Once upon a time earlier this season, the Detroit Tigers had a 6-2 record. The usual hope sprung eternal in Motown..
And then the wheels fell off.
Since then, they have gone a woeful 56-93, a whopping thirty seven games under .500, and not only fallen into the cellar of their own division, but are dead last in the entire American League. Oh my.
Mercifully, manager Brad Ausmus has been notified his contract will not be renewed following the 2017 regular season. This had pretty much been etched in stone months ago, but now it's official.
Thing is, the sorry plight of the Tigers is hardly the fault of Ausmus. He's a decent, upstanding guy, has the respect of his players, and for the most part has done all he could do with the talent, or lack thereof, he had available. The front office of the Tigers, in particular one Al Avila, the general manager, had sown the seeds of the crash years ago. This was accomplished by signing players to long-term contracts for obscene amounts of money, when they were clearly on the back sides of their careers. But the manager is always the fall guy. It should be Avila getting run out of town -- not Ausmus.
If the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, the dregs of the National League, can somehow find a way to win a couple more games before the season ends, the Tigers could well find themselves in the unenviable position of being the worst team in all the major leagues. Did I say "oh my"?
Despite the fact the Tigers are currently on an 8 game losing streak, and have lost a miserable 15 of the last 17, they still have one thing to shoot for.
Not losing the dreaded 100 games in a season. They need one more win in their final five games to escape even further notoriety.
One would think, given anybody can supposedly beat anybody else on any given day in major league baseball, their chances would be good.
But these are the current Tigers, far and away the most pitiful excuse for a major league team the public has seen for quite some time.
They have two more games to go @ Kansas City, then finish it up with three @ Minnesota.
The Royals are still technically in the running for a playoff spot if everything works out perfectly. They have to win out and hope the Twins stumble. Could happen. They'll play hard until and unless they're mathematically eliminated.
But if and when that happens, the Twins will likely rest a lot of their better players, including lining up their best starting pitcher for the one-game wild card showdown. This could benefit the Tigers in their last series.
They might actually avoid the dreaded 100 losses.
Then again, as bad as the Tigers are these days, they could just as easily extend their current eight game slide into thirteen and go out with one final colossal thud.
Just one win is all they need, with five chances to get it.
In my ignorant humble opinion, I'd say the odds are about 50-50.
Oh my indeed.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
Donald Trump and the anthem
You kind of have to wonder just what the man was thinking. That being the President of the United States.
I'm non-partisan, so have no dog in this fight, but am a ferocious supporter of the rights and freedoms our Founding Fathers laid out for us once upon a time.
True, I always stood for the national anthem. And respected the flag. Even said the pledge of allegiance when I was a little kid, because we were "supposed" to.
But now as an adult, I don't want to hear anybody, including the Prez, telling me I HAVE to do it. Because if so dictated to -- I will resist and do the opposite. There's a difference between President and supreme dictator. A big one.
Not that long ago, one Colin Kaepernick made big news when he took a knee during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL game he was about to participate in. Did he have a right to do so? Absolutely. The fact that he remains unemployed ever since could perhaps be considered a consequence of that action. It was his choice, and he made it.
From my point of view, it's not so much about freedom of expression, which is a guaranteed right under the Constitution, but when it is exercised. As a former shop rat at GM, we not only had to obey the laws of the land, but there were also "shop rules" to abide by. Run afoul of any of those, and one could expect to be disciplined. Anything from a verbal or written warning, to time off without pay, up to and including being fired if the offense was serious enough.
In other words, all of my constitutional rights didn't necessarily apply while I was "on the job". It was their shop, their rules, and if I didn't like it, I was certainly free to "take my talents elsewhere". Not once was I ever told what to do or not do while on my own time. Seemed fair enough.
But Kaepernick opened up a huge can of worms when he first took a knee. Agree or disagree, the NFL has long been quite the patriotic bunch. This is why you see the giant flags on the field before so many games, color guards, and the fighter jet fly-overs. His original lone action flew in the face of all that, hence the controversy began.
I don't doubt for a minute inequities and injustices abound in America. And people, CK included, have every right to protest them and demand change. But on their own time. NOT when they're "on the clock" earning millions of bucks from their employers. It's a significant difference. And it doesn't get any more "on the clock" than game days in the NFL.
Whether CK is qualified through his physical/mental abilities as a quarterback to make a roster elsewhere can be debated forever. Yes, he was once a pretty good QB. But so were a lot of other guys that went bust for various reasons.
Thing is, other owners around the league put great stock in their team's "image". There is no doubt taking CK on would be a public relations problem with a great deal of their fan bases. Sure, they want to win, but at what cost? Likely alienating half or more of their fans (and media) could come back to bite them. At best, it would be a calculated risk. If CK came to town and lifted their team into being contenders -- great. But if he crashed and burned, the owner would be getting flak from both barrels. As the season goes on, and quarterbacks go down due to the inevitable injuries, it will be interesting to see if any team takes the plunge by signing CK.
Enter Donald Trump, the President of the United States. When CK first started this, it led to a handful of other players showing their support and mimicking his actions. Hardly a stampede. It likely would have quietly run its course over a few weeks, if not for the media continuing to stir the pot and throw fuel on what was then a very small fire. Anything for a story -- right?
