So much for Cy Young award winners being all that in the postseason. Clayton Kershaw of the LA Dodgers, a lock for another Cy Young and maybe even MVP award, started two games against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL divisional playoffs series -- and lost them both. As they say in the 'hood, the Dodgers be history this year. Outta here.
The Detroit Tigers put up three former Cy Youngers in a row against the Baltimore Orioles. None could manage to win a game. The Motowners were unceremoniously swept out of the playoffs by the O-birds.
Just a little while ago, the Washington Nationals bit the dust. They had put up the best regular season regular in the National League. Yet they got bounced by the San Fran Giants, merely a wild card team.
The LA Angels were certainly considered to be amongst the most overall talented teams -- and they ran away with the AL western division title. Then the Halos were broomed by the KC Royals, only a wild-card team themselves, that barely snuck into the playoffs.
Granted, the Orioles moving on after dispatching an overrated Tigers team is no great surprise. Baltimore's been quietly getting it done all year. And even though former manager Tony LaRussa is gone, would anybody seriously doubt, from top to bottom, the Cardinals remain the most fundamentally sound team in the major leagues? Never count out the Redbirds until it's over -- and it ain't over yet.
Yet it seems weird that between the Nats, Tigers, Dodgers, and Angels -- all division winners and projected to go far by many -- nary a one of them survived even the first round of the playoffs.
So now it's KC/Baltimore in the AL, and San Fran/St. Louis in the NL squaring off to get to the World Series.
And if anybody reading this post saw THAT coming, you need to drop whatever you're doing and head to Vegas with whatever cash you can scrape up to bet on the next playoff rounds. Because you are obviously tuned in to a wavelength far beyond the comprehension of anyone else.
My picks? I like Baltimore over KC because they're a better team. But (see previous post), the Royals have to be a sentimental favorite.
In the NL, it's an even numbered year so the Giants are supposed to go far. But who would bet against the Cardinals after they rolled the team with the highest payroll by far, including tagging their superstar pitcher with a couple losses? In situations like this, there's only one logical thing to do.
Flip a coin.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
KC Royals. An ultimate class act
After somewhat improbably sweeping the LA Angels in the American League Division Series, the KC Royals did something unheard of before -- and it's got to rank up there with the classiest acts of all time in sports.
Remember, the first two games were played in Anaheim. KC clinched on it's home turf in Game 3.
Also consider that these days, most notable pro athletes are very involved in social media. Particularly Twitter. They send out their tweets, and their throngs of tweetettes hang on their every word. Why the average John or Jane Schmuck fan would care what a star shortstop, power forward, or quarterback has to eat for breakfast has always been a mystery to yours truly -- but there are legions of those that are fascinated by being privy to such news. And the athletes certainly oblige them. Oftentimes millions have signed up waiting to hear the latest, regardless of how trivial it may be, from their sports heroes. And that's fine. To each their own.
But after the KC Royals completed their sweep of the Angels at the only game they had at home -- their players did something truly extraordinary.
After they were done partying in the clubhouse/locker room, showered up, and dressed in civvies, of course they were going to party further at a couple of their favorite watering holes around town.
But instead of this being the usual private affair with players, wives, girlfriends, and a few close friends only, they decided to invite the fans. Several KC Royals send out tweets letting the fans know exactly where they were going. Further yet, the players would pick up the tab for all who showed up to party with them.
And THAT is the coolest thing yours truly has ever heard of regarding professional athletes truly showing appreciation for their fans.
Whether or not the Royals can knock off Baltimore in the American League Championship Series remains to be seen. But no matter what the Orioles do, they'll never out-cool the Royals for what they just did.
The ultimate class act of giving back to the fans -- up close and personal.
Bravo.
Remember, the first two games were played in Anaheim. KC clinched on it's home turf in Game 3.
Also consider that these days, most notable pro athletes are very involved in social media. Particularly Twitter. They send out their tweets, and their throngs of tweetettes hang on their every word. Why the average John or Jane Schmuck fan would care what a star shortstop, power forward, or quarterback has to eat for breakfast has always been a mystery to yours truly -- but there are legions of those that are fascinated by being privy to such news. And the athletes certainly oblige them. Oftentimes millions have signed up waiting to hear the latest, regardless of how trivial it may be, from their sports heroes. And that's fine. To each their own.
