Pick of the Week

What happened to Pittsburgh this year? They started out slow, recovered in the middle, and now they're falling apart again.

I don't think that this will be their turnaround week, considering that they'll have to deal with Aaron Rodgers. Expect the defensive woes to only be maximized. I like Rodgers and the Packers in this one.

Wings show signs of return

Early on in the season, things were strange and unusual for Red Wings fans. We watched in disbelief as our Wings hovered around .500. It just didn't seem like it was happening. This was the Red Wings after all.

And yet, it looked as if the Red Wings, the most dominant team in the NHL over the last 15 years, give or take, were heading into the season as underdogs. Underdogs.

Players had gone away. Marian Hossa headed to Chicago, Jiri Hudler to Moscow. Johan Franzen remains out for a few more months with a torn ACL, while Valteri Flippula is expected back sometime after Christmas. Niklas Kronwall, Dan Cleary, Jonathan Ericsson, and Jason Williams are all injured as well.

But recent games have brought back hope. It's mainly the new faces that are providing it, too. Patrick Eaves, Jimmy Howard, and Drew Miller are just a few of the young stars that have been shining lately. Add Todd Bertuzzi's recent perfomances, and things are suddenly going very, very well.

Should Franzen, Flippula, and the other wounded Wings return, things may actually look more promising than ever. The Red Wings will have immense depth, should the young guys continue to perform well.

Even better here is the fact that, as a team now compsed of young stars, the Wings look to be in for bright future. Why, who knows? It's very possible to say that, in 5 years or so, Eaves and Flippula will be the equivalent of Datsyuk and Zetterberg; Howard the equivalent of Chris Osgood (come to think of it, Howard could be there in more like one year, the way he has been playing).

But what about now? Well, this is the Red Wings. They can overcome a rough start. They certainly have the weapons to do so. Once the injured players return, they will probably be better than they were last year. I mean, they would have most of the same guys, with extra depth, defensive improvement, and a much better goaltending situation.

For the first time all season, things are looking up in Detroit.

Extra Pick of the Week

I can't believe the lack of respect that Eli Manning and the New York Giants are getting. Even more unbelievable is how great most people think that the Philadelphia Eagles are.

Yep, you guessed it. I'm picking the Giants in this one.

Grand Shame

If only the Detroit Tigers had won that one-game playoff last year. If only they hadn't wasted so much money on Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman. If only, if only, if only.

But neither of those things happened, and now Curtis Granderson is gone. Gone, gone, gone. And what a shame.

Granderson seemed to be among the few players in sports who had a good grasp on life. When the Tigers first offered him a contract, he turned them down because he wanted to go to college and get an education. How many athletes do that today?

But that didn't matter to Mr. Illitch or Mr. Dombrowski. They went ahead and dealt him away to the New York Yankees to add pitching and build for the future. Whether it works remains to be seen.

But even if it does, it's a crying shame that this day came.

With the possible exception of Brandon Inge, Granderson was our most beloved Tiger. He sparked the team and fired up the fans. His power, speed, fielding, and smile made him an instant favorite. Not to mention all the charity work he did.

Wednesday, December 9, ought to go down as a sad, sad day in Tigers history. It will go down as the day that we lost a kind, humble man whose attitude is difficult to replace.

Alas, perhaps the greatest role model in recent sports history is gone.

Pick of the Week

Sorry, Drew, but after your Saints' narrow escape, I'm taking the Falcons to beat you guys this week. Here's to hoping that the Colts become the only undefeated team after this week!

Still Smiling, Still Perfect

Heading into the season, apparently the Indianapolis Colts were in for a weaker season. They had lost head coach Tony Dungy and wide receiver Marvin Harrison. Peyton Manning was getting older, and the defense was continuing to decline. They were finished right? The Colts were to compete, but fail to win the division due to the much-improved Houston Texans.

Funny how that sounds today, isn't it? I didn't say any of that. On the contrary, I felt that the Colts were still a great team. I'm only summarizing what I learned from Sport's Illustrated's NFL Preview. Shouldn't be a huge surprise. They also failed to see what I saw when Jay Cutler went to the Bears: As I predicted, Cutler didn't shape Chicago. Chicago shaped Cutler. But I digress.