But now the Donald himself has jumped in with more of his incessant, ranting tweets. By thunder, quoth the Prez, those sumbitches that dare to disrespect the flag/anthem should be drawn and quartered -- or at least fired. Well then. He's certainly entitled to his opinion as well.
Yet instead of rallying the troops around the flag/anthem, it appears to have backfired in a big way.
Shortly after his comments went public, that same handful of kneeling players turned into 150 or so. And the movement appears to be growing by the day.
Further, besides players, coaches, teams, and even Commissioner Roger Goodell are pushing back. Not just in the NFL, but around the entire American sports world.
This would appear to be an argument the illustrious Prez can't possibly win. The more he rants, the worse it becomes. And hey, this was none of his business to begin with. Lord knows, he's got enough problems trying to institute his own political agenda without crossing swords with so many people in the world of sports.
Whether one agrees with his take is beside the point. I personally like to think I can see both sides of the issue. Sure, I'm all for being a patriot in my actions, but that is my choice. Tell me I HAVE to and I'll push back as well.
There comes a time when one is well advised to just leave the proverbial sleeping dogs lie. Yes, they might pee here or chew something up there, but most times they'll get over it with little harm done. It will pass.
Rile them up at your own peril.
Things will likely only get worse.
And so they have.
Regardless of the "power" of their positions, some people need to get one thing through their heads.
You can set general overall policy, but you cannot dictate how others choose to think and act. They are people too, and have every right to act according to their convictions, as long as they're within the law.
Trying to do so will blow up in your face every time.
I'm non-partisan, so have no dog in this fight, but am a ferocious supporter of the rights and freedoms our Founding Fathers laid out for us once upon a time.
True, I always stood for the national anthem. And respected the flag. Even said the pledge of allegiance when I was a little kid, because we were "supposed" to.
But now as an adult, I don't want to hear anybody, including the Prez, telling me I HAVE to do it. Because if so dictated to -- I will resist and do the opposite. There's a difference between President and supreme dictator. A big one.
Not that long ago, one Colin Kaepernick made big news when he took a knee during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL game he was about to participate in. Did he have a right to do so? Absolutely. The fact that he remains unemployed ever since could perhaps be considered a consequence of that action. It was his choice, and he made it.
From my point of view, it's not so much about freedom of expression, which is a guaranteed right under the Constitution, but when it is exercised. As a former shop rat at GM, we not only had to obey the laws of the land, but there were also "shop rules" to abide by. Run afoul of any of those, and one could expect to be disciplined. Anything from a verbal or written warning, to time off without pay, up to and including being fired if the offense was serious enough.
In other words, all of my constitutional rights didn't necessarily apply while I was "on the job". It was their shop, their rules, and if I didn't like it, I was certainly free to "take my talents elsewhere". Not once was I ever told what to do or not do while on my own time. Seemed fair enough.
But Kaepernick opened up a huge can of worms when he first took a knee. Agree or disagree, the NFL has long been quite the patriotic bunch. This is why you see the giant flags on the field before so many games, color guards, and the fighter jet fly-overs. His original lone action flew in the face of all that, hence the controversy began.
I don't doubt for a minute inequities and injustices abound in America. And people, CK included, have every right to protest them and demand change. But on their own time. NOT when they're "on the clock" earning millions of bucks from their employers. It's a significant difference. And it doesn't get any more "on the clock" than game days in the NFL.
Whether CK is qualified through his physical/mental abilities as a quarterback to make a roster elsewhere can be debated forever. Yes, he was once a pretty good QB. But so were a lot of other guys that went bust for various reasons.
Thing is, other owners around the league put great stock in their team's "image". There is no doubt taking CK on would be a public relations problem with a great deal of their fan bases. Sure, they want to win, but at what cost? Likely alienating half or more of their fans (and media) could come back to bite them. At best, it would be a calculated risk. If CK came to town and lifted their team into being contenders -- great. But if he crashed and burned, the owner would be getting flak from both barrels. As the season goes on, and quarterbacks go down due to the inevitable injuries, it will be interesting to see if any team takes the plunge by signing CK.
Enter Donald Trump, the President of the United States. When CK first started this, it led to a handful of other players showing their support and mimicking his actions. Hardly a stampede. It likely would have quietly run its course over a few weeks, if not for the media continuing to stir the pot and throw fuel on what was then a very small fire. Anything for a story -- right?
But now the Donald himself has jumped in with more of his incessant, ranting tweets. By thunder, quoth the Prez, those sumbitches that dare to disrespect the flag/anthem should be drawn and quartered -- or at least fired. Well then. He's certainly entitled to his opinion as well.
Yet instead of rallying the troops around the flag/anthem, it appears to have backfired in a big way.
Shortly after his comments went public, that same handful of kneeling players turned into 150 or so. And the movement appears to be growing by the day.
Further, besides players, coaches, teams, and even Commissioner Roger Goodell are pushing back. Not just in the NFL, but around the entire American sports world.
This would appear to be an argument the illustrious Prez can't possibly win. The more he rants, the worse it becomes. And hey, this was none of his business to begin with. Lord knows, he's got enough problems trying to institute his own political agenda without crossing swords with so many people in the world of sports.
