a legitimate national contender. Coach Jim Larranaga seemed to enjoy the ride more than anyone. Before the tournament began, he told his team to have more fun than any other team in the field of 64. There’s no question the Patriots did that.

Now, had George Mason beaten Florida and advanced to the title game, this tournament would stack up elsewhere in history. The same can be said of LSU. The Tigers had been impressive in coming out of the Atlanta regional, beating Duke and Texas, but in Indy, they failed to show up. If they had shown the Bruins their swagger, perhaps the Final Four would have been more indicative of the tourney’s March games

Alas, it was not. So many images — Tennessee’s Chris Lofton’s prayer from the corner being answered versus Winthrop on the tourney’s first day to prevent the two-seeded Volunteers from going down; 14 seed Northwestern State’s Jermaine Wallace hitting a step-back, fade away rainbow to secure the upset over three-seeded Iowa; Texas’ Kenton Paulino displaying the ice in his veins with a last-second 3 to lift his Longhorns over West Virginia after the Mountaineers’ Kevin Pittsnogle had just made a 3-bomb to tie it — made this March one of true madness.

If only the Final Four could have danced to a similar beat, the 2006 NCAA Tournament would have been the best ever — the maddest of the mad.

Is 2006 the year for the Tigers to roar?

2006-04-03T09:59:00.000-04:00

It's April, and for Detroit Tigers fans, that means optimism is in the air.

Every year, no matter how bad the Tigers were the year before, or how many (or few) offseason moves were made, fans around the Motor City, talk show hosts, beat writers, and columnists say that if a, b, and c all happen, the Tigers could have a good year. Well, they haven't had a winning record since 1993, and they haven't made the postseason since Reagan was in office.

But why not give it another shot? There's no reason to be pessimistic. Why? Because it's a long season. 162 games. Six months. The later monotony and the hopelessness kick in, the better. So here goes: The Tigers could make the playoffs this season! I say this for three reasons.

1. Their bats. I was fortunate enough to attend a spring training game at the lovely Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., this spring, and the Tigers smashed four home runs en route to a 15-2 victory over the New York Yankees. Yes, it was spring training. Yes, it was one game. But I think it showed where the Tigers potential problems will not lie this summer: at the plate. From 1 to 9, they have guys who can swing the bat. I'd say of the eleven hitters who will see substantial time, ten of them are good enough to hit .300 for a season. Will they all do it this year? No. I'm just trying to emphasize how talented they are from top to bottom. The only exception is Nook Logan, who happens to be my favorite Tiger. He's been called the fastest player in the bigs. He's a tremendous center fielder. But he has yet to show much skill with the wood in hand. If he can up his on-base percentage and hit more line drives, he'll be in the lineup more than last year, when he only made sporadic appearances.

2. Jim Leyland, the new manager. He won a World Series with the Florida Marlins in 1997. He was skipper of the great Pittburgh Pirates teams of the early '90s. The Detroit News calls him the most direct, no-fluff manager the Tigers have had in 30 years. So does that automatically make them a winner? No way. But it does say something. Alan Trammell, as much as Detroiters loved him for being a hell of shortstop, was a horrible manager. He refused to bunt the ball. He terribly mismanaged the bullpen. But he had never been a manager before, and stepping in cold turkey and building a winner is not easy to do (the exception: Ozzie Guillen and the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox). So Leyland has the experience. I'm hopeful he can help build some confidence. And if he is able to find a comfortable balance between manufacturing runs via small ball and letting these talented hitters swing away, the runs will cross the plate in masses.

3. The men on the hill, if they decide to coincide and have breakout years. What I mean is, there are four young hurlers who will be in the rotation, plus 41-year-old Kenny Rogers. I think we can count on him for 12-15 wins. Now if the younger guys -- led by Jeremy Bonderman, who arguably should have made the All-Star team last season -- can all have their best seasons ever, then the bats will have some support. Joining Bonderman are lefties Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson, and 23-year-old Justin Verlander, who will have rookie status this year after only two appearances last season. None of these guys are big names, but they do have good stuff. If they can establish a toughness (which Leyland will aid, being one of the better pitching managers there is, experts say), then a tone can be set for the season. The bullpen remains a question mark, though. With former Tiger Todd Jones back on staff for a second go-around in Detroit, he brings experience, but does he have good enough stuff to be a lock-it-up, reliable closer? I guess we'll see. My inkling is that for the Tigers to make a push, especially if they're in the thick of things come the trading deadline at the end of July, general manager Dave Dombrowski will have to find one or two solid relievers to propel this team through a pennant race and into the October postseason for the first time in two decades.