The Colts won again on Sunday. And I'm sure Peyton flashed that old, lovable smile of his sometime after winning. The Manning smile. The one we see him flash all the time. Whether it's after the game, or in one of his funny little commercials.

It is virtually impossible to not love Peyton Manning. He is America's quarterback. Unlike many other stars, he never did anything wrong. Everything that Manning has done has been good. So we smile too. We smile when we watch him playing. We smile, sometimes laugh hysterically, when we see him performing some kind of comedic act. We smile when he throws a touchdown, unless it's against our favorite team of course. Even then, we're tempted.

Why do we love this guy? Is it the casualness of the smile, the small little grin that it is? Maybe it's the droll in his voice that makes him irresistably funny. Perhaps it's that we see in him what we don't see in virtually all of the other stars: A guy that doesn't get into trouble, doesn't lose his cool, doesn't have ridiculous celebrations following his success, and isn't afraid to poke a little fun at himself, rather than bashing someone else.

Manning deserves respect. What he has done is truly amazing. At 33, he is in what may just be his best season yet. He has a league-leading 3,685 passing yards and a 101.9 passer rating.

But even more impressive is what Peyton has done with the cards he was dealt. This isn't New Orleans, where Drew Brees can enjoy the luxury of a great offensive line and several talented wide receivers and running backs. Instead, Peyton has been forced to play with a new coach and mostly new receivers. Yes, Brees is a good quarterback. But the difference here is that New Orleans shaped Drew Brees. Peyton Manning shaped Indianapolis.

He has made names out of unknown people. Fun names, too (for some reason I can't stop saying "Pierre Garcon"). He has done so much for the team. Who would've thought that they would be 12-0 at this point, with the only other undefeated team being the New Orleans Saints, who, due mainly to luck, narrowly escaped the clutches of the oh-so-talented 3-9 Washington Redskins? Not me. As I said earlier, I thought that they would be good. But even I did not see this coming.

What makes Manning great is, well several things. But his greatest attribute is his head. The greatest quarterback ever would be one with Tom Brady's heart and Peyton Manning's head. It's amazing how great Manning is at managing the game, how he always seems to be calm and in control. I always laugh when I hear people questioning how the Colts are doing so good with a "new coach". My response is always the same. The Colts don't have a new coach. It's the same coach they've had for 12 years.

Peyton Manning.

Peyton has once again worked his way into the MVP talk, and I hope he wins it. He deserves it. I'm not sure if Peyton really cares, though. He already has 3 of them, the most of all time.

Whether he wins it or not, one thing is for sure. Peyton Manning will continue to smile, and so we will, too.

Christmas post

Bet none of you can get this one:

Who originally wrote and composed Jingle Bells and what purpose was it originally written for? (No cheating. Please just take your best guess)

Sweet, sweet tradition

Ah, I'm pleased to say that, once again, Thanksgiving brought back memories.

Traditionally, my family and I once again watched the parade in the morning. Traditionally, we headed to my aunt and uncle's house for dinner. And, traditionally, the Lions lost. Badly.

Yes! This is the sweet Thanksgiving tradition: family, football, and losing. As usual, Thanksgiving brought out the best (or worst, whichever you prefer- there's little difference when discussing the Lions) in them.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. So let's see: I'm thankful this game is still here. The Packers are thankful that they got to play the Lions. The Lions' association is thankful that the game wasn't blacked out. And Daunte Culpepper is thankful for, well, on second thought, he probably isn't thankful for much of anything football related following Stafford's unexpected start.

Frank Caliendo did his John Madden impersonation. And he picked the Lions to win. Unfortunately, the video revealed him to be eating before the game, something I would never recommend for sake of one's health.

Of course, Matthew Stafford was the highlight of the day. Not only did he ruin Daunte Culpepper's day (again), but he even brought the turnovers, something the Lions have always had a lot of.

And unlike last year, the game actually wasn't over in the first quarter. Heck, the Lions were the first ones on the board this time, and that ought to merit something.

The two ways that the Lions love to lose are either by creating some hope, only to blow the game anyway, or simply being blown out of the water. This year, like many Thanksgivings, they did both.

Look at how this fine tradition continues. And the NFL is threatening to take this game away? Psh, they'd be better off taking away the Wolverines' Ohio State game.

The tradition must go on, regardless of the Lions mediocrity. The game can not be taken away. Not now. Not when the Lions are already having trouble selling tickets. Tradition must live on.