But after the KC Royals completed their sweep of the Angels at the only game they had at home -- their players did something truly extraordinary.
After they were done partying in the clubhouse/locker room, showered up, and dressed in civvies, of course they were going to party further at a couple of their favorite watering holes around town.
But instead of this being the usual private affair with players, wives, girlfriends, and a few close friends only, they decided to invite the fans. Several KC Royals send out tweets letting the fans know exactly where they were going. Further yet, the players would pick up the tab for all who showed up to party with them.
And THAT is the coolest thing yours truly has ever heard of regarding professional athletes truly showing appreciation for their fans.
Whether or not the Royals can knock off Baltimore in the American League Championship Series remains to be seen. But no matter what the Orioles do, they'll never out-cool the Royals for what they just did.
The ultimate class act of giving back to the fans -- up close and personal.
Bravo.
Monday, October 6, 2014
And then there were none
Quite surprisingly to a lot of people, after 4 weeks of the NFL season, only two undefeated teams remained. Two teams wasn't so surprising -- it was who they were. The Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals.
And now there are none. The Cardinals were trashed by the Broncos. Turns out, that flappy-armed, toe-headed, chicken-necked, geezer quarterback that plays for Denver still has some serious game left in him. I think his name is Manning.
The Bengals went to New England and were also demolished. Turns out, that former 6th round draft choice QB out of Michigan for the Patriots, that still hasn't figured out how to shave, still has a trick or two up his sleeve as well. I think his name is Brady.
This is the first time in a while, and only the second time since Super Bowls started way back in 1967, that no NFL team has started out the season at least 5-0. Granted, a hot start doesn't always mean a successful ending. Lots of teams have started out the season with longer winning streaks, but never made it to the Super Bowl -- let alone win it.
To date, the 1972 Miami Dolphins were the only team to run the table, including the Super Bowl, posting a perfect 17-0 season. Yeah, the Patriots would go 18-0 thirty five years later in 2007 (due to the regular season having been lengthened from 14 to 16 games starting in 1978) , but they couldn't seal the deal -- losing to the NY Giants in the Super Bowl.
Yet Newton's laws of NFL parity physics dictate that for every team with a long winning streak -- there must be a chump taking it on the chin every week. In other words, there's been some serious losing streaks as well over the years.
Conventional wisdom has it that the first winless season in the NFL occurred in 1976, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their debut. They would go 0-14.
But that's not entirely true. The Detroit Lions had preceded them in the futility category long before.
A look back at history shows the Lions were originally called the Portsmouth Spartans, and came into existence, fittingly enough, in 1930, the beginning of the Great Depression. Coincidence?
In 1934 they would relocate and become the Detroit Lions. Eight years later, in 1942, the Lions would go 0-11 for their season. Of course in 1942 World War II was raging all over the globe. Even in their early days, it seemed the Lions were tied to some serious calamity in one way or another.
Nevertheless, the Buccaneers 1976 skunk record stood without equal until, of course, only the Lions could top that. Or out-bottom that, however one wants to look at it. Thirty two years later, in 2008, the Detroit Lions set a record that will likely never be equalled, much less broken. They went 0-16.
2008 was Calvin Johnson's first year as a Lion. One can only imagine back then. Welcome to Detroit, Megatron. Are you having fun now? Despite putting up gawdy personal stats -- six years later the poor dude has only been to one playoff game, where his team got blown out by the Saints, and now he can barely hobble around after the beatings he's taken over the years.
No doubt, Calvin will have a huge pile of money when his playing days are over after signing a long term contract that basically locks him into the Lions until he's Manning or Brady-esque. Here's hoping he can still walk when it's all over.
Johnson might well become a future Hall of Famer, if the Lions ever allow him to totally heal up so he can get back to what he once was -- no given.
But when all is said and done, also given he's contractually locked into the Lions for likely the rest of his playing career - well -- when it comes to Super Bowls for the Megatron -- see the above title of this post.