Whether one agrees with his take is beside the point. I personally like to think I can see both sides of the issue. Sure, I'm all for being a patriot in my actions, but that is my choice. Tell me I HAVE to and I'll push back as well.
There comes a time when one is well advised to just leave the proverbial sleeping dogs lie. Yes, they might pee here or chew something up there, but most times they'll get over it with little harm done. It will pass.
Rile them up at your own peril.
Things will likely only get worse.
And so they have.
Regardless of the "power" of their positions, some people need to get one thing through their heads.
You can set general overall policy, but you cannot dictate how others choose to think and act. They are people too, and have every right to act according to their convictions, as long as they're within the law.
Trying to do so will blow up in your face every time.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Detroit takes it on the chin
It was a bad day on Brush St. For those even more ignorant than yours truly, which is to say, neanderthalish -- though I feel your pain -- Brush St. is the road that runs between Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, and Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers.
To no great surprise, the Tigers got hammered again by the Minnesota Twins. This was, mercifully, the final home game for Version A of the Detroit puddy-tats. Three more games in KC, another three in Minnesota, and manager Brad Ausmus can finally rest in peace. The torture will be over. Whew!!
Anyone who has read this blog in the past knows I used to be a Detroit Lions' fan, but kicked them to the curb the day after former running back Barry Sanders did -- almost two decades ago. He walked away from $8 million dollars -- big money at the time -- and likely the all-time NFL rushing record. But he couldn't take the losing culture any more -- and there was no help in sight. Indeed, the Lions haven't won a single playoff game since #20, a first ballot no-brainer Hall of Famer, hung up his cleats. Good enough for him -- good enough for me. See ya. I like to think we both got out with our brains semi-intact.
Yet on a glorious Sunday afternoon for a sports junkie, yours truly was doing some serious channel-surfing. The Tigers were on. Click. So were the Lions at the same time. Click. So was the Tour Championship of the PGA, with the FedEx cup at stake. Click. So was a NASCAR race in New Hampshire. Plenty of microwaveable left-overs in the fridge, a few brews, and yours truly was in hog heaven.
Mostly, I followed the golf tournament. This was like a game seven of their World Series. Justin Thomas edged out Jordan Spieth for the coveted FedEx cup and the $10 million that goes along with it. Not sure who won the race, because some heathen had the utter audacity to interrupt my nirvana by walking into the house. Well OK, it was my significant other on her way into work dropping me off even more vittles. She can be excused for such a thing, and I really didn't mean it about the heathen thing....... dear. Luv ya.
Click. What's that? The Lions beat the Falcons on the last play of the game? Get outta here. No way could they hang with those guys.
Click. Then off to yon local watering hole where the above-mentioned significant other was tending bar on the night shift. After a quicky stop at the neighborhood florist for a dozen roses. A few brownie points never hurt -- right?
Then I found out the Lions didn't win the game after all. How the hell could that be?
Turns out, before I made my final click, which was to shut off the TV, the crucial play was under review. In the end, it was determined the Lions player that had caught the winning touchdown pass had been down just inches short of the goal line. The replays clearly showed this was the correct call.
Then it got even stranger. Because only 8 seconds were left on the game clock, and because of said review, and also because the Lions had no time-outs left, by rule 10 seconds had to run off the clock.
Eight minus ten means the game is officially over. Oh my. What a way to lose.
I didn't see it, but can imagine the folks in attendance at Ford Field were somewhere between disbelief, frustrated, and apoplectic. In other words -- not happy.
It should also be noted that this watering hole is a gathering place for die-hard Lions fans to watch a big screen televising of their games. Free food at halftime, though usually not very good. The typical slop. Half priced beers after the Lions score. Thing is, that big screen is an outdated projection TV set-up, with a very fuzzy picture. But the faithful flock, forever arguably fuzzy themselves, make the pilgramage to the place whenever their beloved Version B of the Detroit felines are in action.
I stay away during those times, preferring to show up after the rowdies have finally stumbled out.
But I heard they were close to riotous when their Lions somehow managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory in the closing seconds. In other words, these locals weren't exactly happy campers either.
Ah, they'll be OK. And c'mon. What can they really expect? It's the Lions -- remember? Never ever, in all of sports, has a team been more famous, or infamous, than the Lions for leading their fans on -- only to let them down before the season ends. It's just what they do. Always have. Personally, I found it amusing. You'd think they'd learn the Lions are Murphy's Law waiting to happen, but they never do.
All in all, it was a glorious Sunday indeed. Beautiful weather outside for my yorkie boys to romp in, and plenty of stuff on the flat screen to keep dad occupied. And I've got eats for days, which the aforementioned boys always get a few bites of. Throw in the usual back scratches and belly rubs and they love dad.
As for Detroit sports -- not so good.
A bad day on Brush St. indeed.
Worse, the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons will be starting their 2017 seasons shortly too, and both are projected to be, shall we say, somewhere between so-so and terrible.
Know how to tell a sure sign of desperation?
When a team like the Detroit Lions are your best hope at being contenders, your city's in deep trouble on the professional sports front.
To no great surprise, the Tigers got hammered again by the Minnesota Twins. This was, mercifully, the final home game for Version A of the Detroit puddy-tats. Three more games in KC, another three in Minnesota, and manager Brad Ausmus can finally rest in peace. The torture will be over. Whew!!