Can you imagine a Thanksgiving without the Lions game? Just think, there would be no one for us to count on to lose. It would be a terrible nightmare, not being able to watch our losers with our family.

So be thankful for Thanksgiving.

Lions win again; highlight is Stafford

Sunday's victory was only the second of the year for the Lions but, hey, who cares? It's still something.

I can't remember the last time the Lions pulled off a comeback drive like they did on Sunday. It really was something else. I felt a feeling of joy and amazement; something the Lions haven't made me feel in years, if ever.

Actually the story here isn't so much the Lions winning as it is what Matthew Stafford did. On Sunday afternoon, Stafford threw for over 400 yards, became the youngest player ever to throw 5 touchdowns in one game, led the league in fantasy points, and WON THE GAME.

Forget about the Lions as a whole for a minute. I've decided to make the rest of this column a salute to Matthew Stafford. The guy was great.

I can say without doubt that Stafford is probably the best quarterback the Lions have had since Bobby Layne. Sure he hasn't done a whole lot yet, but he's done enough to be better than those other clowns.

On Sunday, Stafford not only exploded statistically, but he also showed heart and grit. He went out there facing a 24-3 deficit and came back to win it. After injuring his shoulder, he went out there and threw the winning touchdown.

Is he really a Lion? Calvin Johnson qualified as a Lion only because he was a great player surrounded by losers (the Barry Sanders award) who therefore couldn't do much. But Stafford is starting to show some real talent.

Sunday made it clear that the Lions have an answer at quarterback- at least for now. But there's still one question: What the heck are they gonna do on defense?

Wings' questions continue

First you said, "They don't look like themselves." Then you said "It's pretty early in the season, though." Then you said, "But they just aren't looking like themselves." And then you said, "But it's still pretty early in the season."

The Detroit Red wings are off to a pretty rough start so far. Rough for them, that is. This is probably the only organization in the NHL where a 10-6-4 start can send the city's inhabitants into a state of panic.

"Overall, watching us play lately, we can't be too disappointed with how we're playing," said goaltender Chris Osgood, "We just have to figure out a way to score more goals."

Indeed, scoring has been a problem this year. Last night the Wings lost 2-1 in overtime despite taking 40 shots on goal. In total they have scored 64 goals this year, tied for 9th following their game last night, and would be much lower if not for a 9-1 thumping of Columbus

Hang on, you say, that can't be right. This is Detroit, we don't ever have offensive issues. When we have problems it's goaltending or defense, right? Well, not this year, I'm afraid. At least not so far.

Now things will get better, I have little doubt in that. When Valteri Flippula and Johan Franzen recover, scoring shouldn't be as much of a challenge.

There are two questions though: Will they change things enough to make the Wings a great team again, and if they do, will it be too late?

The Great Guru has now reached his 100th post!

Pick of the Week

Oh, the woes continue. Those blasted Patriots lost a game by 1 point which they led for 99% of last week. For one reason or another, every pick I've been making has been going wrong.

I'm not finished though, this week I've somehow found it in me to pick my very own Detroit Lions despite their mediocrity. As bad as they are, the Browns are worse. Hopefully Matthew Stafford can lead a powerful enough offense to make up for what they continue to claim to be a "defense". And hey, that defense may actually look like a defense, going against a Browns "offense".

So hopefully Detroit can bail me out of my slump.

2 -4 so far this year

Pick of the Week

We're in for quite an intriguing matchup this Sunday, to say the least.

Led by Peyton Manning, the undeafeated Colts will be taking on their rival Patriots. The return of Tom Brady only elevates things. These two have been the face of the NFL this decade. And it's easy to see why. Several things factor into a successful rivalry.

What are they, you ask? For starters, both teams have to obviously be at least somewhat good. Clearly the Patriots and Colts are more than that (the Colts lead the league with 109 victories for the decade, the Patriots are second at 108). But there's more to it than that.

Secondly, there cannot be a huge imbalance of power. I'm not saying that it has to be real even, but the teams must be capable of competing with each other in order for the game to be interesting. The Colts and Pat's have always been like that. Neither has really blown the other out since the rivalry started.