Whatever happens, baseball is back for Opening Day today. And while I'm a little more psyched for the Pistons' playoff run to begin, I can't wait to see if the Tigers can roar. Let's play ball!

Thoughts

2006-04-02T15:28:00.000-04:00

Chauncey for MVP? Sure looked like it Sunday.

He scored 35 points -- 28 in the second half -- in the Pistons' come-from-behind 109-102 win over the fast-breaking Phoenix Suns at the Palace.

The Suns led big at half time, but Rip's aerial connection with B-b-b-b-b-b-Ben -- they had three alley-oops in the third quarter -- got Detroit going, then Chaunce started stroking. He made five 3-pointers, including a 35-footer at the end of the shot clock midway through the fourth, that seemed to take the wind out of the Suns' sails.

Some concerns:

Once again, the Pistons got way behind early and had to play the starters big minutes to secure the win. As I've said before, it would be nice to see the bench get some substantial minutes here in the last nine games of the season, not only to rest the starters' legs, but to develop a substitution pattern -- something of which there currently is no semblance.

'Sheed picked up his 16th technical Sunday, too, apparently in defense of his fellow Wallace, as Ben was fouled hard by Tim Thomas but no flagrant was called. If the call is not rescinded by the league, 'Sheed will be suspended for the Pistons' next game, at home versus New Orleans. I'm not too worried about the game, though. I think Detroit will play inspired ball, Dyess will flourish in a starting role, and that win No. 60 will be earned...

Disinterest in Indy?

The results of the Final Four games last night didn't surprise me, but the way the games were played did. Florida needed a barrage of threes from Humphrey and a slew of missed layups from GM to win its second national semifinal in seven years. UCLA whooped on LSU by displaying a stifling defense -- so befuddling, Big Baby never looked more appropriately named. The Bruins aren't exciting, especially on the offensive end, but they're effective. Their coach, Ben Howland, is a disciplinarian to a tee, and that shines through their play. I expect the national final Monday to be a low scoring affair -- like the Bruins' last two games -- and for Florida to come out on top in a close one: Gators 54, Bruins 52.

But, as has been the case throughout this crazy dance, I'll probably be wrong. Don't be surprised to see an 88-34 final, with UCLA cutting down the nets.

Don't be a fool

2006-04-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

April Fool's Day is here! This is a day where the prankster in me usually comes out a little bit, just to do a little fooling, although I must say I've never gotten after it too wholeheartedly. I usually poke fun at my friends with a few far-fetched schemes and whatnot, but never before have I pulled off a bigtime fooli-oolio.

So I wondered about some of the greatest pranks of all time, to get a little juice of my own going. Some of these are ridiculous. See here. I like the Swedish color TV con, where the dude had every Swede pulling a stocking over their televisions. That's skillfully done.

If any readers have ever pulled off a classic prank or have any creative ideas, please, let me know. I'd be happy to lend a devilish hand in helping to facilitate the "Big Fool."

Forseeing the Final Four

2006-03-31T17:09:00.000-05:00

Who will be the National Champion come Monday? Many of the experts are picking Florida. Coach Billy Donovan has been to the Final Four before, they're a dominant team down low, and a number of analysts say the Gators have the best player in Indianapolis this weekend: the versatile Joakim Noah.

But I'm picking LSU. I love the athleticism of Tyrus Thomas; he's a monster on both sides of the floor. Glen Davis is as talented as Noah, in my opinion, and he's stronger in the post. Senior Darrel Mitchell runs the point with poise, and he has a knack for knocking down clutch shots. Their complementary players, namely freshman wing Tasmin Mitchell, gel well with the rest of the Tigers, and they all play with an incredible intensity on the defensive end that will rattle the other teams in Indy this weekend.

Versus UCLA, I expect the Bruins to hang around for awhile, but the Tigers should wear them down in the second half and win, 73-61.

In the other semifinal, I expect George Mason to play some great basketball and put on a nice passing display. But I think Florida's power, especially on the offensive boards, will in the end tucker out the Patriots and their magnificent Cindarella run. Gators 68, Patriots 63.

