Not that I would recommend it, but have you ever gone 110-115 MPH on an interstate? If so, that was pretty fast, right?
Not really.
How about twice as fast? Think you could handle it? Just for grins, let's assume there's another car a foot away on your left, and a third a foot away on your right doing the same speed -- say 230 MPH. Did I forget to mention you might have to ridiculously tailgate another car in front of you -- like a foot off the bumper -- while yet another one is also a foot off YOUR rear bumper, and a turn is coming up? By the way, you're not allowed to make the slightest contact with any of these cars. If you do, you'll likely crash into the wall. That's another little thing they don't have on the shoulder of the interstate. You might even get airborne. A lot of bad things can happen when you're airborne at over 200 MPH in a car. A decent analogy might be a butterfly in a tornado. It might survive, but who knows where it's going to end up? Even if you somehow managed to navigate your way through all that, I'm thinking a pit stop might be in order. No, not for new tires or more fuel, but to change your underwear, which I'm fairly certain would be, ahem, soiled.
Can't imagine? Me neither, but that's what Indy car drivers do -- over and over again, for 500 miles.
In years past, I've been to the Indy 500 a few times, but nobody knows more about this than Robbie. He's been there 26 times. I dare say Robbie would tell you TV does absolutely no justice for how fast those cars really are. The average couch tater watching it on the boob tube can't begin to appreciate what's really going on. Even when I was there, you could always pick out the "rookies", or first time spectators. After the parade and pace laps, when the cars finally got up to full speed and came around on the first "green" lap, their jaws would drop open, while their necks whipped back and forth trying to keep up with the action. It's as if their eyes were sending data to their brains that their internal processor was having a hard time computing. I honestly don't remember and perhaps Robbie doesn't either but, chances are, we did the same thing our first times there, as well. The speed is INSANE, and that's just WATCHING them. Actually being a driver in one of those cars is beyond my comprehension. Probably Robbie's too.
Dan Wheldon's recent death driving such a car has brought attention, though likely short-lived, to what these drivers do, yet he was not the first. Others have preceded him to the grave and still others have suffered horrendous injuries. Consider Alex Zanardi, a former Indy car driver. An on-track incident during the course of a race left Zanardi's car in the unenviable position of being sideways on the raceway. Another car coming up from behind at over 200 MPH "T-boned" him and basically sawed his car in half in the the blink of an eye. Problem was, Zanardi's torso wound up in one half, and his legs in the other. Somehow, miraculously, he survived that, and has since been fitted with prosthetic legs.
Why do these drivers do what they do? Fame? Fortune? The "rush"? All of the above? I don't know, but whatever it is, I stand in awe of them.
I'm not the only one. Jimmy Johnson, the 5-time reigning NASCAR champ, was recently asked about it in light of Wheldon's death. You'd probably agree JJ knows a little something about going fast in a race car.
Johnson said, "Those cars are averaging 225? I've never been 225 MPH in my LIFE, and they're AVERAGING it around an oval? There are some very brave men and women who drive those things".
So next year, on the last Sunday in May, think about checking it out. No, not on the tube. Go to Indianapolis and watch it live and up close. Tickets aren't as hard to come by as they used to be, and you'll get a whole new perspective on the real deal.
But be cool about it. Don't let your jaw drop open on the first green lap.
Robbie might be watching.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
A quickie on Ozzie Guillen
Nah motta wuh, day steel moose play da gane.
A lot of people may be outraged Matt Millen is still on the air. Be careful what you ask for. Somebody would have to replace him. How about ----
HEEEERE'S OZZIE.
Good luck with THAT.
A lot of people may be outraged Matt Millen is still on the air. Be careful what you ask for. Somebody would have to replace him. How about ----
HEEEERE'S OZZIE.
Good luck with THAT.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Dan Wheldon. R.I.P.
Indy car racing used to be a big deal. Then the powers that be got into a years long feud which basically destroyed fan interest in the sport. It's never recovered. Back in the day of the names Foyt, Unser, Andretti, Rutherford, Mears, and others, the Indy 500 was THE race. NASCAR was pretty much still a southern phenomenon. Over the years, we all know what happened. NASCAR exploded in popularity while the folks involved with CART, Champ, or IRL cars, take your pick, fell off the radar.