So you've got the good teams and the balance of talent, but that's not always enough. Something additional is required. Not neccesarily hate, but something that can make things interesting. The Colts and Patriots made it interesting in the 2007 AFC Championship Game, when Indy overcame a 21-6 deficit to advance to the Super Bowl, where they would win.

It's been a while since these teams met, which only makes it better. They have been caged so long that they're coming roaring out like wild animals.

So... the pick. Right now I'd say that the Colts are the best team in the league, with the possible exception of the Vikings. And the game is in Indianapolis. But the Colts are without Bob Sanders, not a good thing when you're facing Tom Brady.

This will definitely be a shootout, and I'm going with the Patriots to pull off the upset.

2-3 so far this season

They're back all right

Last Sunday our Detroit Lions fell to the Seattle Seahawks despite having a 17-0 lead to start the game.

What's new?

Actually this is a bit new. Last year was a deaparture from tradition for the Lions. Sure, they were always bad, but they never went 0-16 before. And let's face it: last year most of the games were over by the end of the first quarter.

But fear not, the good 'ol Lions appear to have returned. Remember when they used to often show sparks of brillance for brief periods of time? Isn't that what happened at the beginning of Sunday's game? The Lions went out and shocked that crowd. Well, for a while they did. But that's just like the pre-0-16 Lions.

They've hung in some of the games. They've often blown them at the end. They do appear to have a future. Sound familar? That's what I thought. I'm not saying that Jim Schwartz is a bad coach, nor am I saying that he and new general manager Martin Mayhew have no chance of turning this team around. I'm only pointing out the similarites between this squad and all the squads that we've had in the recent history of this franchise, with the exception of last year's.

They lose. A lot. But they win some, too. In those days it often came when least expected, and I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up happening some time this season. For all we know, it could be next week at Minnesota, crazy as it sounds.

And there's hope. Just like there always was. Remember in 2007, when they started 6-2 and put a clobbering on the then-good Cleveland Browns? There was hope then, but it died off as they went 1-7 for the rest of the year, thus sentencing them to a 7-9 record.

Think back even further. Remember Steve Mariucci? He and Joey Harrington were supposedly supposed to lead the Lions uphill. I have an old book which previewed the 2004 season that I often look back to, and I will never forget how it described our Lions as being a "potential surprise team".

And it appears that not much has changed. The random displays of actual talent are still here. The unpredictability remains. And, like always, there's hope. We want to believe that Schwartz is a genius. We want to believe that Matthew Stafford is a good quarterback. We want to believe that the Lions will make the right draft picks next year.

Will it work? Who knows? And frankly who cares right now? Isn't this the great thing about being a Lions fan?

Badly bitten, but still hungry for more

It all started with baseball.

The MLB.

The playoffs.

I was forecasting the first round of the Fall Classic when my downfall began. At the time my record for picking had been, forgive me for seeming lack of modesty, practically untouchable. But then something happened. Even I'm not sure what it was. All I knew was that I got a mere 2 out of 4 picks right. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was headed toward disaster.

I tried to counter by forecasting an LA-LA World Series, but it backfired when the Dodgers fell apart and the Yankees overpowered the Angels with the aid of the umpires.

I thought I could end it by picking the Giants to take down the Saints, but somehow they forgot how to play and got demolished. And so my streak went on and on.

To go from being completly dominant to astonishingly horrible is just unbelievable. I'm starting to get a good idea about how fallen closer Brad Lidge is feeling.

Am I bitter? You bet your Calvin Johnsons I'm bitter. (Why couldn't you have played in that game against the Rams, Calvin? You cost me another pick.) I can't remember the last time I struggled this much. It's just crazy.

So why am I particularly frustrated? Because I should have got it right by now. How could the Jets fall to the hapless Bills? How could the Cardinals fall when they appeared so invincable? What are the odds that Calvin Johnson would still be hurt for the game against the Rams? Why did the umpiring have to be so terrible for the ALCS? Would I like some cheese with my whine? Sure, and speaking of chease (heads) thanks a lot for losing and eliminating me from one of my survivor leagues, Green Bay.

And I'm not going to respond to this the way Tiki Barber did. I remember hearing after Super Bowl XLII that, according to a reporter, "Tiki doesn't regret retiring." Sure, and Colt McCoy doesn't look like Justin Timberlake.

Whatever the case, I'm not giving up. I'm gonna keep making the picks. Sooner or later, I'll find what I lost.