And now there are none. The Cardinals were trashed by the Broncos. Turns out, that flappy-armed, toe-headed, chicken-necked, geezer quarterback that plays for Denver still has some serious game left in him. I think his name is Manning.
The Bengals went to New England and were also demolished. Turns out, that former 6th round draft choice QB out of Michigan for the Patriots, that still hasn't figured out how to shave, still has a trick or two up his sleeve as well. I think his name is Brady.
This is the first time in a while, and only the second time since Super Bowls started way back in 1967, that no NFL team has started out the season at least 5-0. Granted, a hot start doesn't always mean a successful ending. Lots of teams have started out the season with longer winning streaks, but never made it to the Super Bowl -- let alone win it.
To date, the 1972 Miami Dolphins were the only team to run the table, including the Super Bowl, posting a perfect 17-0 season. Yeah, the Patriots would go 18-0 thirty five years later in 2007 (due to the regular season having been lengthened from 14 to 16 games starting in 1978) , but they couldn't seal the deal -- losing to the NY Giants in the Super Bowl.
Yet Newton's laws of NFL parity physics dictate that for every team with a long winning streak -- there must be a chump taking it on the chin every week. In other words, there's been some serious losing streaks as well over the years.
Conventional wisdom has it that the first winless season in the NFL occurred in 1976, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their debut. They would go 0-14.
But that's not entirely true. The Detroit Lions had preceded them in the futility category long before.
A look back at history shows the Lions were originally called the Portsmouth Spartans, and came into existence, fittingly enough, in 1930, the beginning of the Great Depression. Coincidence?
In 1934 they would relocate and become the Detroit Lions. Eight years later, in 1942, the Lions would go 0-11 for their season. Of course in 1942 World War II was raging all over the globe. Even in their early days, it seemed the Lions were tied to some serious calamity in one way or another.
Nevertheless, the Buccaneers 1976 skunk record stood without equal until, of course, only the Lions could top that. Or out-bottom that, however one wants to look at it. Thirty two years later, in 2008, the Detroit Lions set a record that will likely never be equalled, much less broken. They went 0-16.
2008 was Calvin Johnson's first year as a Lion. One can only imagine back then. Welcome to Detroit, Megatron. Are you having fun now? Despite putting up gawdy personal stats -- six years later the poor dude has only been to one playoff game, where his team got blown out by the Saints, and now he can barely hobble around after the beatings he's taken over the years.
No doubt, Calvin will have a huge pile of money when his playing days are over after signing a long term contract that basically locks him into the Lions until he's Manning or Brady-esque. Here's hoping he can still walk when it's all over.
Johnson might well become a future Hall of Famer, if the Lions ever allow him to totally heal up so he can get back to what he once was -- no given.
But when all is said and done, also given he's contractually locked into the Lions for likely the rest of his playing career - well -- when it comes to Super Bowls for the Megatron -- see the above title of this post.
You know you're in trouble when....
Your name is Connor Halliday and you play quarterback for the Washington State Cougars. After throwing for a major college record 734 passing yards against California, with no interceptions, his team still lost 60-59.
No passing slouch himself, Cal QB Jared Goff completed 47 of 53 passes for 527 yards and 5 touchdowns -- also without an interception. His team only got the win because WSU missed a chip-shot field goal at the end.
Together, this was well over 1200 yards passing in a single game. Amazing stuff for those that like typical college basketball scores on the gridiron. I'm all for offense, yuck to a boring 7-3 game, but this is ridiculous.
So who's in trouble, as the above title suggests? Just a hunch, but my first guess would be the defensive coordinators for both teams.
Hey, if the other guys are scorching your defense for 500+ or 700+ yards per game just passing, along with a couple more hundred yards rushing, then as a defensive coordinator -- you obviously don't have a clue what's going on. Either that, or your team has recruited prep studs for the offense, but is content to mine the pool of those youngsters that sell thin mint cookies and other goodies door-to-door on the defensive side of the ball. But you most definitely have a problem....