Then, Monday night, the SEC Championship Game will be re-enacted at the National level. Florida won that one three weeks ago by 16. But that was against a hobbled Tyrus Thomas. He's healthy now, and explosive as any college player I've seen in a long time. I expect him to have a jaw-dropping weekend, full of emphatic dunks and dejecting (for his opponents) rejections. He'll be the tournament's MOP, and the Tigers will win it all Monday, 80-74, bringing joy to Louisiana, a place where it's desperately needed -- perhaps moreso than anywhere else in this country.

State of the Pistons Address (March 30)

2006-03-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

It's great to see Lindsey back on the court again.

In a brief stretch in last night's game, the best on-the-ball defender in the NBA scored seven points in a row to help the Pistons defeat the Philly Sixers. He's my favorite Piston, and just to see him out there makes me smile -- not to mention seeing him excel.

The win sent us to a league-leading 57-14. Eleven games left, and five of them are really tough: Phoenix, Indiana, Cleveland, and Washington at home, and the Heat down in Miami.

A few days ago, I was worried. We had lost to the Nets at home. We had gone three games without scoring more than 82 points. While the defense appeared to be back, the whole package was not. Now those fears have evaporated; the hunger is back.

Thank you, Dallas. The Mavs were the inspiration Tuesday night as they came to the Palace with the second-best record in the league and in need of a little payback. The Pistons had lost to them by 37 back in November, and the loss had not been forgotten. An MVP-like performance from Chaunce -- 31 points, 11 feeds, only one spill -- was beautiful to see, especially after Mr. Big Shot's shooting woes of late (5-for-20 in the previous two games).

Hate to leave it in the air like this, but I gotta go. More later.

Stan the Man

2006-03-29T12:42:00.000-05:00

Leave it to my dad to find the two brackets with the correct Final Four. (See comments).

He's a master of the Web, and also a gigantic basketball fan. Stan the Man has been to every game of every Final Four from 2000 to 2005. He even had hotel rooms for this year's Last Dance, but no tickets, so he will not be in Indy this weekend.

If either Russell or Ethan happen upon this blog entry, my word is my bond: we're headed to Indy!

Are you serious?!

2006-03-28T12:57:00.000-05:00

To my readers: I apologize for the far past due post. I've been out of town, but I have not taken my eye off of what I consider to be the greatest NCAA Tournament of all time.

Have you ever seen a collection of such exciting games on consecutive nights? I sure haven't. Show me the bracket with LSU, UCLA, Florida and George Mason (!!!) in the Final Four, and I'll take you to Indianapolis myself. Holy Patriot!

This tournament has had it all. My top five favorite moments:

(Well, six. I had to throw this one in there. Coming back from Tampa last Friday, my buds and I stopped in Atlanta to watch the 'Nova/BC game in a bar. One minute into OT, we look up and see none other than Glen "Big Baby" Davis, LSU's 315-pound center and SEC Player of the Year. He's a big man. And he wasn't even paying attention to the game.)

5. Boston College's Craig Smith -- a mediocre free throw shooter at best -- hit two free throws with his team down two to Pacific in the first round, and the four-seed Eagles went on to win in double OT.

4. Winthrop's scare of Tennessee in the first round had us all on the edge of our seats. It took a Kobe/T-Mac-like fadeaway on the baseline by Volunteer Chris Lofton to propel UT to the second round. What a shot.

3. This shot may have been even more impressive, though. Down by two, Northwestern St. guard Jermaine Wallace rebounded his teammate's miss with four seconds left, dribbled toward the 3-point line, stepped back, and with an outstretched hand directly in his face, nailed a fadeaway triple from the true corner to lift the Demons over three-seed Iowa in the first round, capping a furious rally.

2. I had never seen Tyrus Thomas play, nor had I heard his name. After his performance against Duke in the third round, he made sure I'd remember it for a long time, and I think a few NBA scouts noticed, too. Thomas had five blocks -- most of them against Dukie banger Shelden "the Landlord" Williams -- and some rabidly emphatic dunks to help the Tigers advance. Then, against Texas in the Atlanta regional final, he had three consecutive alley-oop dunks in the first half to help LSU build a lead it would relinquish, but rebuild again in OT en route to its first Final Four since 1986.