Anyone who has read this blog in the past knows I used to be a Detroit Lions' fan, but kicked them to the curb the day after former running back Barry Sanders did -- almost two decades ago. He walked away from $8 million dollars -- big money at the time -- and likely the all-time NFL rushing record. But he couldn't take the losing culture any more -- and there was no help in sight. Indeed, the Lions haven't won a single playoff game since #20, a first ballot no-brainer Hall of Famer, hung up his cleats. Good enough for him -- good enough for me. See ya. I like to think we both got out with our brains semi-intact.
Yet on a glorious Sunday afternoon for a sports junkie, yours truly was doing some serious channel-surfing. The Tigers were on. Click. So were the Lions at the same time. Click. So was the Tour Championship of the PGA, with the FedEx cup at stake. Click. So was a NASCAR race in New Hampshire. Plenty of microwaveable left-overs in the fridge, a few brews, and yours truly was in hog heaven.
Mostly, I followed the golf tournament. This was like a game seven of their World Series. Justin Thomas edged out Jordan Spieth for the coveted FedEx cup and the $10 million that goes along with it. Not sure who won the race, because some heathen had the utter audacity to interrupt my nirvana by walking into the house. Well OK, it was my significant other on her way into work dropping me off even more vittles. She can be excused for such a thing, and I really didn't mean it about the heathen thing....... dear. Luv ya.
Click. What's that? The Lions beat the Falcons on the last play of the game? Get outta here. No way could they hang with those guys.
Click. Then off to yon local watering hole where the above-mentioned significant other was tending bar on the night shift. After a quicky stop at the neighborhood florist for a dozen roses. A few brownie points never hurt -- right?
Then I found out the Lions didn't win the game after all. How the hell could that be?
Turns out, before I made my final click, which was to shut off the TV, the crucial play was under review. In the end, it was determined the Lions player that had caught the winning touchdown pass had been down just inches short of the goal line. The replays clearly showed this was the correct call.
Then it got even stranger. Because only 8 seconds were left on the game clock, and because of said review, and also because the Lions had no time-outs left, by rule 10 seconds had to run off the clock.
Eight minus ten means the game is officially over. Oh my. What a way to lose.
I didn't see it, but can imagine the folks in attendance at Ford Field were somewhere between disbelief, frustrated, and apoplectic. In other words -- not happy.
It should also be noted that this watering hole is a gathering place for die-hard Lions fans to watch a big screen televising of their games. Free food at halftime, though usually not very good. The typical slop. Half priced beers after the Lions score. Thing is, that big screen is an outdated projection TV set-up, with a very fuzzy picture. But the faithful flock, forever arguably fuzzy themselves, make the pilgramage to the place whenever their beloved Version B of the Detroit felines are in action.
I stay away during those times, preferring to show up after the rowdies have finally stumbled out.
But I heard they were close to riotous when their Lions somehow managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory in the closing seconds. In other words, these locals weren't exactly happy campers either.
Ah, they'll be OK. And c'mon. What can they really expect? It's the Lions -- remember? Never ever, in all of sports, has a team been more famous, or infamous, than the Lions for leading their fans on -- only to let them down before the season ends. It's just what they do. Always have. Personally, I found it amusing. You'd think they'd learn the Lions are Murphy's Law waiting to happen, but they never do.
All in all, it was a glorious Sunday indeed. Beautiful weather outside for my yorkie boys to romp in, and plenty of stuff on the flat screen to keep dad occupied. And I've got eats for days, which the aforementioned boys always get a few bites of. Throw in the usual back scratches and belly rubs and they love dad.
As for Detroit sports -- not so good.
A bad day on Brush St. indeed.
Worse, the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons will be starting their 2017 seasons shortly too, and both are projected to be, shall we say, somewhere between so-so and terrible.
Know how to tell a sure sign of desperation?
When a team like the Detroit Lions are your best hope at being contenders, your city's in deep trouble on the professional sports front.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
You know you stink when.....
You're the Detroit Tigers.
If it wasn't already obvious, now even the ever-politically correct pundits are piling on. No, they won't come right out and say it like yours truly just did, but it's clear enough.
Consider the playoff chase in the American League. Houston and Cleveland are locks. Barring a monumental collapse, so is Boston. The NY Yankees appear to have all but nailed down one of the wild card spots. Yet the Tigers were mentioned regarding the second, and final wild card spot.
No, they don't have a prayer, having been eliminated long ago. Did I mention they stink?
Yet the Motown puddy-tats have a role to play. It's called patsies, whipping boys, baseball's version of the Washington Generals -- like that.
The final playoff berth is currently occupied by the Minnesota Twins. But only a few games behind lurk the LA Angels, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Texas, KC, and Seattle. They're all still theoretically in the hunt should the Twins falter.
But the usual gang of idiots, excuse me, experts, have proclaimed the Twins will indeed capture the coveted post-season spot.
Why? Because of their remaining dozen games or so, seven of them are against, yup, you guess it, the lowly Tigers. It's like these games are walk-overs -- automatic Ws.
[BTW, in the opener, the Twins pummeled the Tigers 12-1.]
Detroit has gotten so bad as to be embarrassing. If thirty games under .500 (it might be 40 before the season is over) and apparently dead set on finishing last in the American League (if not the entire majors) isn't bad enough, consider what they've put on the field in recent times.