No passing slouch himself, Cal QB Jared Goff completed 47 of 53 passes for 527 yards and 5 touchdowns -- also without an interception. His team only got the win because WSU missed a chip-shot field goal at the end.
Together, this was well over 1200 yards passing in a single game. Amazing stuff for those that like typical college basketball scores on the gridiron. I'm all for offense, yuck to a boring 7-3 game, but this is ridiculous.
So who's in trouble, as the above title suggests? Just a hunch, but my first guess would be the defensive coordinators for both teams.
Hey, if the other guys are scorching your defense for 500+ or 700+ yards per game just passing, along with a couple more hundred yards rushing, then as a defensive coordinator -- you obviously don't have a clue what's going on. Either that, or your team has recruited prep studs for the offense, but is content to mine the pool of those youngsters that sell thin mint cookies and other goodies door-to-door on the defensive side of the ball. But you most definitely have a problem....
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Detroit Tigers. A worse day
So after all the hype, it's over just that fast.
After hearing since the snow melted last season that the Tigers had the best starting rotation in all of baseball.
After signing All-Star free agent Ian Kinsler to fill a much needed hole/role at second base.
After all the kudos showered on Miguel Cabrera being the best hitter in the game.
After switch-hitting Victor Martinez "protected" Cabrera in the line-up and had a great season himself.
After J. D. Martinez, merely a cast-off from the lowly Houston Astros, came to Detroit and suddenly/surprisingly started hitting the ball all over the park. This was a bonus that nobody saw coming.
After the Tigers had signed free agent closer Joe Nathan for mop up duty in the ninth inning.
After they made a last second blockbuster deal before the trade deadline to get yet ANOTHER former Cy Young winner in David Price.
After we heard the Tigers would easily run away with the AL central division title.
Yet it didn't work out that way. The Tigers didn't clinch the division title until the very last game of the regular season, barely edging out the KC Royals by a single game. During the last month of the regular season it was highly in doubt whether the Tigers would make the playoffs at all. But they did.
Then came Baltimore in the ALDS. While Detroit was busy hyping itself all year, the O-Birds had quietly put up the best record in the major leagues. Further, they did so with two of their best position players lost for the season due to injury. A third, the leading home-run hitter, was still serving a hokey "drug" suspension.
And what happened? Between Detroit's three Cy Youngers -- bang, bang, bang -- none of them could win a game when the playoffs started. Max Scherzer took a loss, as did David Price. Justin Verlander got a no-decision. The Tigers would be outscored 21-10 over the course of the three game series.
So as Dandy Don Meredith would have once said -- the lights have officially been turned out. The fat lady has sung. Even Yogi Berra would admit over is over. The once mighty Tigers, at least accordingly to the propaganda they churned out all year, pulled a Casey at the bat in Mudville when the lights got bright and the pressure was on. They done struck out.
However, losing to a better team, even if it's being unceremoniously swept, is nothing to be ashamed of. The Orioles were clearly a superior ball club and they showed it when it counted. And as bad as the Tigers and their fans likely feel right now, it could certainly be worse.
Consider what just happened to the LA Angels. They won the AL west division going away by 10 games. Talent galore as well. They just got broomed in the playoffs by the same KC Royals, a wild card team. The Washington Nationals, who put up the best regular season record in the NL, are in danger of being swept by the San Francisco Giants, yet another wild team. What the hell is going on here? Of course, it should be noted that 2014 is obviously an even numbered year. In recent times, the Giants are giants indeed in even-numbered years, but midgets in odd-numbered ones. Weird. Don't believe it? Google San Fran Giants all-time season records and see what you see.
But back to the Tigers. After all of that -- after all the hype since spring training broke and throughout the season. After pizza man Mike Ilitch coughing up the 4th highest payroll for player salaries in the major leagues. (At roughly $161 million, the Tigers trail only the Phillies at $175M and the Yanks at $209M -- neither of which even MADE the playoffs. The top financial dog is the Dodgers at $209M, and they currently have their hands full with the $107M St. Louis Cardinals, having split the first two games).