A couple days ago, Dan Wheldon, a Brit, died in a horrific crash in Las Vegas at the age of 33. He leaves behind his wife Susie, and two small children. One was 2 years old, and the other just a baby.
Given the fan popularity and TV ratings of various motorsports these days, many in
America may not even remember Wheldon was the reigning champion of this year's Indy 500. He'd also won it in 2005. Whether you're an Indy car fan or not, this is very impressive stuff. You just don't wake up one day and find yourself with the ability to pilot a car capable of going 240 MPH, much less be able to navigate it through heavy traffic for 500 miles, to win a race. The guys that have done this are a special breed. There's a very select few that have accomplished it more than once.
Dan Wheldon was one of them.
Not only is his untimely passing a tragedy in itself, but it's a shame how quickly he'll likely be forgotten. Like Wheldon, Dale Earnhardt died on a racetrack, but that was over a decade ago. People still talk about him to this day. Somehow that doesn't seem fair, but sadly, sports fans and human nature are what they are.
By all accounts, Dan Wheldon was not only one hell of a race car driver, but a class act, both on and off the track. A dashing young Brit, loving husband, and devoted father. He likely had his wedding ring on when he perished.
The sports world and, for that matter, the world in general, needs more people like him in it.
May he Rest In Peace.
A couple days ago, Dan Wheldon, a Brit, died in a horrific crash in Las Vegas at the age of 33. He leaves behind his wife Susie, and two small children. One was 2 years old, and the other just a baby.
Given the fan popularity and TV ratings of various motorsports these days, many in
America may not even remember Wheldon was the reigning champion of this year's Indy 500. He'd also won it in 2005. Whether you're an Indy car fan or not, this is very impressive stuff. You just don't wake up one day and find yourself with the ability to pilot a car capable of going 240 MPH, much less be able to navigate it through heavy traffic for 500 miles, to win a race. The guys that have done this are a special breed. There's a very select few that have accomplished it more than once.
Dan Wheldon was one of them.
Not only is his untimely passing a tragedy in itself, but it's a shame how quickly he'll likely be forgotten. Like Wheldon, Dale Earnhardt died on a racetrack, but that was over a decade ago. People still talk about him to this day. Somehow that doesn't seem fair, but sadly, sports fans and human nature are what they are.
By all accounts, Dan Wheldon was not only one hell of a race car driver, but a class act, both on and off the track. A dashing young Brit, loving husband, and devoted father. He likely had his wedding ring on when he perished.
The sports world and, for that matter, the world in general, needs more people like him in it.
May he Rest In Peace.
Bears/Vikings & a time warp
Thinking I could settle in with some munchies, a couple brewskis, click back and forth between the St. Louis/Milwaukee NLCS game, and Sunday night football, featuring the Vikings at the Bears -- it should have been just another night. But it wasn't.
It became apparent early on the Cards were beating the Brewers back into the windmill age of grinding grain to make their product, so I zeroed in on the football game. Besides, why is it that when one game goes to a commercial and you click over to the other, they have commercials at the same time? It's one of those massive left or right wing conspiracies, I tell ya, but I digress.
Watching the Vikings/Bears was like stepping through a time warp into another dimension. Everything was backwards. Consider:
Up until this game, the Bears offensive line had resembled a screen door on a submarine. Poor Jay Cutler was getting hammered every time he tried to pass. (If you're one of those people that think he isn't tough -- you're dead wrong. Given the poundings he's taken, and keeps on getting up for more, he might be the toughest guy in the league). All of a sudden Chicago's O line turned into Fort Knox. Nobody could get NEAR Cutler. Turns out he's pretty good when he has more than a microsecond to throw the ball.
This was against the Vikings D line who, previously, was arguably the best unit in the NFL. Despite that team's other shortcomings, their pass rush had been ferocious.
For this game, Rambo turned into Barney Fife on one team, and the opposite happened on the other. Very strange.
Other idle thoughts---
Devon Hester of the Bears returned yet another kickoff for a touchdown and I'm not sure he ever got touched by a Viking defender. I don't know how many kickoffs and punts he's returned for TD's, but it's a lot. Like him or not, the guy's truly amazing.