Of their starting pitchers, NONE has more wins than losses. When the bullpen inevitably is called into action after the starter has been rocked, things get even worse. It's little exaggeration to say they're throwing batting practice to the opposing teams.
They dumped their top pitcher for "prospects", and the other half-way decent one (though he was under .500 as well) is lost for the season with arm problems. Possibly of the Tommy John variety. If so, he'll likely be lost for next year as well.
Also shipped out were their three best hitters this year. More of the dreaded prospects came in return.
They have a couple aging players that were once very good, even excellent. Alas, they've zoomed onto the back sides of their bell curves of late. These guys are grossly overpaid and underperforming to the point where no other team will touch them, even without having to give any players or prospects in return. So the Tigers are stuck with them.
Manager Brad Ausmus, who once used to spit through his teeth every five seconds or so for no apparent reason, appears to be appalled to the point where his mouth has gone dry. Poor Brad knows he's gone after this season mercifully ends. But it doesn't matter who the Tigers bring in to replace him. Short of deity -- see miracles -- a mere mortal will be inheriting the same rag-tag bunch.
Add it all up and what do you have?
Not sure, but it ain't pretty, which brings me back to the title (and first sentence) of this post. See above.
If it wasn't already obvious, now even the ever-politically correct pundits are piling on. No, they won't come right out and say it like yours truly just did, but it's clear enough.
Consider the playoff chase in the American League. Houston and Cleveland are locks. Barring a monumental collapse, so is Boston. The NY Yankees appear to have all but nailed down one of the wild card spots. Yet the Tigers were mentioned regarding the second, and final wild card spot.
No, they don't have a prayer, having been eliminated long ago. Did I mention they stink?
Yet the Motown puddy-tats have a role to play. It's called patsies, whipping boys, baseball's version of the Washington Generals -- like that.
The final playoff berth is currently occupied by the Minnesota Twins. But only a few games behind lurk the LA Angels, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Texas, KC, and Seattle. They're all still theoretically in the hunt should the Twins falter.
But the usual gang of idiots, excuse me, experts, have proclaimed the Twins will indeed capture the coveted post-season spot.
Why? Because of their remaining dozen games or so, seven of them are against, yup, you guess it, the lowly Tigers. It's like these games are walk-overs -- automatic Ws.
[BTW, in the opener, the Twins pummeled the Tigers 12-1.]
Detroit has gotten so bad as to be embarrassing. If thirty games under .500 (it might be 40 before the season is over) and apparently dead set on finishing last in the American League (if not the entire majors) isn't bad enough, consider what they've put on the field in recent times.
Of their starting pitchers, NONE has more wins than losses. When the bullpen inevitably is called into action after the starter has been rocked, things get even worse. It's little exaggeration to say they're throwing batting practice to the opposing teams.
They dumped their top pitcher for "prospects", and the other half-way decent one (though he was under .500 as well) is lost for the season with arm problems. Possibly of the Tommy John variety. If so, he'll likely be lost for next year as well.
Also shipped out were their three best hitters this year. More of the dreaded prospects came in return.
They have a couple aging players that were once very good, even excellent. Alas, they've zoomed onto the back sides of their bell curves of late. These guys are grossly overpaid and underperforming to the point where no other team will touch them, even without having to give any players or prospects in return. So the Tigers are stuck with them.
Manager Brad Ausmus, who once used to spit through his teeth every five seconds or so for no apparent reason, appears to be appalled to the point where his mouth has gone dry. Poor Brad knows he's gone after this season mercifully ends. But it doesn't matter who the Tigers bring in to replace him. Short of deity -- see miracles -- a mere mortal will be inheriting the same rag-tag bunch.
Add it all up and what do you have?
Not sure, but it ain't pretty, which brings me back to the title (and first sentence) of this post. See above.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Detroit Lions and my ex-wife
I wouldn't have found out until a bit later, while laying in bed watching the late night version of Sportscenter on ESPN, but evidently the Detroit Lions won the Monday night game over the NY Giants.
How do I know this? Because while catching up on AOL news (and playing a few games of Free Cell) a message came in. So I clicked on it.
The way the powers that be set up this blog (stuff way over my kindergarten computer head), any comment on a post, new or old, is immediately relayed to yours truly as an email. It's a pretty cool feature.
This particular message happened to come from a reader named Mach. I have no idea who Mach is, not even whether it's a man or a woman. But he/she is an occasional commenter (nemesis? LOL) and evidently a Detroit Lions fan.
Nothing wrong with that. I used to be as well. But after faithfully rooting for them for decades, not to mention going to countless games and spending a boat load of money, I'd finally had enough of their losing ways. So when Barry Sanders took a hike almost 20 years ago -- so did I.
Yes, I was there in the Silverdome when the Lions trashed the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 for their only playoff win in the Super Bowl era. I've never heard anything so loud in my life.
Thing is, I don't regret it one bit. I honestly don't know how much money I haven't spent on them in the last couple decades, but it's a lot. Also, I totally gave up rooting for them.
Yet there was Mach's message, I think trying to rub in the fact that the Lions had prevailed. He/she was doing some big time cyber-cheering.
And that's fine. To each their own.
