The Big House Welcomes Michigan's Rivals.

This weekend we have celebrated Thanksgiving with our families, watched our society go crazy by sleeping on the sidewalks to save money on a "door buster" deal, the Wing play the Bruins in the NHL's lame new "Thanksgiving" classic and the most normal thing about this thing will happen Saturday at the Big House, we welcome Michigan's real rival to Ann Arbor, Ohio States hairless nutz.

I hate to say it like this but this weekend, as a fan I will be celebrating the game between Michigan's real rival. Rivalries come in all shapes and sizes. Some can be over a vicious game, a brutal series, an in state rival or one that is born and bread in you from the time you are old enough to understand sports in general. A rival that is considered by some the best rivalry in all of sports. This is such a heated rivalry its been called a "ten years war"! Books have been written about it, HBO did special on it. This is Michigan's biggest and real rival.

I know the series has been one-sided as of late but with what OSU is going thru we have an idea as to why one team has dominated. On top of that Michigan went away from Big Ten football and brought in a coach that figured you didn't need to play defense in the Big Ten. Funny Michigan's record has looked the same way versus most good teams in the last few years. Thankfully the Richrod era has passed us by. Lets hope the Hoke continues to build a team that will allow Michigan to walk with swagger again.

Without another football team to root for locally (Not a Lions fan) Michigan has been my team. A winner, a team with class and team that always got the other teams best effort. The Steelers are my adopted NFL team, have been since I was small, but I can honestly say I don't understand the Steelers rivalry like I do Michigan's. That comes from putting years of heart and tears into a team. You can't just "get that" by rooting. So I understand MSU and ND's frustration when they want to make Michigan their big rival. It isn't there yet, you can't make it happen. Calling names even after winning won't make your school a bigger rival.

For the last four years, we've seen Michigan split games with Notre Dame and watched as State cleaned Michigan's clock. Sadly, that has turned many Spartan fans into what they like to proclaim Michigan is know for, false arrogance and bravado because as Spartan fans say all the time...they haven't won nothing. They beat the Wolverines and that's about it. In fact I've seen people I known rooting against Michigan losing and not really caring if the Spartans won or not. I don't know about you but I'm a pretty big football fan and want the in-state teams to do great. The Spartans 5th year senior QB added to this by saying he can walk around the rest of his life knowing he never lost to Michigan. I root for State when they aren't playing Michigan, I was pretty happy to hear Cousins say this.

Let's hope Michigan ends the streak against OSU this weekend. They need too, and with all the buzz around OSU getting Urban Meyer, I hope they get it done this year, because it seems like its back to real football for the Big Ten next year. I also hope Michigan put a big hurt on OSU for the recent beatings Big Blue has taken. I'm tired of their fans, I'm tired of them PEROID.....they are Michigan's BIGGEST RIVAL!

GO BLUE!

Stafford Receives Typical Lions Fan Response.

The position is a revolving door, the names that have come through are more generic than the shelf's of a dollar store. The Lions as a team have looked for 50 years to come up with a solid #1 guy to start, the fans have dreamed of the day when they could see a guy be an on field leader, make the throws and just do the job that every team asks of its quarterback. Detroit as a whole is also brutal on its signal callers (and goalies too) but of course after seeing some of the guys the Lions have put in uniform it can be understood. The snowball of contention is slowly gaining steam to roll over the current QB, Matt Stafford.

Only 23 starts in his career, Stafford is on pace to break most of the Lions passing records. He is second in the league in TD's, ranks in the top 10 in attempts, yards and rating. Stafford has lead his team to a 7 -3 record not even three years after this same team went 0-16. Most of all, he is staying on the field, playing the games and slowly becoming what Detroit has wanted and needed. He is doing this with a O line that needs a bit of work and until this week virtually no run game to speak of.

Why all the Stafford hate? I hear it more and more, the callers to 97.1 and 1130 are saying Stafford sucks, he needs to be replaced, he won't get the job done. Some of the national media were on that road as well after the "wind" situation in Chicago. The best was "Stafford BLOWS PUT IN HILL". How is it a city so in need of a QB, bashes their QB? How can it be a city that hasn't seen a legitimate starting QB have a guy who is 7-3 this season be asking for a career back up to take his place?