After all of that, in the course of four days, the Orioles broomed the Tigers away and Ilitch only got one home playoff game.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. But here's a suggestion for Tiger fans. When the hype starts again next year -- and it surely will -- take it with a few grains of salt. And maybe chase that with a shot of tequila every time you read or hear about how great your team is. But don't be dumb enough to go hook, line, and $10 dollar watered down beer at the stadium thinking your team is a lock. This year the Tigers wound puckering a lot of lips like the wedge of lemon typically does after the above-mentioned shots.
Cuz baseball's a funny game. Anybody can beat anybody else. Ya never know.....
After hearing since the snow melted last season that the Tigers had the best starting rotation in all of baseball.
After signing All-Star free agent Ian Kinsler to fill a much needed hole/role at second base.
After all the kudos showered on Miguel Cabrera being the best hitter in the game.
After switch-hitting Victor Martinez "protected" Cabrera in the line-up and had a great season himself.
After J. D. Martinez, merely a cast-off from the lowly Houston Astros, came to Detroit and suddenly/surprisingly started hitting the ball all over the park. This was a bonus that nobody saw coming.
After the Tigers had signed free agent closer Joe Nathan for mop up duty in the ninth inning.
After they made a last second blockbuster deal before the trade deadline to get yet ANOTHER former Cy Young winner in David Price.
After we heard the Tigers would easily run away with the AL central division title.
Yet it didn't work out that way. The Tigers didn't clinch the division title until the very last game of the regular season, barely edging out the KC Royals by a single game. During the last month of the regular season it was highly in doubt whether the Tigers would make the playoffs at all. But they did.
Then came Baltimore in the ALDS. While Detroit was busy hyping itself all year, the O-Birds had quietly put up the best record in the major leagues. Further, they did so with two of their best position players lost for the season due to injury. A third, the leading home-run hitter, was still serving a hokey "drug" suspension.
And what happened? Between Detroit's three Cy Youngers -- bang, bang, bang -- none of them could win a game when the playoffs started. Max Scherzer took a loss, as did David Price. Justin Verlander got a no-decision. The Tigers would be outscored 21-10 over the course of the three game series.
So as Dandy Don Meredith would have once said -- the lights have officially been turned out. The fat lady has sung. Even Yogi Berra would admit over is over. The once mighty Tigers, at least accordingly to the propaganda they churned out all year, pulled a Casey at the bat in Mudville when the lights got bright and the pressure was on. They done struck out.
However, losing to a better team, even if it's being unceremoniously swept, is nothing to be ashamed of. The Orioles were clearly a superior ball club and they showed it when it counted. And as bad as the Tigers and their fans likely feel right now, it could certainly be worse.
Consider what just happened to the LA Angels. They won the AL west division going away by 10 games. Talent galore as well. They just got broomed in the playoffs by the same KC Royals, a wild card team. The Washington Nationals, who put up the best regular season record in the NL, are in danger of being swept by the San Francisco Giants, yet another wild team. What the hell is going on here? Of course, it should be noted that 2014 is obviously an even numbered year. In recent times, the Giants are giants indeed in even-numbered years, but midgets in odd-numbered ones. Weird. Don't believe it? Google San Fran Giants all-time season records and see what you see.
But back to the Tigers. After all of that -- after all the hype since spring training broke and throughout the season. After pizza man Mike Ilitch coughing up the 4th highest payroll for player salaries in the major leagues. (At roughly $161 million, the Tigers trail only the Phillies at $175M and the Yanks at $209M -- neither of which even MADE the playoffs. The top financial dog is the Dodgers at $209M, and they currently have their hands full with the $107M St. Louis Cardinals, having split the first two games).
After all of that, in the course of four days, the Orioles broomed the Tigers away and Ilitch only got one home playoff game.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. But here's a suggestion for Tiger fans. When the hype starts again next year -- and it surely will -- take it with a few grains of salt. And maybe chase that with a shot of tequila every time you read or hear about how great your team is. But don't be dumb enough to go hook, line, and $10 dollar watered down beer at the stadium thinking your team is a lock. This year the Tigers wound puckering a lot of lips like the wedge of lemon typically does after the above-mentioned shots.