This might ruffle some feathers, but I've about had it with the pink stuff. Yes, I understand and agree breast cancer research is a noble cause, but ask yourself this -- when viewers are watching an NFL game, with macho-men trying to beat each other's brains out -- do you really think all the pink accessories players are wearing will get people up off the couch, much less sitting in the stands, to ignore the game, and break out their checkbooks or laptops to make a donation? Somehow I doubt that. The point has been made, and the NFL has surely done it's part in promoting a worthy cause, but enough is enough.
At that, there was something even more wrong. Two NFL teams that are coached by guys named Leslie and Lovey? Please. With names like that, they're BOTH supposed to lose.
But I guess I had to root for somebody, so it went to a tie-breaker.
Let's see. One team is owned by a guy named Zygi (pronounced Ziggy). The other has an owner named Virginia. Hmmm. Tough call.
Final tie-breaker? Featured running backs.
When wanting to talk to them in the huddle or on the sidelines, it's likely Hey Matt vs Yo Adrian.
That did it.
Justice prevailed in the end.
Bears 39 -- Vikings 10
It became apparent early on the Cards were beating the Brewers back into the windmill age of grinding grain to make their product, so I zeroed in on the football game. Besides, why is it that when one game goes to a commercial and you click over to the other, they have commercials at the same time? It's one of those massive left or right wing conspiracies, I tell ya, but I digress.
Watching the Vikings/Bears was like stepping through a time warp into another dimension. Everything was backwards. Consider:
Up until this game, the Bears offensive line had resembled a screen door on a submarine. Poor Jay Cutler was getting hammered every time he tried to pass. (If you're one of those people that think he isn't tough -- you're dead wrong. Given the poundings he's taken, and keeps on getting up for more, he might be the toughest guy in the league). All of a sudden Chicago's O line turned into Fort Knox. Nobody could get NEAR Cutler. Turns out he's pretty good when he has more than a microsecond to throw the ball.
This was against the Vikings D line who, previously, was arguably the best unit in the NFL. Despite that team's other shortcomings, their pass rush had been ferocious.
For this game, Rambo turned into Barney Fife on one team, and the opposite happened on the other. Very strange.
Other idle thoughts---
Devon Hester of the Bears returned yet another kickoff for a touchdown and I'm not sure he ever got touched by a Viking defender. I don't know how many kickoffs and punts he's returned for TD's, but it's a lot. Like him or not, the guy's truly amazing.
This might ruffle some feathers, but I've about had it with the pink stuff. Yes, I understand and agree breast cancer research is a noble cause, but ask yourself this -- when viewers are watching an NFL game, with macho-men trying to beat each other's brains out -- do you really think all the pink accessories players are wearing will get people up off the couch, much less sitting in the stands, to ignore the game, and break out their checkbooks or laptops to make a donation? Somehow I doubt that. The point has been made, and the NFL has surely done it's part in promoting a worthy cause, but enough is enough.
At that, there was something even more wrong. Two NFL teams that are coached by guys named Leslie and Lovey? Please. With names like that, they're BOTH supposed to lose.
But I guess I had to root for somebody, so it went to a tie-breaker.
Let's see. One team is owned by a guy named Zygi (pronounced Ziggy). The other has an owner named Virginia. Hmmm. Tough call.
Final tie-breaker? Featured running backs.
When wanting to talk to them in the huddle or on the sidelines, it's likely Hey Matt vs Yo Adrian.
That did it.
Justice prevailed in the end.
Bears 39 -- Vikings 10
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The Detroit Tigers. Outta here.
You can slice it or dice it any which way you want, but Game 6 of the ALCS was a good old-fashioned ass-whupping. As in cut your own switch and head to the woodshed. The Rangers scored 15 runs on 17 hits. Plus, they left 11 guys on base. With a few more timely hits, it could have become even more ugly.
This was an elimination game. All hands are supposed to be on deck. Instead of throwing in other pitchers, why wasn't Justin Verlander in the bullpen and ready? He's the best they have and he'd had a couple days rest. Maybe he could have come in and stifled the 3rd inning rally before things got out of control. It might have settled down the Tigers and gave them a boost of confidence. I doubt he would have dropped dead from exhaustion, and what good is it to save him for the World Series if there isn't going to BE a World Series for the Tigers? Finally, manager Jim Leyland offered up a sacrificial lamb. Brad Penny. His initials are right. BP. Batting practice.
Other thoughts Dept.