I get it! As a person who has lived in this area for all my life, I understand what is happening. Detroit is an impatient fan base, they want all the athletes to be blue collar type guys who just do the job.

If you Google "Matt Stafford Sucks" a lot of pages come up. He has two Facebook pages that allow you to join so you can tell the 200 or so others how bad you think he is. Countless other forums and questions about his skills and the "trolls" have threads that say he is no good, that the Lions should just cut him now. What do people expect a 2nd year QB to be, what do they think a QB of the Lions should be three years after losing EVERY game?

Stop being stupid! Really people, Lions fans and "trolls", You gave Joey Harrington more time than Stafford has had. You the same fan base that almost booed Mike Vernon out of town. You the same fan base that thought Scott Mitchell was the answer...Take a deep breath, and look at the bigger picture here. Putting in Hill won't make this situation better, replacing Stafford all together will set this franchise back even further. The calls for him to sit or cutting him is way to soon and an uneducated sports "FANS" uneducated view.

Stafford can make almost any throw on the field. No he isn't the most accurate passer but that was never his game. He has a HUGE arm and can make the deep throw. The team has his trust and respect, so does the coaching staff. He is tough and plays hurt (I know, I know he has missed so much time) and wants to win. His stats show this. Why the hell can't the average or even the uneducated fan accept that if the guys who make money to do this say Stafford is good, why can't you? This isn't the Matt Millen era any longer. This regime has prove they have a clue.

Lions fans, take a step back and relax a bit. Two years ago you all wanted a 7-3 record, hell 7 wins in two seasons would have been a feat. Stafford is going to be fine, he will never be Montana, Elway or Marino but he will be something fans can know that the revolving door of Lions QB's is over for a bit if he can continue to stay healthy and play within himself.

Stafford; a non typical Lions QB, getting the typical response.

Verlander wins Cy Young

If you watched the Tigers at all during this last summer you know that you witnessed one of the most impressive pitching performances any baseball fan ever witnessed. Every time Verlander took the mound it was must see TV. On Tuesday the baseball writers capped this past season with the award for pitcher, JV is now a Cy Young winner.

Really, I think this vote was a no brainer but it was almost a relief when the announcement that he was taking home the hardware almost a relief. This years incarnation of Verlander witnessed a decent start, a long win streak and a player the stopped the bleeding any time the Tigers needed a win. JV's stuff was electric, his control was like Maddox's and he could dial it up like Ryan any time he wanted to. He was must see TV for any Tiger fan or true baseball fan.

Just to hit on the highlights to break it down on how good he was: He posted his second highest total for strike outs 250, lowest WHIP .92 and 24 wins. He threw a no hitter and flirted with 2 others. The game that sealed the deal was his match up with Angles ace Weaver. When the two teams met, Weaver was probably neck and neck for a Cy Young race, when the day closed JV pulled ahead, the Tigers won and Weaver looked like a child.

This 2011 season is one I won't soon forget, its a season in which most of us who love the game seen a player take control, put his team on his back and carried them into the post season. I won't get into the MVP talk, that will be voted on in a few days the way the Tigers players award winning luck has gone, I won't hold my breath. To be honest, if JV could have won that 25th game for his last start it would have made the MVP race even juicier.

Thanks for the great season JV.

How good are the Packers?

On any given Sunday can be said every week in the NFL. I think the 2011/12 season we are witnessing a team that is far and above anyone else. Any give Sunday doesn't apply. Looking at the rest of the league, I don't think anyone can compete with the Packers. This team is just that good.

Something that gets mentioned by ESPN's crew is that last year the Packers had 15 players on the DL when they won the Super Bowl. They go on to explain that those guys on the DL didn't feel like they were a part of that win, which may be just enough to avoid that play off hangover that some Championship teams get.

Watching the game last night and hearing the pre and post game analysis makes you wonder if this team has any weaknesses? Right now as it stands, I think this team is only going to lose if they beat their self''s.