Cuz baseball's a funny game. Anybody can beat anybody else. Ya never know.....
Detroit Lions. A bad day
Well, it finally happened. A jubilant coach Jim Schwartz was carried off the field on the shoulders of his equally jubilant players at Ford Field. After a rousing late comeback, his place kicker would boom a 58 yard field goal through the uprights to break a 14-14 tie and seal a win with only 4 seconds remaining in the game.
Just one problem. Schwartz doesn't work for the Lions anymore. After getting rightfully booted out of Motown, he caught on as the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. As the Lions (and their fans) hung their heads following a stinging loss to the BBs, they had salt rubbed into their collective wounds by having to watch their former head coach hoisted into the air, grinning broadly and arms raised in triumph. It was like he had just won the Super Bowl, or perhaps suddenly morphed into Madonna, Miley, or even an Elvis impersonator at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. We're talking seriously royal treatment.
Worse yet is when the Lions fired Schwartz following the 2013 season, they still owed him $12 million for two more years on his contract, which had been extended the year before by the oxymoronic "Lions' brain trust". So when he signed on with the Bills, were the Fords let off the hook for the $12 mil? Hard to say. Coaches/coordinators salaries are well-guarded secrets in the NFL. But yours truly wouldn't be a bit surprised if on top on whatever the Bills are paying him, he's still collecting $6 mil a year from the Lions this year -- and next. After all, nobody in their right mind would shun $6 mil a year for doing nothing -- only to take another job that pays in the measly hundreds of thousands.
So like it or not Lions' fans, for one day Jim Schwartz indeed got his revenge. For Jimbo, it was no doubt glorious. For the long suffering Honolulu blue and silver faithful, it was just another slap in the face.
And let's face it. Over the last half century or so, Lions' fans have been slapped in the face more than Larry, Moe and Curly were in their entire slapstick careers. Hmmm. Could the Lions' fans be the origin of the recently coined word "slappy", aka suckuh? Beats me, but it fits.
But for Schwartz to be carted off Ford Field as some sort of conquering hero is relegating the Lions and their fans to collective Rodney Dangerfields. No respect indeed.
What was comical is after the game, Ndamukong Suh said the loss merely meant the Lions weren't going to go 15-1 this season. Well. No kidding.
If Ndummy ever really thought that was a possibility, then perhaps somebody somewhere needs to slap some serious sense into the boy named Suh....
Just one problem. Schwartz doesn't work for the Lions anymore. After getting rightfully booted out of Motown, he caught on as the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. As the Lions (and their fans) hung their heads following a stinging loss to the BBs, they had salt rubbed into their collective wounds by having to watch their former head coach hoisted into the air, grinning broadly and arms raised in triumph. It was like he had just won the Super Bowl, or perhaps suddenly morphed into Madonna, Miley, or even an Elvis impersonator at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. We're talking seriously royal treatment.
Worse yet is when the Lions fired Schwartz following the 2013 season, they still owed him $12 million for two more years on his contract, which had been extended the year before by the oxymoronic "Lions' brain trust". So when he signed on with the Bills, were the Fords let off the hook for the $12 mil? Hard to say. Coaches/coordinators salaries are well-guarded secrets in the NFL. But yours truly wouldn't be a bit surprised if on top on whatever the Bills are paying him, he's still collecting $6 mil a year from the Lions this year -- and next. After all, nobody in their right mind would shun $6 mil a year for doing nothing -- only to take another job that pays in the measly hundreds of thousands.
So like it or not Lions' fans, for one day Jim Schwartz indeed got his revenge. For Jimbo, it was no doubt glorious. For the long suffering Honolulu blue and silver faithful, it was just another slap in the face.
And let's face it. Over the last half century or so, Lions' fans have been slapped in the face more than Larry, Moe and Curly were in their entire slapstick careers. Hmmm. Could the Lions' fans be the origin of the recently coined word "slappy", aka suckuh? Beats me, but it fits.
But for Schwartz to be carted off Ford Field as some sort of conquering hero is relegating the Lions and their fans to collective Rodney Dangerfields. No respect indeed.