But the truth of the matter is I really don't care about the Lions any more. Haven't for a long time.
There have been many people over the years, including my boss, sometimes known as an editor, that keep telling me I'm going to regret it when the Lions finally win a Super Bowl, because I jumped off the bandwagon.
They are wrong, if indeed that were to happen, which I still highly doubt.
To me, it would be like my ex-wife getting remarried. Sure, if it had happened just a few months, or maybe even a year or two after we split, it might have generated some form of sorrow on my part. Maybe. I honestly don't know, because it didn't happen -- at least to my knowledge.
But after a few years, let alone the ten or eleven, whatever, its now been, all such potential feelings get completely nulled out. Like the Lions, I don't like her or dislike her. They're both just out there somewhere.
What they do is absolutely no concern of mine. Over is over. Finito.
So for all Lions fans, including that pesky Mach, by all means do whatever yanks your proverbial crank. Keep rooting for them, if you wish. That's fine too. I was in that boat once myself and had a lot of good times doing so. But over the years I just couldn't take the annual frustration any more. So I walked, as mentioned above.
Were the Lions to actually win the Super Bowl, I have little doubt the city of Detroit would celebrate like it never has before. The Lions claiming the Vince Lombardi trophy would generate excitement and partying that would dwarf those seen when the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings won championships.
And maybe they will some day, perhaps even this year, though I'll believe it when I hear about it, because I don't watch them any more nowadays any more than I keep tabs on my ex.
I would wish those that "hung in there" nothing but joy.
Personally, it would be just another day to me. No biggy.
Because once and for all -- again -- I......just..... don't...... care. I did my time as a faithful soldier and then decided to move on to other things. And hey, besides the money, what's two decades of NOT being frustrated worth?
Again, no regrets whatsoever, and that won't change if the Lions do the seemingly impossible.
Do you hear me Mach/boss/world?
Oh, and thanks for the idea Mach. I was kind of stumped what to write about tonight. That worked out just fine. LOL
How do I know this? Because while catching up on AOL news (and playing a few games of Free Cell) a message came in. So I clicked on it.
The way the powers that be set up this blog (stuff way over my kindergarten computer head), any comment on a post, new or old, is immediately relayed to yours truly as an email. It's a pretty cool feature.
This particular message happened to come from a reader named Mach. I have no idea who Mach is, not even whether it's a man or a woman. But he/she is an occasional commenter (nemesis? LOL) and evidently a Detroit Lions fan.
Nothing wrong with that. I used to be as well. But after faithfully rooting for them for decades, not to mention going to countless games and spending a boat load of money, I'd finally had enough of their losing ways. So when Barry Sanders took a hike almost 20 years ago -- so did I.
Yes, I was there in the Silverdome when the Lions trashed the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 for their only playoff win in the Super Bowl era. I've never heard anything so loud in my life.
Thing is, I don't regret it one bit. I honestly don't know how much money I haven't spent on them in the last couple decades, but it's a lot. Also, I totally gave up rooting for them.
Yet there was Mach's message, I think trying to rub in the fact that the Lions had prevailed. He/she was doing some big time cyber-cheering.
And that's fine. To each their own.
But the truth of the matter is I really don't care about the Lions any more. Haven't for a long time.
There have been many people over the years, including my boss, sometimes known as an editor, that keep telling me I'm going to regret it when the Lions finally win a Super Bowl, because I jumped off the bandwagon.
They are wrong, if indeed that were to happen, which I still highly doubt.
To me, it would be like my ex-wife getting remarried. Sure, if it had happened just a few months, or maybe even a year or two after we split, it might have generated some form of sorrow on my part. Maybe. I honestly don't know, because it didn't happen -- at least to my knowledge.
But after a few years, let alone the ten or eleven, whatever, its now been, all such potential feelings get completely nulled out. Like the Lions, I don't like her or dislike her. They're both just out there somewhere.
What they do is absolutely no concern of mine. Over is over. Finito.
So for all Lions fans, including that pesky Mach, by all means do whatever yanks your proverbial crank. Keep rooting for them, if you wish. That's fine too. I was in that boat once myself and had a lot of good times doing so. But over the years I just couldn't take the annual frustration any more. So I walked, as mentioned above.
Were the Lions to actually win the Super Bowl, I have little doubt the city of Detroit would celebrate like it never has before. The Lions claiming the Vince Lombardi trophy would generate excitement and partying that would dwarf those seen when the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings won championships.
And maybe they will some day, perhaps even this year, though I'll believe it when I hear about it, because I don't watch them any more nowadays any more than I keep tabs on my ex.
I would wish those that "hung in there" nothing but joy.
Personally, it would be just another day to me. No biggy.
Because once and for all -- again -- I......just..... don't...... care. I did my time as a faithful soldier and then decided to move on to other things. And hey, besides the money, what's two decades of NOT being frustrated worth?
Again, no regrets whatsoever, and that won't change if the Lions do the seemingly impossible.
Do you hear me Mach/boss/world?
Oh, and thanks for the idea Mach. I was kind of stumped what to write about tonight. That worked out just fine. LOL
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Golovkin/Alvarez. Say what?
No, I didn't pony up the 100 bucks to watch the Mayweather/McGregor "fight" for a couple reasons.