Brandon Inge got a few hits in the series. After being so bad all year that he finally got demoted to the minor leagues, will he get another 7- 8 million for that? What is it with that guy anyway? In my opinion, not counting David Beckham, he's the most overrated, overpaid athlete for his production in all of sports, but fans can't seem to get enough of him. I don't get it.
What's the deal with the Texas Rangers popping all the champage in the clubhouse? We're not talking Boonesfarm or Mad Dog here. They were breaking out the good stuff and they don't even drink it. It seems like such a waste. Didn't their mothers ever tell them there's sober people in Africa, or China, or somewhere? Besides, they did the same thing last year, then went to the World Series and got beat. So why spray all that fine bubbly around prematurely? This should be reserved for championships only. Further, I think the Commissioner should step in and make a rule. No more champagne, period. Why wouldn't beer suffice? Shake it up and open it, the result will be about the same, and it's a whole lot cheaper. His name IS Bud, right? And he used to own a club called the Brewers? Well, there you go. How about Milwaukee's Finest? Nobody I know wants to drink that stuff anyway.
Kudos to Tigers' manager Jim Leyland for saying in a post-game interview that the Rangers belong in the World Series. He knew Texas was better going in, and made no excuses when his club lost going out. No sour grapes, no whining about injuries, lucky breaks, bad calls, or anything else. A class act.
Top-to-bottom of the line-up, Texas has better hitters, a lot more speed on the base paths, outfielders with more range and better arms than the Tigers, and a vastly superior bullpen.
Even given the Rangers' physical superiority, one never knows about baseball. Strange things have been known to happen. People talk of the "baseball gods" and who they might smile or frown on.
I'm having trouble getting one of them on the phone for an official statement, but I dare say they had 2 major reasons to bounce the Tigers out of the playoffs.
Who's the President of the Rangers? A guy named Nolan Ryan. Mr. Fastball Express himself. A Hall of Famer. Who's the President of the Tigers? Dombrowski. He shuffles papers and players. If you were a baseball god, which one would you smile on?
Yet, even if all else was the same, there's one obvious reason the immortals preferred Texas over Detroit.
Tiger manager Jim Leyland stands in the dugout and mumbles. Texas manager Ron Washington does the boo-ga-loo.
Even mere mortals can appreciate that.
This was an elimination game. All hands are supposed to be on deck. Instead of throwing in other pitchers, why wasn't Justin Verlander in the bullpen and ready? He's the best they have and he'd had a couple days rest. Maybe he could have come in and stifled the 3rd inning rally before things got out of control. It might have settled down the Tigers and gave them a boost of confidence. I doubt he would have dropped dead from exhaustion, and what good is it to save him for the World Series if there isn't going to BE a World Series for the Tigers? Finally, manager Jim Leyland offered up a sacrificial lamb. Brad Penny. His initials are right. BP. Batting practice.
Other thoughts Dept.
Brandon Inge got a few hits in the series. After being so bad all year that he finally got demoted to the minor leagues, will he get another 7- 8 million for that? What is it with that guy anyway? In my opinion, not counting David Beckham, he's the most overrated, overpaid athlete for his production in all of sports, but fans can't seem to get enough of him. I don't get it.
What's the deal with the Texas Rangers popping all the champage in the clubhouse? We're not talking Boonesfarm or Mad Dog here. They were breaking out the good stuff and they don't even drink it. It seems like such a waste. Didn't their mothers ever tell them there's sober people in Africa, or China, or somewhere? Besides, they did the same thing last year, then went to the World Series and got beat. So why spray all that fine bubbly around prematurely? This should be reserved for championships only. Further, I think the Commissioner should step in and make a rule. No more champagne, period. Why wouldn't beer suffice? Shake it up and open it, the result will be about the same, and it's a whole lot cheaper. His name IS Bud, right? And he used to own a club called the Brewers? Well, there you go. How about Milwaukee's Finest? Nobody I know wants to drink that stuff anyway.
Kudos to Tigers' manager Jim Leyland for saying in a post-game interview that the Rangers belong in the World Series. He knew Texas was better going in, and made no excuses when his club lost going out. No sour grapes, no whining about injuries, lucky breaks, bad calls, or anything else. A class act.
Top-to-bottom of the line-up, Texas has better hitters, a lot more speed on the base paths, outfielders with more range and better arms than the Tigers, and a vastly superior bullpen.
Even given the Rangers' physical superiority, one never knows about baseball. Strange things have been known to happen. People talk of the "baseball gods" and who they might smile or frown on.
