Good

Flacco said he doesn't consider the use of the Wildcat as a slap in the face.



"...I'm all for us doing things to get better but we're not going to be good if we just can't get good at the basics of what we do 90 percent of the time. We have to be good at those things or we're not going to be good no matter what. I just want to make sure that we're focusing on getting good at those things."

?

How much closer do you think Jim Schwartz is to being fired after the debacle in Pittsburgh in general and the fake field goal in particular? He was mentioned as potentially being on the hot seat before, do you think it changes now?

At least we know he's not scared.

Raise You Hand...

...if you will NOT be shocked if the Lions lose on Sunday at Pittsburgh.

These are classic Lion games. Games they are supposed to win, but nobody would be surprised if they lost. The Lions rarely win the games they are supposed to win. That's what makes them the Lions.

Quote of the Day

College basketball game of the month tonight: #1 Kentucky v #2 MSU.

"Kentucky has a bunch of freshman, Michigan State has guys that have been there FOREVER. I think there are some guys on the team that played with Magic Johnson they've been there so long."

 - Mike Greenberg on Tuesday mornings "Mike and Mike Show."


Is tonights game good for the sport? What is better: A college football game in August between #1 and #2 that could determine National Championship opportunities, or a college basketball game in November between #1 and #2 that won't mean ANYTHING at the end of the year?

Sounds Good, But Are They?

I really haven't seen the Pistons play and NBA basketball is boring in general, but it appears the Pistons are either playing well (and still losing) or have some decent talent this year. They are 2-4, but I feel they've played solid competition and aren't getting blown out. Many close loses, some on the road. They made a few moves in the summer that showed they are serious about competing again. In my opinion, I see the Pistons finishing 5th or 6th in the league and could advance to the second round.

For example: They have SIX players averaging double-digits! That sounds great, but is it? Then, they have another three players who average 20 points combined. I think that's pretty good to have too. They are averaging 102 points/game! I remember when the 2004 team could win a game 80-79. They were lucky to score 90. Then again, if you are averaging 102 points and have a 2-4 record, defense is an issue.

LIONS!!!

If the Lions DON'T win the division, will they make the playoffs? The NFC South and West look like they will or should grab two spots. That leaves just one spot for the North and East. I think Detriot has to win the division to get to the post-season.

They could go 10-6 and not make it. If they lose to Green Bay on Thanksgiving, I say they won't win the division and won't qualify for the playoffs, and could still be 10-6.

On paper, the schedule sets up great, except for tough games at Pittsburgh and Philly.


On another note, Michigan sucks.

DD on Netflix

Marvel and Netflix have announced a deal to bring five live action series to Netflix starting in 2015. The characters involved are Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones. There will also be a "The Defenders" series, presumably involving the other four characters together though that isn't completely clear from the announcement.

If you're a fan of what Marvel has been doing lately then this is great news. None of these characters would fit terribly well with the Avengers and are much better suited to the format of a series. They are all also street level characters (with a bit of an exception for Iron Fist) which won't require the kind of resources to film that the blockbuster movies (or Agents of SHIELD for that matter) do. There's also a lot of material to draw from that would make for good stories and the characters are interrelated to a degree where one show should help support another even if they aren't actually crossing over.

A quick rundown on the characters:

Daredevil: A blind guy with heightened senses who is a martial arts expert. And a lawyer. Previously portrayed in a 2003 movie by Ben Affleck.

Iron Fist: An American who is orphaned in an unnamed mountain range and finds himself in the mystical city of K'un L'un. He is adopted, taught martial arts, and gains some superpowers related to the ability to channel his chi, most notably the ability to make his fist "like unto a thing of iron." Eventually teams up with Luke Cage as the Heroes for Hire.

Luke Cage: An inmate (wrongly convicted) who volunteers to undergo a procedure that makes his skin nearly indestructible and gives him super strength. Eventually marries Jessica Jones.

Jessica Jones: A former superhero who later works as a detective and newspaper correspondent.

I've been saying (largely to myself) for a while that Daredevil and Iron Fist in particular are well-suited to the small screen treatment and could potentially make for some fantastic entertainment. If Marvel can play this right they could have something really special.