1. George Mason is headed to Indy, after a fantastic win over Connecticut in the Washington, D.C. regional final. Two comebacks occurred. First, the Patriots trailed by nine at the half, but they kept their poise and managed to pick away at the Huskies' lead throughout the second half. Then, it was UConn's turn to rally. With less than a minute to go, Marcus Williams got into the lane and made an off-balance runner, count it and the foul, to bring the Huskies within one. GM then made a FT, then missed one, setting up Denham Brown's last second bucket -- a reverse on the baseline where the ball defied gravity and remained on the rim, eventually falling in to force overtime -- and the Huskies were still breathing. Their faces were the definition of fatigue, disbelief, and dejection, though. Through three rounds, they had had to come from behind and make the clutch plays in the waning moments. It wasn't meant to be a fourth time. GM had a bit more savvy in the extra period, scoring calmly inside and making free throws, until the very end when one last free throw miss carromed off, and Denham Brown had the chance to be the hero one last time. His 3-point shot bounced off the rim and fell to the ground, though, and the Patriots were dancing to the Final Four for the first time. Connecticut's well had run dry. As the one-seed, too many close games tired them out. Had they been blowing out their opponents, they would have had a bit of gas left in the tank for this thriller.

It's awesome baby, it's awesome!

2006-03-13T14:55:00.000-05:00

Madness is here. And my dad and I are spreading the word about our ESPN bracket pool.

Here's the link. The group name and password are in the link. Set up an account and pick 'em! May the best picker win!

http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=93357&password=flywilliams

Pass the word.

(Last year's champ was my buddy Matt E. I took second. Two years ago, I won. So, traditionally, I'm good at this stuff. I usually watch the Selection Show and immediately fill out 45 brackets, getting a feel for each game, somehow, from the continual writing of "UNC" and "UConn" and "'Cuse" -- those were my three picks for champs the last three years, thank you -- and finally settling on one to use in my pool. This year, I've waited, and I'm pausing on each game thoughtfully. We'll see how I do. )

What a beat

2006-03-09T21:02:00.000-05:00

Michigan lost to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament today. As a Wolverine fan, it's frustrating.

All year long, Michigan teased its faithful by starting out hot, winning some big games at home, and returning to the Top 25 for the first time in, like, a decade.

But an ineptness for winning on the road hurt the Wolverines. So did losses to UCLA in mid-December and an inexplicable loss to Indiana last Saturday in Ann Arbor. In that game, Daniel Horton scored 34 points, but a slew of ill-advised shots and turnovers, in the waning moments of the game, lost the game.

Injuries hurt, too. With Lester Abram out indefinitely, Dion's turned ankle in crunch time versus Ohio State, and Chris Hunter's late-season knee buckle, it proved to be too much to overcome.

Still, at 18-9 before today's game, they had a shot to go dancing, to jump off the bubble. Two wins would have done it. Maybe even one. Now, it's sad to say that the bubble has popped: I think they'll be NITin' once again...

... In other sad news, the United States baseball team lost to Canada, 8-6, yesterday in the World Baseball Classic. It's acceptable to fall to the Canucks in hockey. Or curling. But not baseball. Not our American pastime. That makes me sick...

... The Pistons won, 106-101, over the Bulls last night. 'Sheed played well and scored inside (my most pressing concern of late), and I was happy to see my boy Ben Gordon post 28 in the loss. So all's well in that realm. Their next game is Saturday at Washington. At 30-30, the Wiz are a dangerous bunch -- especially with All-Star Gilbert Arenas, one of the league's best shooters (and he'll pull from anywhere across half court). Plus, the Pistons lost (in 2OT) to them earlier in the year. But I see that as fuel for redemption for the boys in red and blue. They're ready to rattle off 38 consecutive wins en route to a second championship in three years. (Yes, that means they will win the rest of their regular season games and sweep through the playoffs. Got beef?)

State of the Pistons Address (March 8)

2006-03-08T13:24:00.000-05:00

Twenty-three games to go. Five back-to-backs. Two games versus Miami. Two games versus Indiana. One game each versus Dallas and Phoenix. The most crucial part of the Pistons' regular season schedule has arrived.

Despite a 2-2 showing on their last road trip, the Pistons remain two games ahead of both San Antonio and Dallas for home court advantage throughout the playoffs. And at 48-11, they still have a chance to reach 70 wins, although I don't think that should be their focus.

To clinch home court and to be at an optimum level once the playoffs begin, the Pistons should concentrate on the following points:

1. Limit distractions.

There are no more west coast swings, so travel frenzy can no longer be an excuse for fatigue. There are no reasons for the mountainous numbers of technicals being whistled. I realize they need to have conversations with the referees, but they need to put a leash on the tempers while doing so. The game's just not as fun when you're frowning after every call.