Yes, I could have afforded it but, hey, a C-note is a C-note. That can buy a week's worth of groceries and/or a couple tanks of gas. Besides, who to root for? Both are pompous arrogant asses. The good news was -- one of them had to lose. It's goes without saying what the bad news was. We know how that turned out. And I'd like to think most would agree it was more a spectacle than a true competition between pugilists.
But the Golovkin/Alvarez fight was different. These are two world class boxers that went into the fight with a combined 86-1 record. And at a "discounted" $80 it was mighty tempting. Yet in the end yours truly didn't click on the "buy" button for this one either (though I had my finger on it for a while wavering back and forth).
Thing is, I'm so very glad I didn't, because I would have been outraged.
After all the build up and hype -- it ends in a draw?
So basically the $30 million or so generated by the paying fans one way or the other was for naught? As in nothing was accomplished? Like it never happened? Preposterous.
You just know there will have to be a re-match and the whole charade will play itself out again.
This should NOT have been allowed to happen.
Boxing and its rules are stupid enough already without having championship matches end in a tie. It's an insult -- slap in the face -- to those that traveled to watch it live or ponied up the bucks to watch it on pay-per-view.
Surely there must be a way to avoid such a thing happening again.
Speaking of obtuse, why is it that the famed "10 point must system" whereby the judges have to give the winner of each round 10 points isn't scored more realistically? OK, if a round if fairly close, score it 10-9. But if a guy gets knocked down or otherwise beaten up throughout those three minutes, they only score it 10-8. That's wrong. Depending on how lop-sided the round is, score it 10-6, 10-3, or even 10-0. What's wrong with that?
Second, we've all heard how some judges can go back at the end of the fight and change their scoring for earlier rounds. That smacks of potential corruption, so eliminate it.
Third, boxing is the only sport where nobody knows what the score is until it's all over. So post the scores on a scoreboard like every other sport does throughout the fight. The fighters, their corners, the fans both at the arena and at home will know, round by round, who's ahead and behind. Once the score is locked in by each of the ring-side judges after every round, we wouldn't have to listen to all the speculation/blather, which is usually wrong, about who's winning. It's right up there on the board for everybody to see.
[Idle thought. Some claim if a fighter knew he was hopelessly behind, he might "mail it in". Perhaps. But if a baseball team is down 10 runs in the ninth inning, they don't just walk off and forfeit. They play it out. And you never know when a spectacular rally and/or knockout might happen.]
Finally, if the totals of the judges amount to a draw after 12 rounds of boxing, do what all the teams in other sports do. Call it extra innings or overtime. In the case of boxing, a 13th round, which the judges would be prohibited from ruling as a 10-10 round. They have to pick one or the other.
End of fight and we would have a winner. Hey, championship fights used to go a full 15 rounds in the old days, so I don't want to hear about how a potential 13th round would exactly be the end of the world.
One way or the other, this "draw" stuff has got to go. Drawing is for artists, chess players, and old-time gunslingers -- not boxers.
Yes, I could have afforded it but, hey, a C-note is a C-note. That can buy a week's worth of groceries and/or a couple tanks of gas. Besides, who to root for? Both are pompous arrogant asses. The good news was -- one of them had to lose. It's goes without saying what the bad news was. We know how that turned out. And I'd like to think most would agree it was more a spectacle than a true competition between pugilists.
But the Golovkin/Alvarez fight was different. These are two world class boxers that went into the fight with a combined 86-1 record. And at a "discounted" $80 it was mighty tempting. Yet in the end yours truly didn't click on the "buy" button for this one either (though I had my finger on it for a while wavering back and forth).
Thing is, I'm so very glad I didn't, because I would have been outraged.
After all the build up and hype -- it ends in a draw?
So basically the $30 million or so generated by the paying fans one way or the other was for naught? As in nothing was accomplished? Like it never happened? Preposterous.
You just know there will have to be a re-match and the whole charade will play itself out again.
This should NOT have been allowed to happen.
Boxing and its rules are stupid enough already without having championship matches end in a tie. It's an insult -- slap in the face -- to those that traveled to watch it live or ponied up the bucks to watch it on pay-per-view.
Surely there must be a way to avoid such a thing happening again.
Speaking of obtuse, why is it that the famed "10 point must system" whereby the judges have to give the winner of each round 10 points isn't scored more realistically? OK, if a round if fairly close, score it 10-9. But if a guy gets knocked down or otherwise beaten up throughout those three minutes, they only score it 10-8. That's wrong. Depending on how lop-sided the round is, score it 10-6, 10-3, or even 10-0. What's wrong with that?
Second, we've all heard how some judges can go back at the end of the fight and change their scoring for earlier rounds. That smacks of potential corruption, so eliminate it.
Third, boxing is the only sport where nobody knows what the score is until it's all over. So post the scores on a scoreboard like every other sport does throughout the fight. The fighters, their corners, the fans both at the arena and at home will know, round by round, who's ahead and behind. Once the score is locked in by each of the ring-side judges after every round, we wouldn't have to listen to all the speculation/blather, which is usually wrong, about who's winning. It's right up there on the board for everybody to see.