TAKE COVER!!!

I noticed on Netflix "Reservoir Dogs" is available. I was pretty sure this wasn't a movie for my wife (based on the cast and movie genre it was located in), so I started watching it by myself late last night. I had never seen one minute of the movie, nor did I know anything about it. I didn't even research it on the IMDB.

Needless to say, the first two minutes of the movie (and seeing Quentin Tarantino) told me all I needed to know...there's going to be a lot of F-bombs.

DUCK!

Just how many do you ask? Well, according to the Parents Guide to view content, there are "272 F-words." Gee, is that all? I lost count after 38 in the first 5 minutes. Did someone actually count?

I found myself wondering how this movie could EVER be on cable television. Every word starts with F. Maybe that is why I've never seen it on any regular cable channel...the editors are STILL bleeping out words. Or, they've given up trying to dub all the F-words "Die Hard 2" style. You know, "Yippee-ki-yay Mr. Falcon."

All in all, if you can get past all the expletives, the plot is pretty good. I feel asleep during the movie, so I'll finish it tonight.

Aflac Trivia Question

When is the last time the Detroit Lions were in first place in November? I don't care if they are tied with two other teams or the fact there are only four teams in the Division compared to seasons that used to have five teams. Those things are out of their control. First place, is first place!


Side Note: There are four teams in the NFC North Division. Bears, Packers, Vikings, Lions. The Bears and Packers have both suffered QB injuries this year, resulting in sitting of games. The Vikings have their QB issues. I don't want to jinx anything, but are the Lions next? If so, terrible timing.

Home WEATHER Advantage

I agree that the SEC is by far better than the Big Ten in college football. Just look at the hardware and the results of non-conference Head-to-head matchups and bowl games.

However, here's what I'd like to see: Yes, the Big Ten and SEC play each other in cute September games and meet again in bowl contests. But where do they play those games? All those games are played indoors or in weather that is above 60 degrees. Hey Alabama, why don't you come visit Ohio State in November. LSU, care to reschedule a game at Wisconsin this month? Georgia, want a piece of MSU in late November? Didn't think so.

Peyton Manning is a stud...indoors or warm temps. What is his record in New England? What is his record in January? What is success when playing outdoors in cold weather situations? Enough said.

There is a reason the Green Bay packers rarely lose at home after Oct. 31.

Put your money where your mouth is SEC and come outside like a man. Or is it too cold for you?

Thoughts on the Game

A few thoughts on yesterday's game:

-I don't think I've ever seen a team so thoroughly punish an opponent the way MSU did yesterday. That's a performance that will get them some national talk this week.

-Gardner especially looked ready to be done; he was obviously really beat up.

-Actually, I think he just got sacked again.

-And Fritz Toussaint is probably not his favorite person right now.

-Taylor Lewan doesn't have a leg to stand on complaining about dirty play. You'd think he actually had facemasks attached to his hands.

-I get why he's wearing 98, but Gardner looks stupid wearing that number.

-Speaking of looking stupid, can someone tell Hoke that "soggy fat guy" really isn't a good look on the sideline?

-Though his numbers weren't great, this was the first game where I thought Connor Cook might turn into a good quarterback.

-While MSU did pull out green pants, which I wasn't a big fan of, I'm surprised neither team had a flashy alternate helmet or something else exciting. I think it's a good thing though, because they don't really seem to fit the character of either team.

-How hard do you think the Buckeyes are rooting for the Spartans now?

-So, my prediction about the losing team feeling like they could have won the game? I don't think that's the case here.

RE: World Series - Lions - UM/MSU Game

World Series: I wasn't rooting for the Sox, but it doesn't bother me too much either that they won. They're generally pretty likeable, though Victorino really bugs me for some reason, and they deserved it. I also don't know that the Tigers would have been able to pull it off with the bullpen injuries and Cabrera's injury and seeming them lose the series to the Cardinals might have been worse that the loss to the Sox.

Lions: I heard on the radio that when the Lions got the ball at the end of the game they only had a 1% chance of winning, yet I wasn't surprised at all when they managed it. I said earlier in the season to my Dad that there was no outcome to a Lions game that could shock me. They're so talented and so inconsistent that anything is possible.