2. Trust the bench.

It's a testament to Fip's will to win that he plays the starting five so much. But their legs must be fresh come playoff time. The minutes of Chaunce, Rip, Tay, 'Sheed and Ben all hover around 36 per game. If Flip could curtail that to just 32 per game -- that's only one or two more minutes, say, for each time they come out -- it would make a world of difference. Not only would their legs rest, the bench players would gain more confidence out on the floor. And Flip would have more freedom to experiment with different combinations out there, too. Which leads me to my next point.

3. Develop a substitution pattern.

In the playoffs, chemistry is everything. I like having Lindsey and Tony Delk at backup guards, but will they play together? Will they wreak havoc as a trapping backcourt like Lindsey did in the 2004 playoffs with Mike James as his fellow pitbull? (I think we miss James more than people realize, by the way. He was a terrific defender.) And between Mo Evans and Carlos Delfino, who plays 2 and who plays 3? I think Delfino has shown himself as an exceptional defender -- especially against guys like Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter. What about Dale Davis? Will he play solely against Shaq? Will Kelvin Cato get any minutes when he's healthy? These are all things that should not be left up in the air until mid-May. The tricky part for Flip will be experimenting while continuing to win. If he does the latter, I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be Coach of the Year.

4. Give 'Sheed more of a yellow light than a green one.

I'm hesitant to say this, just because I think 'Sheed is our most talented player. Still, he gets in those modes where he tries to shoot himself out of a slump, and it ends up hurting the team. I suggest, if he misses three 3-pointers in a row, send him to the block, and let him get his groove going there. He feeds off emotion and rhythm. Let him get those in the post, backing down, drawing fouls, frustrating defenders with his sky-high release. Not behind the arc.

5. Resurrect Big Ben.

On the last road trip, Ben averaged just 6 ppg, 10 rpg, and less than one block per game. Uncharacteristic, to say the least. I can't say he's been uncharacteristic at the free throw line, but he has been worse than normal. It's easy to find his troubles at the charity stripe comical. During the All-Star Game, he missed drew all air on one and LeBron shot him a puzzled look. Ben smiled and said, "That's what I do." His stats of late haven't been too laughable, though. He's made just 14 of his last 44 attempts.

6. Keep the starting five healthy!

Each of the starters has been on the floor for tip-off in all 59 of the team's games: the only team in the league to boast such a statistic. Knock on wood, and give kudos to the team's trainers Arnie Kander and Mike Abdenour -- without question, two Piston legends.

An ode to March

2006-03-08T00:45:00.000-05:00

March is the best month of the year. Why? Come on, now.

Oh tell me, when was the Dad of Dads, my pops, Stanley Garfield, born? March 26, thank you.

Oh tell me, when were my darling twin sisters, Tracy and Kathy, born? March 10, thank you.

Oh tell me, when was Shaq-Fu, the Big Aristotle, the Diesel, the most quotable athlete of all time, Shaquille O'Neal, born? March 6, of course.

Oh tell me, is March not the evaporation of winter into spring? Is March not the turnstile through which the chirping birds and blossoming flowers and golf season all bolt out of, racing speedily toward summer?

Oh tell me, is March not the inebriated horse that St. Patrick's Day rides in on, decked out in Celtic green, boasting arguably the greatest holiday of the year? (I'll take Thanksgiving, actually -- just because I prefer eating to drinking. But it's close.)

Oh tell me, is March not mad? Do thousands of basketball teams around the country not compete at the same time for city, district, state, conference, and national championships? Do you not recall skipping school on the first Thursday and Friday of the Big Dance to watch the most exciting basketball games to be played all year? Have you never gamecasted the No. 3 Syracuse versus No. 14 Manhattan matchup in its entirety, while at work, sitting on the edge of your seat, when you just as easily could have driven home and watched it on TV? Have you never been caught up in the madness? If your answer is no, you haven't lived.

An interesting start to my day

2006-03-05T14:58:00.000-05:00

March 5 began with a Pistons loss (after midnight here in Kzoo), but I don't really feel like getting into that. All I'll say is Kobe is good, and 'Sheed shot too much.

Anyway, at 9 a.m. this morning, I awoke to my boy Phil causing a ruckus out in the lounge. So I head out there to learn that a BAT has appeared in his room. Phil discovered it at 4 in the morning, flying around in his single, so he left his room, shut the door, and slept in the lounge. When he returned a few hours later to check on it, the bat was perched on the ceiling, motionless. We decided to wait a few more hours, just to see if it would stay in its place, and around noon, it was still there.