What was comical is after the game, Ndamukong Suh said the loss merely meant the Lions weren't going to go 15-1 this season. Well. No kidding.
If Ndummy ever really thought that was a possibility, then perhaps somebody somewhere needs to slap some serious sense into the boy named Suh....
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Michigan football. Unbelievable
So the Wolverettes of UM lost another one, this time to the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Though in days of yore this would have been considered an outrage by the Maize and Blue faithful, it hardly comes as a surprise these days. After all, the 2 point margin of defeat was exactly what the wise guys in Vegas predicted on the point spread. Yet some things with the Michigan football program are so obviously out of whack, they border on the unbelievable.
First and foremost are head coach Brady Hoke and his boss, athletic director David Brandon. Forget Batman and Robin. These guys are to a major college football program what Bud and Lou, or Stan and Ollie would be to fighting crime. Unbelievable.
As mentioned previously in this space, Brandon, in his infinite wisdom, extended Hoke's contract for 7, count -em, SEVEN years after their team had just been walloped at home by Utah. That was two games after they'd been skunked 31-0 at Notre Dame. The following week, Minnesota would come to town, and thrash UM in their own Big House to reclaim the Little Brown Jug for only the second time in over two decades. Supposedly, one of the terms of that albatross, check that, pterodactyl contract was Hoke had to wear a headset so he would know what's going on with his coaches and players. He still doesn't. Unbelievable.
Hoke and Brandon were both roasted coast to coast following the Minnesota beatdown, because Hoke had allowed an obviously injured and concussed QB, one Shane Morris, to re-enter the game. The guy could barely stand up. It's not very often you see students and alumni gathering signatures and protesting on campus for the firing of their head football coach and AD. But it happened in Ann Arbor. Of course the "brain trust" got together and went into damage control mode. They had to come up with SOMETHING. So they chalked up the whole mess to a lack of communication. They swore it would be promptly fixed.
The very next week, as in yesterday, against Rutgers, Hoke STILL wasn't wearing a headset. There's confidence, there's arrogance, and there's even ignorance. But after being held up to national ridicule and disgrace for the Morris debacle, a reasonable person might conclude Brandon would demand, and Hoke would wear a headset so this Cool Hand Lukish "failure to communicate" might not rear it's ugly head again. But no. Not Brady. Evidently his idea of being a head coach is patrolling the sidelines and occasionally shouting "LET'S GO!!. In this day and age of head coaches having their hands on all the various heartbeats of a team, that goes beyond unbelievable. It's cluelessness to the infinite power. Therefore it should come as no great surprise the only teams Michigan seems capable of beating are lower division patsies at home. Against even mediocre competition they get torched.
But let's not forget where Hoke came from. Before his recent stint at UM, he racked up a yawner record of 47-50 during eight years at Ball State and San Diego State. No self-respecting college football power would normally even consider him as a new head coach. But that's where Michigan deviates from the norm. After the disastrous reign of Rich Rodriguez, UM, and Brandon in particular wanted a "by gawd" Michigan man in charge again. Turned out, before his not-so-successful tenures at Ball State and San Diego State, Hoke had been an "assistant" with the Michigan program for the previous 8 years. In Michigan football philosophy, that meant Hoke came with a pedigree. One word. Unbelievable.
The once mighty Michigan football program that used to chew up and spit out "lesser" opponents has now become cannon fodder themselves. Every school always wanted to play at Michigan, even if they knew their team would likely get blown out in the Big House. Why? Because it was a huge payday that would go a long way financing their athletic department. Nowadays, everybody wants to play Michigan for a quite different reason. Why? Because besides getting TV exposure they might not otherwise have, they're confident they can BEAT them. My oh my. How the worm has turned.
Unbelievable.
And Indiana comes to the Big House next week. That used to be a gimme game for UM. Not any more. The Hoosiers might well waltz into Ann Arbor and add yet another slap in the face to the Brady Bunch.
But Brady Hoke, with the full backing of David Brandon, will keep merrily, if cluelessly marching along to their own delusional fight song.
Which raises a couple more points about Michigan. What gives with their fight song anyway? Hail to the victors, champions of the west?