The Lucky One

As far as the Brett Favre rollar coaster goes, it's hard for many people to tell who has benefited most from this crazy drama. (For those of you who wonder if you missed something, don't worry. He's still currently playing starting quarterback for the Vikings, and he recently took down his old Packers team at Lambeau.)





So who got off best from this? A lot of people would say Favre, but I disagree. Yes, he is back, and yes, he's currently part of a 7-1 squad. But there is a flip side, and that is his public image. While most of Minnesota labels him a hero, a good portion of Green Bay now despises him, as does some of the fans in other cities who are sick of the chaos.



A good case could be made for the Vikings, who are now at the top of their division. Chances are that they probably did get off best. But there is also another who got off very good here, but often isn't thought of.



Aaron Rodgers.



You're probably confused. But it makes sense if you think about it. In the past, several quarterbacks who replaced a legend were unfortunately booed. To make this simple, we'll refer to the fans that boo them as the "hate" fans.



The hate fans haven't really booed Rodgers at all. Why? Because they have a new target: Favre himself. They are angry that he came back to play for a rival team. That's the way hate fans are.



Favre's loyalists won't boo Rodgers because they know that Favre would never agree to it. So that means that there's pretty much no one out there to boo Rodgers.



How lucky he is.



Clearly Rodgers is enjoying the benefits. His passing statistics are among the best in the league. Sure he lost to Favre last week, but who cares? It wasn't Rodgers' fault. The Packers lost those games because their running game was weak, and their subpar defense couldn't handle Favre and Peterson. Rodgers remains one of the best in the league.

His team may struggle, but considering the type of peril that he could be in right now, Rodgers should be thankful.

Pick of the Week

I can't believe how unsuccessful I have been lately. My previous two picks of the week were incorrect, as was my entire MLB Forecast for round 2. My inaccuaracy is mind-blowing. To go from greatness to mediocrity is just terrible.

Oh well, maybe I'll get it right this time. I'm taking the Lions over the Rams.

Next week should be crucial for Lions

The Lions were off on a bye this week, so obviously it wasn't a very influential week. But next week, on the other hand, could be a very important one for them.

A statement will be made next Sunday, when the Lions take on the woeful St. Louis Rams. It will tell us a lot about our team. If the Lions win, it'll put them at 2-4, nothing great, but at least it would mean that they are capable of beating some of the slop that is at the bottom of the NFL. If they lose, it'll leave us questioning whether- after all this rebuilding- the "new" Lions are really that much improved from last year's squad.

And that isn't the only reason that the Lions need the win. It shouldn't be too hard to forget the dillema that they are in with fans and ticket sales. Win, and they should prevent a few blackouts. Lose, and they'll be lucky to sell out any games other than Thanksgiving.

Of course, their chances of winning ought to be highly impacted by whether or not Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford play. Johnson is the Lions' best player, at least on offense, and Stafford is probably the only quarterback on the roster capable of getting the ball to him.

I'm not kidding. I've decided that, from here on out, the Lions' best hopes of rebuilding lie in Matt Stafford. I was once a stubborn believer of the sit-back theory, but only now do I realize that the Lions are best off keeping him out there, partially because of their current situation, and partially because of the type of player that Stafford is

The scary part is over with. They got the win. Now that the pressure is off, Stafford ought to be able to concentrate better. He's made some mistakes early on, but he is improving. It'll take some time, but by next year, Stafford could potentially be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. No joke.

Earlier in this article I mentioned the "type of player" that Stafford is. There are different types of quarterbacks out there. I've realized that while Stafford is no Matt Ryan, he's not the type that you should have sit back and watch either. Peyton Manning would agree with me, although that might only be because, at the time, he was trying to convince the Lions to start Stafford in hopes that someone could break the record he set for most interceptions as a rookie.

Daunte Culpepper is clearly nowhere close to his old self, throwing a bunch of lobs. Stanton might have been a great quarterback, but, alas, it appears that the Lions have ruined him. So I repeat, their best hopes lie in Stafford.

Let's hope that it's an option next Sunday.

Pick of the Week

I couldn't believe my eyes last Thursday when I saw that, in an NFL poll, the players voted that Saints QB Drew Brees was the most underrated player in the NFL. I mean, seriously, how can he be underrated when they're constantly shoving the guy down our throats this year? Of course, the only thing that the poll really proved was how ignorant the players in the NFL are.