The Game: On paper MSU should win this one. The offense has improved from utterly pathetic to just very poor and the defense is legitimately good. However, they have a tendency to give up the big play, and Gardner is good at that, but you'd also think there's a good chance he throws a pick six. Whatever the outcome, I'm pretty sure the loser is going to feel like they should have come out on top.

?

Would anyone else feel a lot better if they knew David Ortiz had passed a drug test in the past week? Besides Colin Cowherd I haven't heard anyone mention this, but it seems worth considering. Sports writers like to point out how foolish "we" all were to take McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds at face value just because it was a great story in the moment. Now a 37-year-old hitter, who has been good, even great, but definitely seemed to be declining, starts performing Ruthian feats and no one is suspicious? I want it all to be true, but I've got this nagging feeling that it might not be.

World Series - Lions - UM/MSU Game

It's gotten a little easier to watch the World Series after the Tigers blew it. But, I'll stick with my personal thought: Watching Boston in the WS is like seeing your ex-girlfriend with the guy you hate the most. By the way, when Boston wins this WS, does it make the Tiger choke job hurt more? Just think, that could have been us winning the title this year!


Lions, what an unbelievable win. The HUGE Show Monday question: Where does Sunday's victory rank in Lions history? That's a great question. Some would say "no where, because it didn't mean anything." And that's just it, the Lions don't play any meaningful games, and if they do, they lose. The only meaningful games they've had are playoff games and Lambeau Field and they lose. So, if you are a franchise that doesn't win many games, let alone a come-from-behind win with 1:02 remaining, no timeouts, and needing a touchdown, then Sunday's win has to be ranked pretty high. And, it DID mean something: the difference between being 5-3 and 4-4. 5-3 is playoff bound. 4-4...forces you to go 5-3 in the second half of the season for a shot at the playoffs with a 9-7 record.

So, the fact they played a meaningful game and won in dramatic fashion has to be one of their all-time greatest wins.


Saturday's game at East Lansing: As a UM fan, I'm nervous. Very nervous. Game is at MSU. Advantage: MSU. MSU has by far the better defense. Advantage: MSU. MSU has gotten better lately. UM has the better overall offense, but MSU appears to have the better running game. Advantage: MSU. MSU is favored by 6.5 points. I'd like to have seen this game played in September and November. It would probably be two different results. All I know is the game will come down to turnovers...and Devin Gardner is a TO machine.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Just Get Me to Verlander

Boston definately played last night like it was a Game 7. They do NOT want to see JV in Boston in a Game 7. I'll still take my chances on the road with Scherzer and JV. Detroit, although it would have been spectacular to win game 5, did not have to win that game. They still have two aces up their sleeve.

"Home field advantage" probably means the most in Football and Basketball and arguably not an issue at all in Hockey. I've heard home field equals about a 3 point advantage in the NFL. I am curious what, if any, advantage there is in baseball. There's obviously some type of gain to playing at home.

So, Scherzer, just get us to Verlander!

Other Notes:
Did you know Boston Manager John Farrell last played/pitched for the Detroit Tigers (May 1996)?

This is Manager John Farrell's second stint (3rd year total) as an MLB manager. It's his first year with the Red Sox. Also, the Red Sox finished 2012 in dead last in the AL East (3rd worst record in the AL). Halfway through the season they traded half their team to the Dodgers, which helps explain why the Dodgers did well in the 2nd half of the 2012 season and why they are successful this year. Probably also explains why the Red Sox did so poorly in 2012. Boston, however, has completely turned things around in one year to finish with the best record in the entire MLB (tied with St. Louis).

Here's my point: We've certainly heard the expression "Worst to First." It happens. But how often does it happen with a new manager/coach in ANY of the "Big 4" (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL)? I realize many times when a team finishes in last place, with definately higher expectations than finishing .500, that the manager/coach usually gets fired so the next season the team will have a new manager/coach. But still, how often does THAT happen? Worst to first, with a first year manager, and not only first place, but one win from the Championship Series.

However, John Farrell didn't exactly inherit a bad team, just under-performing/motivated players. They were still good. But, he's also not playing the KC Royals, with NO playoff experience, for a chance at the World Series. He's playing the Detroit Tigers, where 75% of the team has been to the ALCS three years in a row and last years World Series! He's beating experience.