West of what? Ann Arbor's in the eastern time zone. Always has been. And before Penn State joined the Big 10 a few years back (and now Rutgers and Maryland), UM was the easternmost school in the entire conference since it WAS a conference. Hello? You'd think they could at least get THAT right.
Unbelievable......
First and foremost are head coach Brady Hoke and his boss, athletic director David Brandon. Forget Batman and Robin. These guys are to a major college football program what Bud and Lou, or Stan and Ollie would be to fighting crime. Unbelievable.
As mentioned previously in this space, Brandon, in his infinite wisdom, extended Hoke's contract for 7, count -em, SEVEN years after their team had just been walloped at home by Utah. That was two games after they'd been skunked 31-0 at Notre Dame. The following week, Minnesota would come to town, and thrash UM in their own Big House to reclaim the Little Brown Jug for only the second time in over two decades. Supposedly, one of the terms of that albatross, check that, pterodactyl contract was Hoke had to wear a headset so he would know what's going on with his coaches and players. He still doesn't. Unbelievable.
Hoke and Brandon were both roasted coast to coast following the Minnesota beatdown, because Hoke had allowed an obviously injured and concussed QB, one Shane Morris, to re-enter the game. The guy could barely stand up. It's not very often you see students and alumni gathering signatures and protesting on campus for the firing of their head football coach and AD. But it happened in Ann Arbor. Of course the "brain trust" got together and went into damage control mode. They had to come up with SOMETHING. So they chalked up the whole mess to a lack of communication. They swore it would be promptly fixed.
The very next week, as in yesterday, against Rutgers, Hoke STILL wasn't wearing a headset. There's confidence, there's arrogance, and there's even ignorance. But after being held up to national ridicule and disgrace for the Morris debacle, a reasonable person might conclude Brandon would demand, and Hoke would wear a headset so this Cool Hand Lukish "failure to communicate" might not rear it's ugly head again. But no. Not Brady. Evidently his idea of being a head coach is patrolling the sidelines and occasionally shouting "LET'S GO!!. In this day and age of head coaches having their hands on all the various heartbeats of a team, that goes beyond unbelievable. It's cluelessness to the infinite power. Therefore it should come as no great surprise the only teams Michigan seems capable of beating are lower division patsies at home. Against even mediocre competition they get torched.
But let's not forget where Hoke came from. Before his recent stint at UM, he racked up a yawner record of 47-50 during eight years at Ball State and San Diego State. No self-respecting college football power would normally even consider him as a new head coach. But that's where Michigan deviates from the norm. After the disastrous reign of Rich Rodriguez, UM, and Brandon in particular wanted a "by gawd" Michigan man in charge again. Turned out, before his not-so-successful tenures at Ball State and San Diego State, Hoke had been an "assistant" with the Michigan program for the previous 8 years. In Michigan football philosophy, that meant Hoke came with a pedigree. One word. Unbelievable.
The once mighty Michigan football program that used to chew up and spit out "lesser" opponents has now become cannon fodder themselves. Every school always wanted to play at Michigan, even if they knew their team would likely get blown out in the Big House. Why? Because it was a huge payday that would go a long way financing their athletic department. Nowadays, everybody wants to play Michigan for a quite different reason. Why? Because besides getting TV exposure they might not otherwise have, they're confident they can BEAT them. My oh my. How the worm has turned.
Unbelievable.
And Indiana comes to the Big House next week. That used to be a gimme game for UM. Not any more. The Hoosiers might well waltz into Ann Arbor and add yet another slap in the face to the Brady Bunch.
But Brady Hoke, with the full backing of David Brandon, will keep merrily, if cluelessly marching along to their own delusional fight song.
Which raises a couple more points about Michigan. What gives with their fight song anyway? Hail to the victors, champions of the west?
West of what? Ann Arbor's in the eastern time zone. Always has been. And before Penn State joined the Big 10 a few years back (and now Rutgers and Maryland), UM was the easternmost school in the entire conference since it WAS a conference. Hello? You'd think they could at least get THAT right.
Unbelievable......
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