Then, we examined the possible means for its removal. Paper bag? Plastic bag? Trash can? Cooler! I suggested a cooler with a retractable top -- and it worked. Phil placed it on the ceiling, waited patiently, and at the first feeling of movement, he snapped the top back on so quickly, I'd never seen Big Philly Style move that fast.

The ensuing celebration was sheer pandemonium. We had captured a bat! We yelled and ran around the room, excited to have conquered the nocturnal, possibly rabid rodent. For a brief moment, we pondered using the creature as a prank, letting it go in someone's room, or simply leaving the cooler somewhere, for some innocent passerby to discover a bat inside.

Instead, we took the cooler outside, opened the top, and expected the bat to fly out, buck wild. But when we opened the top, the bat moved nay a muscle. With the poke of a stick, my boy Damon was able to provoke a high-pitched squeal, and it appeared as if the blind one was trying to use its sound to vibrate off the walls of its surroundings. After awhile, the bat rose from the cooler, flew around belligerently, and finally rested beneath a gutter atop the roof of Severn Hall.

I don't know how it got in here, or if there are more to come, but, if necessary, we are prepared to revisit our roles as bat exterminators.

That's all from the Bat Cave, for now.

State of the Pistons Address (March 4)

2006-03-04T16:51:00.000-05:00

I don't see us losing when Rip, 'Sheed and Chaunce score 20. But it almost happened.

The stingy Sonics -- behind 31 efficient points from still-sensational Ray Allen -- tested the Pistons Friday, but some clutch plays down the stretch secured a much-needed win.

Watching the game at the bar with my buds, we debated what the Pistons should have done down the stretch: Pick 'n Roll with Chaunce and 'Sheed? Rip off a curl? Tay in the post? Turned out to be a combination of the first two options, with Chaunce coming off a ballscreen and hitting Rip on the baseline off a Ben screen. With 0.2 to go, Rip hit nothing but bottom. Ballgame.

Chaunce is Mr. Big Shot, but Rip is Mr. Automatic. With a clear look at the hoop and his feet set, he rarely misses.

"I know before I get the ball if the shot is going in or not," Rip told interviewers after the game. "It's all a rhythm shot. The follow through and the shot are the easy part. It's just getting there and stopping on a dime, and being in the right place at the right time, and getting the shot off."

As the Pistons -- especially now, with 24 games left in the regular season -- each game becomes a big one for their opponent. The Pistons are the hunted; their opponent, the hunter. Naturally, that means a lot of close games. But wins are important now more than ever. The Spurs and the Mavs linger only three games back, and we need to secure home court for the duration of the playoffs.

Thus, it's important to examine who should take the shot in crunch time. I'd consider giving it to anyone of the four shooters -- Rip, Chaunce, 'Sheed, or Tay -- but I think if I were coaching, I'd draw up a play for Rip every time. He's that automatic.

Having Chaunce and 'Sheed run their pick 'n roll to begin the play is a nice distraction, but it can't be the only one. As Chaunce comes off and Rips comes corner, 'Sheed should be flaring off a subsequent Tay screen and Tay should flash to the top. That gives Chaunce four options (including his own pull), with the first of the four a pass to Rip. And then, there's always Ben cleaning up a potential miss, which is the ultimate luxury.

Up next: A bout with the Lakers in SmogTown tonight. I like the Pistons by 13, with a big game from newcomer Tony Delk (6 points, 2 assists). Kobe for 31 on 12-of-35 shooting.

State of the Pistons Address (March 2)

2006-03-02T13:29:00.000-05:00

Late in the second quarter of the Pistons' game versus Denver Wednesday, I looked over at my buddy Pat and told him this was the most exciting game I'd seen this season.

Fast-paced, above the rim, physical, and personal (Rip Hamilton and Ruben Patterson got into a little verbal altercation that could have evolved into something more). Chauncey was hitting (he finished with 27) and Rip started out hot (5 for his first 6). This game had it all.

Then, as the second half began, and the Nuggets' high-flying antics did not cease, it became more frustrating than entertaining. 'Melo, Kenyon, Ruben, and Marcus Camby were each continual recipients of artfully-placed lob passes from Andre Miller, and the Pistons had no answer. In all, Denver totaled 25 dunks -- 10 of them on alley-oop passes. Flip Saunders said there were more lob throwdowns in this game than there had been in Detroit's previous 56 games. Tayshaun Prince had never seen anything like it. And neither had I.