Am I bitter? Yeah, I'm bitter. And sick and tired of the Drew Brees Apprecation Tour. That's why I'm thrilled at the fact that him and his also overrated New Orleans Saints are taking on the New York Giants this weekend.

Forget the fact that the game will be in New Orleans. I have a feeling that Brees is due for a bad game, and it's easy to see that happening with the tough New York defense. I like the Giants in this one because of their strong defense and powerful running game.

2-1 so far this season

World Series will be a winner in any scenario

Heading into the AL and NL Championship round of the playoffs, commisioner Bud Selig, as well as all others who hope for the best in baseball, ought to count his blesssings.

Here we are, one round away from the World Series, just four teams left. There are four potential matchups in the Fall Classic, and they all sound appealing. And that is certainly good news for Selig and all other major MLB supporters. It means that there's actually a very good chance that this year's Series won't simply be devoured by the NFL.

Let's talk hypothetically. We'll start with the first potential matchup: LA-LA, or Angels-Dodgers. This would be the first ever Freeway Series. I mean think about it: An entire World Series being played in Los Angeles (well, technically half of it would be in Anaheim, but still). A local rivalry. Great weather. Stadiums likely filled with all sorts of famous people. Does it get much better than that? (ok maybe that last one is a bit debatable).

And the city itself isn't the only reason. I mean, it certainly doesn't hurt that the Angels have comitted their entire season to young pitcher Nick Adenhart, who died in a car crash early in the season. They have been, as Sports Illustrated puts it, "touched by an angel". If that doesn't make for a feel-good story, then what does?

And then there's Manny. Manny, Manny, Manny. The guy who we love and hate at the same time. It certainly would help TV ratings if the slacking outfielder were part of the World Series.

Ok, so we went through LA-LA. Now let's say that, for whatever reason, the Angels miss the Series, and it's Dodgers vs Yankees. Is it still good? Yes. Manny still plays, plus it means Joe Torre squaring off against the team that dumped him for Joe Giradi. Not to mention that it would include the Evil Empire. I mean, c'mon, isn't winning more fun when you badly want the other team to lose? That should be the case for any fan whether their pulling for Torre to take down the hated Yankees or wishing that the Yankees could shut up the critics who said that they messed up in firing Joe.

Even if the Dodgers miss the Series, it should still be a good one. The Angels could still make it as the inspirational team, and if it's Yankees vs Phillies then, well, at least we have what looks like a "Cold War", given the surprisingly low October temperatures that we have been seeing, not to mention that the Series has a chance of going into November.

The MLB should be thankful for this sudden turn of events. This year, attendence took a record low decrease. And it's easy to see why. Sure, the Mitchell Report hurt. Sure, the economy doesn't help. But perhaps even worse was last year's World Series bomb. I mean if the Series was a movie, then last year's would've easily earned the embarrasing one-star rating from most critics. It got delayed. It had no truly exciting moments. It featured one boring team (philadelphia) and one semi-interesting team (the Rays), and the boring team won. Not to mention that it only took five games.

Great games can change a sport's popularity. Just ask the NFL, which began a gradual transformation after The Best Game Ever (Colts vs Giants, 1958, in the Championship). I'm not saying that the Series will transform baseball in the same way, but it certainly ought to help. In the worst case scenario, at least we will see two hated teams (you may not hate the Phillies now, but trust me, you will if we see Yankees-Phillies) fighting against the weather. It will be a performance worthy of about 2.5 to 3 stars.

Hopefully, though, the Series will feature at least one LA team, which means three stars or more. Still, even if it doesn't , I don't think there is a matchup capable of hurting baseball.

Especially when you consider where it is now.

MLB Postseason forecast : Round 2

Ugh, I can't believe a went a, well I really don't want to use this adjective but, well, an average 2-2 in the first round. For a random fan, that's nothing bad, but for me, an master of prediction, it's quite a letdown.

Well, I've decided to use my fury as motivation by picking the next round of winners, hopefully it'll turn out better.