I'm having trouble getting one of them on the phone for an official statement, but I dare say they had 2 major reasons to bounce the Tigers out of the playoffs.
Who's the President of the Rangers? A guy named Nolan Ryan. Mr. Fastball Express himself. A Hall of Famer. Who's the President of the Tigers? Dombrowski. He shuffles papers and players. If you were a baseball god, which one would you smile on?
Yet, even if all else was the same, there's one obvious reason the immortals preferred Texas over Detroit.
Tiger manager Jim Leyland stands in the dugout and mumbles. Texas manager Ron Washington does the boo-ga-loo.
Even mere mortals can appreciate that.
Friday, October 14, 2011
It's your call. Make it.
Peter King, a senior football writer at Sports Illustrated, picked the Atlanta Falcons to defeat the San Diego Chargers 24-20 in the Super Bowl. A lot of people, including many football reporters and talking heads, seem to think PK is some sort of Nostradamus. Others think King couldn't pick his nose with a power auger. Which is it? You make the call.
Hockey fans in Philadelphia recently booed an ad on the big screen for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, because Sydney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins was one of the spokespeople. They've thrown snowballs at Santa Claus and cheered when opposing players got injured. Philly's the so-called City of Brotherly Love, but evidently only if you're one of THEIR brothers. Conversely, one could say those fans paid big bucks for those seats and can cheer or boo whoever and whatever they feel like. So which is it? You make the call.
If you've been watching the baseball playoffs on TV, you've no doubt seen the computer generated "strike zone" which shows where each pitch was. Thing is, something's wrong here. The umpires are calling balls that the computer says are strikes, and vice versa. The computer is unrelated to the angle we, the viewers, get to see. So are the umps blind or does the computer need some serious recalibrating? You make the call.
Do you believe in jinxes -- specifically the one supposedly connected with whoever's on the cover of Sports Illustrated? In the August 15th issue, Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox was the cover boy. Look what happened to THOSE guys. August 22nd saw the Nebraska Cornhuskers featured as the Big Ten's new bully. Wisconsin beat them like red-headed farmboys. September 19th featured Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. While being almost super-human during the regular season, he's been merely average since. Uh oh. The Detroit Lions are undefeated and they made the cover on October 10th. Is there really something sinister going on with the SI curse? You make the call.
The NBA is still in lockout mode with no end in sight. Owners say they need a hard salary cap so small market teams can compete. This would obviously mean lower salaries for a lot of players. On one side there's billionaires in a world we'll never comprehend, and on the other side there's multi-millionaires making obscene amounts of money for playing a game. So who's right? You make the call.
On a non-sports related note -- how proud do you think Cher is of Chastity/Chaz right about now? And what would Sonny think? You make the call.
Dammit. Just realized there's no leftovers. Pizza or Chinese?
Hmm. Looks like I have to make a call too.
Hockey fans in Philadelphia recently booed an ad on the big screen for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, because Sydney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins was one of the spokespeople. They've thrown snowballs at Santa Claus and cheered when opposing players got injured. Philly's the so-called City of Brotherly Love, but evidently only if you're one of THEIR brothers. Conversely, one could say those fans paid big bucks for those seats and can cheer or boo whoever and whatever they feel like. So which is it? You make the call.
If you've been watching the baseball playoffs on TV, you've no doubt seen the computer generated "strike zone" which shows where each pitch was. Thing is, something's wrong here. The umpires are calling balls that the computer says are strikes, and vice versa. The computer is unrelated to the angle we, the viewers, get to see. So are the umps blind or does the computer need some serious recalibrating? You make the call.
Do you believe in jinxes -- specifically the one supposedly connected with whoever's on the cover of Sports Illustrated? In the August 15th issue, Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox was the cover boy. Look what happened to THOSE guys. August 22nd saw the Nebraska Cornhuskers featured as the Big Ten's new bully. Wisconsin beat them like red-headed farmboys. September 19th featured Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. While being almost super-human during the regular season, he's been merely average since. Uh oh. The Detroit Lions are undefeated and they made the cover on October 10th. Is there really something sinister going on with the SI curse? You make the call.