Defense - solid defense that can get after the QB and hurry the play along. They also proved last night they can shut down the running game. AP didn't do a whole bunch bunch but its hard to run when you are down by 14 in the 1st quarter. They might have the best corner in the game still. Woodson is still amazing.

WR's - They catch the ball, they are big and physical and seem to have pure chemistry when it comes to reading the hot routes.
RB's - maybe the only weakness on this team. Its not a need thou, is it? They spread the ball around so much and with such ease, running is an after thought.
QB - OH MY, what needs to be said about Rodgers? he can beat you so many ways. Him and the WR core have the back shoulder pass down. The O line gives him time to make a non rushed pass. When things break down he can beat you with his legs. He is surly going to win the MVP and might just break every record in the book. Yes its a few years past and things went bad fast but you guys all remember Rogers replaced a legend! I think he passed that test.

I guess the only question left to ponder is, how many titles can this team win?

A Dirty Team in our Backyard?

This is crazy, the first post I ever write on my blog is about a team I have almost no feelings for. I've never been a Lions fan. They have smashed my hopes just about every year of my life. This team has had only one player I've ever rooted for that played for them. Until now...

This current group of Lions gives everyone in our area a person to root for. A team with a bit of edge, which we love here in Detroit, a team that hits hard, even after the whistle and plays with a take no prisoners attitude. Sadly the rest of the league has taken notice. This isn't going over well...

Recent History -
Sadly the Lions recent history has in a way lead to the bashing this team is getting. The Lions in 2008 went 0-16 the only team to ever do so. They seen their franchise player walk away from them the day training camp started. They had a GM that felt it was his job to draft WR's who were bound to go bust and a owner base that was far to loyal. On top of this, their division sported some of the best teams in football. Leading the Lions to the doormat of the NFC Central.

This current group of Lions is going out of its way to erase the stigma attached with the Lions over the last decade and half century. Are they going to far?

A man named SUH -
We might be witnessing the arrival of a superstar to which the NFL has never really seen. A man who is stronger and faster than anyone who has ever played the position before. Suh might very well be the Shaq of the NFL, to big and to fast! From what everyone says, he is the nicest guy off the field you could meet. On the field he has a thing about him that says, "I'm going to meet your QB today and it won't be nice". I'm excited for this player, I'm happy the Lions picked Suh to play on a side of the ball where we haven't had a star since 1971. He is mean, strong and young, how good will he be when he learns? Suh and the rest of this young D get to learn from a solid coaching staff and maybe the hardest working player to ever play in the NFL, Kyle Vanden Bosch is a machine and never stops.

So with the recent history and group we have on defense, the rest of the league (including writers and media) have now witnessed whirlwind of brashness and attitude coming from a team that is tired of being stepped all over and "that team" that every team wants to play during the year. The Lions in the last few weeks haven't played well but they have sent the message to the league "we aren't going to take the crap any longer". Do they deserve respect yet? Probably not but they are telling everyone that regardless of what you thought about the Lions, that's gone. Get ready, you now have a fight on your hands and if you bring out the cheap tactics you will get it right back.

I read a column from a Chicago reporter (not sure if he watched the game, his article sure says he didn't or he doesn't know football well) who say the Lions are bully's who can't back it up. I don't see it this way, going into the game, the Bears seemed to be doing the majority of the talking and none seemed to be respectful. No matter, its adding to the rivalry that has been dormant to long. I love what this game is going to do for future games.

The Lions are young, hungry and learning how to be competitive again. Bad days are going to happen even to the best NFL teams. Are they dirty? Not sure, after all this is football and I've watch teams dance into Ford Field for years and beat the snot out of Lions. I hope the teams of the league get the message I believe is being set....the Lions are no longer the doormat!

The Beginning

It's a start

My first blog post to kick off my Detroit Sports Blog. I'm no expert, just a normal guy who grew up in Detroit, loves all things sports and is interested in having a say on the world of sports.

I love the information world, there is so much...well, info out there. The only thing lacking is the place to voice your concerns and views of the world you choose to talk about. Things I look to cover; Detroit pro sports scene, Local Colleges, Softball news and just about anything I think I want to talk about.

If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know. I hope you all enjoy.