[Idle thought. Some claim if a fighter knew he was hopelessly behind, he might "mail it in". Perhaps. But if a baseball team is down 10 runs in the ninth inning, they don't just walk off and forfeit. They play it out. And you never know when a spectacular rally and/or knockout might happen.]
Finally, if the totals of the judges amount to a draw after 12 rounds of boxing, do what all the teams in other sports do. Call it extra innings or overtime. In the case of boxing, a 13th round, which the judges would be prohibited from ruling as a 10-10 round. They have to pick one or the other.
End of fight and we would have a winner. Hey, championship fights used to go a full 15 rounds in the old days, so I don't want to hear about how a potential 13th round would exactly be the end of the world.
One way or the other, this "draw" stuff has got to go. Drawing is for artists, chess players, and old-time gunslingers -- not boxers.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
More idle thoughts
You can't help but laugh at some of the TV commercials these days. See one that claims the participants are "real people" -- not actors.
Well OK. But by just doing the ad -- see reading a script someone else wrote --they BECAME actors. Second, it implies actors aren't REAL people. So what are they? Cyborgs? Aliens? Cocker spaniels?
Just when you think it can't get any worse department.
It's no secret the Detroit Tigers have waved the white flag of contending and gone into full-blown rebuild mode. They've dumped their best pitcher and three best hitters.
But holy cow. They just got absolutely pounded by the last place White Sox who put up 17 runs while pounding out a whopping 25 hits, and left another dozen or so on base? If there was ever a case for the "mercy rule" being applied to Major League baseball games -- this would be it.
It's an oft-used cliche, but the Tiger pitchers, one after the other, appeared to be throwing batting practice indeed.
The Tigers have not only gone from bad to terrible, they're downright embarrassing these days.
And don't look now, but those same Chisox are only a single game behind the Motown puddy-tats for last place in the entire American League, with still a few games left to go in the current series.
Tiger manager Brad Ausmus surely knows he's gone after this season mercifully ends. He probably can't wait for it to get over.
Watching the Tigers these days is like watching a rock thrown out of a high flying plane. Down, down, down it goes, picking up speed on the way. The only thing that remains is the thud (see the conclusion of the regular season) at the end. Pitiful.
Along the same line, here's a question. How is it that Marvin Lewis continues to keep his job as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals?
Year after year they've stunk it up.
They just turned in another yawn-fest, bonehead game, at home, against the Houston Texans, who aren't very good themselves. Another loss. Like their feline cousin Tigers, the Bengals don't look like they can beat anybody either. Every facet of their game is sub-par, and that's being kind.
Lewis, and by extension his staff, are clearly clueless what to do about it.
So why, tell me why, does the Cincinnati ownership/front office (notice I won't use the phrase "brain trust", because it would be laughable) keep sticking with him?
He's proven over time, years and years, that he's WAY over his head as an NFL head coach.
It's shameful.
Of course, if the good people of Cincinnati are dumb enough to keep ponying up big bucks out of their hard-earned money to watch such a clown show at the stadium -- they should be ashamed of themselves too.
Maybe that clueless thing is contagious.
Lord knows Detroit Lions' fans have had a bad case of it for over half a century.
Well OK. But by just doing the ad -- see reading a script someone else wrote --they BECAME actors. Second, it implies actors aren't REAL people. So what are they? Cyborgs? Aliens? Cocker spaniels?
Just when you think it can't get any worse department.
It's no secret the Detroit Tigers have waved the white flag of contending and gone into full-blown rebuild mode. They've dumped their best pitcher and three best hitters.
But holy cow. They just got absolutely pounded by the last place White Sox who put up 17 runs while pounding out a whopping 25 hits, and left another dozen or so on base? If there was ever a case for the "mercy rule" being applied to Major League baseball games -- this would be it.
It's an oft-used cliche, but the Tiger pitchers, one after the other, appeared to be throwing batting practice indeed.
The Tigers have not only gone from bad to terrible, they're downright embarrassing these days.
And don't look now, but those same Chisox are only a single game behind the Motown puddy-tats for last place in the entire American League, with still a few games left to go in the current series.
Tiger manager Brad Ausmus surely knows he's gone after this season mercifully ends. He probably can't wait for it to get over.
Watching the Tigers these days is like watching a rock thrown out of a high flying plane. Down, down, down it goes, picking up speed on the way. The only thing that remains is the thud (see the conclusion of the regular season) at the end. Pitiful.
Along the same line, here's a question. How is it that Marvin Lewis continues to keep his job as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals?
Year after year they've stunk it up.
They just turned in another yawn-fest, bonehead game, at home, against the Houston Texans, who aren't very good themselves. Another loss. Like their feline cousin Tigers, the Bengals don't look like they can beat anybody either. Every facet of their game is sub-par, and that's being kind.
Lewis, and by extension his staff, are clearly clueless what to do about it.
So why, tell me why, does the Cincinnati ownership/front office (notice I won't use the phrase "brain trust", because it would be laughable) keep sticking with him?
He's proven over time, years and years, that he's WAY over his head as an NFL head coach.
It's shameful.
Of course, if the good people of Cincinnati are dumb enough to keep ponying up big bucks out of their hard-earned money to watch such a clown show at the stadium -- they should be ashamed of themselves too.
Maybe that clueless thing is contagious.
Lord knows Detroit Lions' fans have had a bad case of it for over half a century.
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