The NBA is still in lockout mode with no end in sight. Owners say they need a hard salary cap so small market teams can compete. This would obviously mean lower salaries for a lot of players. On one side there's billionaires in a world we'll never comprehend, and on the other side there's multi-millionaires making obscene amounts of money for playing a game. So who's right? You make the call.
On a non-sports related note -- how proud do you think Cher is of Chastity/Chaz right about now? And what would Sonny think? You make the call.
Dammit. Just realized there's no leftovers. Pizza or Chinese?
Hmm. Looks like I have to make a call too.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Detroit Lions, the Fords, and an RV
Recently, my friend RV (not to be confused with an actual recreational vehicle, despite comparisons that may be drawn by others), posed an interesting question, in my humble opinion.
What ever happened to all the Ford bashers?
Indeed, now that the Lions finally seem to have a good team, for the first time since the Eisenhower administration -- when's the last time you heard someone mention the family that owns them?
Blaming the Fords was easy. After all, front office personnel had come and gone, as had a long line of head coaches, and I don't know how many generations of players make up over half a century of futility, but it's at least several. The only common thread seemed to be ownership. Even though nobody could ever come up with any logical reasoning to support this theory -- it had to be somebody's fault -- so the Fords took the hit from some people.
Yours truly wrote an article a few years back where I spoofed the Fords owning the Lions. It had something to do with when the Edsel automobile made it's ill-fated debut -- which just happened to be about the same time the Lions glory days ended and the downward spiral for the football team began. It was a jinx that would haunt them forever. Thing is, it was exactly that -- a spoof. I didn't really believe in that nonsense. Sometimes things just don't work out, for various reasons, over a long period of time.
Despite what happened to them this year -- remember the Boston Red Sox and the supposed Curse of the Bambino that went on for decades? That was all mumbo-jumbo. Just somewhere to put the blame when they couldn't seem to win a title. The Bosox have won 2 World Series' in the last decade. Was it a case of Mr. George Herman Ruth finally forgiving them or did it have to do with finally getting enough good pitching, hitting, and catching the right breaks at the right time? I'm voting for the latter.
Same thing with the Chicago Cubs. They've had some very good teams since they last won a title during Teddy's Roosevelt's tenure (1908), but somebody else always seemed to be just a little bit better. Did you ever hear people trashing the Cubs' ownership? Not me.
But this is about the Lions. Not that long ago guys like Martin Mathew and Tom Lewand were catching a lot of flak. Near as I can tell, Mayhew serves as an underboss of the Ford family. He's in charge of football operations. Lewand's the bookkeeper. He negotiates contracts and other business deals. Mr. Lewand well knows the meaning of the word "cap". Then there's head coach Jim Schwartz, who's seat was getting warmer and warmer up until last December when the Lions started winning.
Winning seems to solve everything. The Fords, Mayhew and Lewand never get mentioned anymore, Schwartz is suddenly a great coach, and the Lions are not only the talk of Detroit, but of the country. Everybody's sitting up and taking notice.
Was it magic? No. Did Edsel reach out from his grave and finally bless these boys? I doubt it.
Combine a strong-armed quarterback that's finally healthy, has enough experience and smarts to read defenses, can make throws on time and accurately, with a freak wide receiver, reminiscent of Randy Moss. Throw it up and he'll go get it. The offensive line isn't so hot, nor is the running game. The other receivers are decent, but not spectacular, and the tight ends seem to be hit and miss. Take away the "Megatron", one Calvin Johnson, and all of this changes in a very large and bad way for the Lions. But as long as he's there....
Toss in a ferocious defensive line. Though the line-backing corps may be average, and the secondary has some issues, the guys up front can hide a lot of those weaknesses if they're stuffing the run and have the opposing QB running for his life on pass plays.
Add a place-kicker that, despite his age, can still consistently boot the ball through the uprights from 50 yards out.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for a couple years, and guess what? Instant contender.
Yet maybe an even more sinister curse is still there. The Lions never used to have expectations. Now they do. What could be worse than raising them -- only to have them trashed?
OK, Lion's fans, be honest. Who do you think is the one team right now that is likely superior to yours? Unlike the Lions' first 5 opponents, they don't fold up their tent at halftime, but get stronger as the game goes on. They're also the defending Super Bowl champions.
And guess what division they happen to play in? I hope they're both undefeated going into the Thanksgiving day game. The Chicago Bears coming to Detroit for Monday Night Football would be a minor footnote compared to THAT scenario.