It'd be best to just forget this game and move onto Friday's bout in Seattle with the Sonics. After all, there is a new Piston who should be making his debut soon: Tony Delk. The former Kentucky All-American and Final Four MVP is a savvy veteran. He also has the team career high in points in one game, with 53.

Still, it's hard to believe the Pistons were so outplayed Wednesday. Maybe we can chalk it up to fatigue, or an off night; after all, they can't play at their highest level for 82 games. I still wish they could have made some adjustments to keep the Nuggets more grounded. They were flying as high as the city of Denver claims to rest above sea level.

Lenten Promises

2006-03-01T16:31:00.000-05:00

I'm Catholic, and for Lent this year I've decided to give up a few things:

1. Sweets. All sweets. From cookies to Skittles, birthday cake to M&Ms -- they're out of my diet for 40 days.

2. Pop. I don't drink it too much anyway, but that does kind of rule out my favorite cocktail for awhile.

3. Fast food. No late-night T Bell, MacD's, BK, or Wendeezy's for me.

I see these promises as challenging -- especially the fast food. I enjoy these things, but I also realize they're bad for me. I will just have to resist temptation.

Now, that being said, there are certain things that the majority of my friends see as temptations, but for me, I detest. For instance:

1. Doritos. I'll admit, they're tasty. But I once saw a TV special on Saddam Hussein where his prison guards recounted his number one request: Doritos. He ate them all the time; it became all he ate. And he became incredibly ornery if he did not have them. From that day forward, I have not eaten a single Dorito.

2. Eva Longoria, the "Desperate Housewife," and ladyfriend of my least favorite basketball player of all time, Tony Parker. The public is enamored with her, and now so is the NBA. (She recently coached a celebrity team at All-Star Weekend.)
Now, if I were to say she's an ugly looking gal , I'd be lying. But anyone who sees Tony Parker as attractive, I cannot stand. Of course, this stems from my love for the Pistons and my hatred for the Spurs. Still, other than her looks, she's got nothing going for her. She's not a good actress. She's not funny. And she's always got so much hideous makeup on, anyway. When my friends say, "Oh, Eva Longoria, she's so hot," I cringe. When a shot of her behind the Spurs' bench at the Palace flashed on the big screen last June, and many of the Pistons' faithful showered her with boos, I grinned. And it couldn't have been more smug.

3. Hot sticks. But I won't get into that.

State of the Pistons Address (Feb. 28)

2006-02-28T20:42:00.000-05:00

The Pistons continue to prove they're the best fourth quarter team in the NBA.

With just over 10 minutes to play in Monday's 84-72 win over Cleveland, the Cavs took a 67-64 lead, and that's when Detroit got serious. Two free throws from Dice, two jumpers from Mo Evans, free throws from Chaunce and 'Sheed, then three straight jumpers from Rip, and school was out. Over those last 10 minutes, Detroit outscored Cleveland 20-5 and proved that the Cavs have a little more work to do if they hope to be considered among the NBA's elite teams.

They also made an intriguing discovery. Apparently, it's possible to receive a technical foul for laughing. After Cleveland's Big Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas) knocked 'Sheed to the ground, he was called for a foul, then he was whistled for a tech. As 'Sheed proceeded to laugh and high-five his teammates, he, too was whistled for a T -- his 15th of the season. The Pistons plan on questioning the call with the league office; after all, 'Sheed is just two techs away from incurring a one-game suspension. (The suspension should start at 16, but one of his Ts from earlier in the year doesn't count, since it was for hanging on the rim.)

'Sheed also made an interesting comment following Ilgauskas's T, saying that he heard Big Z mumbling, and that he wished Darko were still around so he could translate. Mr. Rasheed must have forgotten that Big Z hails from Lithuania. Darko's from Serbia.

The boys in red and blue now embark on a three-game west coast swing. They're at Denver Wednesday, then it's a back-to-back with the lowly Sonics Friday and the always-dangerous Los Angeles Kobes Saturday.

I'd like to see big minutes from the bench on this trip, not only to solidify confidence in them, but to rest the starters as well. June will be here sooner than everyone thinks, and it'd be nice to keep the legs of the best starting five in the world as fresh as possible.