How often do you see a first year coach/manager take a last place team and beat a talented, experienced team to advance to the Championship round? Never. And not this year either!

That's why I'm sticking with the Tigers!

I Know How This Movie Ends...

...and it doesn't end well.

I'm pretty sure we've all seen this movie before:

2006 - Great year, great team, and got HOT going into the playoffs. World Series comes and they get embarrassed

2009 - Great year, choke the final 10 days, fail to make playoffs in Game 163 at Minnesota

2011 - Great year, unbelievable team, slammed by Texas in ALCS

2012 - Underachieving year until September 15 when they finally pull ahead to win Division. Get HOTT in the playoffs. World Series comes and they get embarrassed.

2013 - Basically in 1st place all year, yet never pulled away and then nearly gave it away in the final two weeks. (Were in sole possession of 1st place since July 3.) September 15 comes and they forget how to hit. Advance to ALCS and still can't hit.

I know how this movie ends.

By the way, will anyone EVER see playoff pitching like we've seen in the last four Tiger games, let alone the ALCS, again? Verlander...One ER in the last 23 IP and the Tigers are 1-2.

Is the glass half-full or half-empty? The Tigers were down 1-2 with game #4 at Detroit in a 5 game series with a hot Oakland. Tigers are down 1-2 with game #4 at Detroit in a 7 game series with a Boston team that can't hit.

!

Anyone have Dave Dombrowski's number? I'd be willing to be fat and strike out on three pitches for much less than what Prince Fielder makes.

I'm Bad Luck

I was doing homework last night during the game and would randomly come upstairs to check on the game. I'm 100% sure that every time I checked the game, the Tigers were either always batting or it was a commercial break. I am pretty sure I never saw Scherzer throw one pitch...until the 6th inning I took a homework break and the very first pitch I saw broke up the no-hitter. (I did know he had a no-hitter going, though.) The very next batter broke up the shutout.

I came upstairs in the 5th inning to help put the kids to bed and Cabrera was batting. I thought I'd watch for a second...DINGER! Fielder is up. I think I'll watch for a second...Double off the monster! Wife is now mad, so I come back later, score is 5-0 Tigers!!!

It's now the 8th inning. My wife had been asleep with the girls. I decided I would wake her up to watch the Tigers win game 2 and go up 2-0 in the series. Things got dicey so I waited until 2 outs with the bases loaded during a pitching change. She comes out...GRAND SLAM!

Detroit, MY BAD

About Last Night

Going into the ALCS, I told myself the Tigers have to win 2 out of the first 3 games. If they do that, they'll be fine. JV is dealing tomorrow in Detroit and can still accomplish that goal. But after last night, is that good enough? Now it's just greed. They HAD the game. The only positives are the Tigers get today off, play game 3 in Detroit, JV is pitching, and it's a day game. Those four things should help keep the momentum from swinging to Bean Town. If last night had happened and Detroit had to play the next night back in Boston, they'd be mentally screwed.

Hey Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter...ANY TIME NOW BOYS! Time to start showing up! Please come to Detroit!

Hey Don Kelly: Is it too much to ask you at least put wood on the ball in the 8th or 9th inning?  You've seen the closer two nights in a row and he tops out at 88 mph. Please tell me you can see that! I've made as much contact off the Boston closer (Koji Uehara) as you, zero. The only pine you are holding is the bench.

Speaking of closers, it's time for Benoit to go. Actually, that moment passed a long time ago. Why not walk David Ortiz? The worst thing he can do is hit a grand slam...AND HE DID! Look at their line-up. There's David Ortiz and everyone else is smaller than ME. Just walk him. Make ANYONE ELSE beat you. Or, don't give him ANYTHING he can hit 500 feet! Do the ol' unintentional-intentional walk. I know the bases were loaded, but there are two outs in the 8th. One more out and the runners disappear and then you only need 3 more outs in the 9th, starting from scratch with no runners on base. The game plan should have been this: "If you walk him, THAT'S OKAY." Instead, you gave him one pitch to hit; the one that goes 500 feet.