Regardless, RV was right. It was never about the Fords.
Unless, of course, something goes horribly wrong and the Lions lose the next 10 games in a row and get blown out 49-0 at Lambeau Field in the finale.
I doubt that's going to happen, and certainly hope not. I don't want to have to research that whole Edsel thing again.
What ever happened to all the Ford bashers?
Indeed, now that the Lions finally seem to have a good team, for the first time since the Eisenhower administration -- when's the last time you heard someone mention the family that owns them?
Blaming the Fords was easy. After all, front office personnel had come and gone, as had a long line of head coaches, and I don't know how many generations of players make up over half a century of futility, but it's at least several. The only common thread seemed to be ownership. Even though nobody could ever come up with any logical reasoning to support this theory -- it had to be somebody's fault -- so the Fords took the hit from some people.
Yours truly wrote an article a few years back where I spoofed the Fords owning the Lions. It had something to do with when the Edsel automobile made it's ill-fated debut -- which just happened to be about the same time the Lions glory days ended and the downward spiral for the football team began. It was a jinx that would haunt them forever. Thing is, it was exactly that -- a spoof. I didn't really believe in that nonsense. Sometimes things just don't work out, for various reasons, over a long period of time.
Despite what happened to them this year -- remember the Boston Red Sox and the supposed Curse of the Bambino that went on for decades? That was all mumbo-jumbo. Just somewhere to put the blame when they couldn't seem to win a title. The Bosox have won 2 World Series' in the last decade. Was it a case of Mr. George Herman Ruth finally forgiving them or did it have to do with finally getting enough good pitching, hitting, and catching the right breaks at the right time? I'm voting for the latter.
Same thing with the Chicago Cubs. They've had some very good teams since they last won a title during Teddy's Roosevelt's tenure (1908), but somebody else always seemed to be just a little bit better. Did you ever hear people trashing the Cubs' ownership? Not me.
But this is about the Lions. Not that long ago guys like Martin Mathew and Tom Lewand were catching a lot of flak. Near as I can tell, Mayhew serves as an underboss of the Ford family. He's in charge of football operations. Lewand's the bookkeeper. He negotiates contracts and other business deals. Mr. Lewand well knows the meaning of the word "cap". Then there's head coach Jim Schwartz, who's seat was getting warmer and warmer up until last December when the Lions started winning.
Winning seems to solve everything. The Fords, Mayhew and Lewand never get mentioned anymore, Schwartz is suddenly a great coach, and the Lions are not only the talk of Detroit, but of the country. Everybody's sitting up and taking notice.
Was it magic? No. Did Edsel reach out from his grave and finally bless these boys? I doubt it.
Combine a strong-armed quarterback that's finally healthy, has enough experience and smarts to read defenses, can make throws on time and accurately, with a freak wide receiver, reminiscent of Randy Moss. Throw it up and he'll go get it. The offensive line isn't so hot, nor is the running game. The other receivers are decent, but not spectacular, and the tight ends seem to be hit and miss. Take away the "Megatron", one Calvin Johnson, and all of this changes in a very large and bad way for the Lions. But as long as he's there....
Toss in a ferocious defensive line. Though the line-backing corps may be average, and the secondary has some issues, the guys up front can hide a lot of those weaknesses if they're stuffing the run and have the opposing QB running for his life on pass plays.
Add a place-kicker that, despite his age, can still consistently boot the ball through the uprights from 50 yards out.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for a couple years, and guess what? Instant contender.
Yet maybe an even more sinister curse is still there. The Lions never used to have expectations. Now they do. What could be worse than raising them -- only to have them trashed?
OK, Lion's fans, be honest. Who do you think is the one team right now that is likely superior to yours? Unlike the Lions' first 5 opponents, they don't fold up their tent at halftime, but get stronger as the game goes on. They're also the defending Super Bowl champions.
And guess what division they happen to play in? I hope they're both undefeated going into the Thanksgiving day game. The Chicago Bears coming to Detroit for Monday Night Football would be a minor footnote compared to THAT scenario.
Regardless, RV was right. It was never about the Fords.
Unless, of course, something goes horribly wrong and the Lions lose the next 10 games in a row and get blown out 49-0 at Lambeau Field in the finale.
I doubt that's going to happen, and certainly hope not. I don't want to have to research that whole Edsel thing again.
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