The ALCS is between exactly the two teams I expected, the Angels and the Yankees, although I do admit that I would much rather see Angels-Twins. Oh well, I knew the Evil Emipire would interfere, so I picked them. But not this week. The Yankees can overspend all they want, but the Angels are playing inspirational baseball, motivated by the loss of young pitcher Nick Adenhart, so I'm picking them to move on.

In a sense, the NLCS was much harder to prepare for. After all, I wasn't planning on either of these two teams (Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers) being in it. Despite this inconvenience, I found it was surprisingly easy for me to make the pick. I underestimated the Dodgers when the were facing the Cardinals. Well, I'm not making the same mistake twice. Sorry Phillies, but your hopes of repeating are about to be destroyed by the Dodgers.

Wait, LA-LA in the World Series? Yep, got that right. It ought to be a good one, too.

First round Forecast

With the MLB playoffs approaching it's time for the Great Guru (formerly known as the Sports Schwab) to make another forecast, so here goes...

I think the Angels can continue to play some inspired ball and take down the Boston Red Sox (sorry, Beantown, but you've gotta lose sometimes).

As much as I like the Twins and hope that they can pull off the upset, I just don't see them measuring up to the juggernaut that the Yankees have assembled.

The Dodgers are a great team, but something tells me that the Cardinals' pitching will probably be too much for them to handle.

Perhaps my toughes forecast is that of the Rockies/Phillies matchup. On one hand, the Phillies aren't really as great as their record suggests, and there's also the feared World Series hangover. But then again, the Rockies aren't too talented either. I was actually quite surprised to see them emerge as a wild card. After much debating I finally decided to go with the Rockies simpley because I had yet to pick an upset for the round.

Follow the Great Guru all through the football season with his pick of the week, every week!

Just short

Tigers fall in heartbreaking loss

Tuesday night's game will have it's place in some of the greatest of all time, but that doesn't matter too much for the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers fell, 6-5, in 12 innings to the Minnesota Twins in the 2009 A.L. Central tiebreaker, otherwise known as the Meltdown in the Metrodome. In doing so, they lost the race despite the fact that they held at least a share of the division since May 10.

That's cold.

Was it momentum (heading into the game, the Tigers were coming of losing a series to the Kansas City Royals, while the Twins had won 16 of their last 20) that lost it for the Tigers? Was it the stadium? (aka the Dreaded Dome) Was it karma? (answer me, Miguel Cabrera)

Whatever the case, the game shifted back and forth. And at times it seemed almost inevitable that it would end, right then and there.

It looked like the Tigers had it when Rick Porcello struck out Joe Maur for the second out in the bottom of the six inning, while the Tigers led, 3-1. But then Jason Kubel stepped up and homered to right field. Brand new ballgame.

It looked like the Twins might wrap it up in regulation when Orlando Cabrera hit a lead-changing two-run shot, making it 4-3. Then Magglio Ordonez, the Tigers' hottest hitter, stepped up and tied it in the eight with a solo home run.

Then along came the ninth. The Tigers put runners on the corners after a bloop single followed a bunt single. All with nobody out. But Joe Nathan struck out Placido Polanco and then forced Ordonez to line into double play.

A lineout double play? A strikeout from Polanco?

That's cold.

The Twins threatened in the ninth as well, where it probably would have ended had it not been for a great diving stop by Brandon Inge. And Inge seemed set on course for hero of the game after he smacked a go-ahead double to score Don Kelly in the 10th. Inge worked so hard in this one, and yet his team still lost.

That's cold.

So how did the Twins respond to Inge? In their half of the tenth, Michael Cuddyer hit what probably should have been a bloop single to left field. Ryan Raburn, sprinting for the ball, took a dive and missed it completely. By the time Curtis Granderson threw the ball in, Cuddyer was sliding into third. Ryan Tolbert would single up the middle to score Cuddyer. When Nick Punto hit a fly ball with Alexi Cassila on third base it looked like the Twins had the Tigers finished. But Raburn redeemed himself by gunning out Cassila at the plate to end the inning.

I'm sure that at the time the Tigers were relieved to still be in the game. But on the other hand, I'm sure they were disappointed that they hadn't been able to end the game. They would have if they had been able to hold the Twins off.

They came very close, but the Twins struck back and tied it, terminating the Tigers' chances of early victory. And the Tigers went on to lose the game.

That's cold.

In the top half of the 12th, the Tigers loaded the bases. Then came the Inge call. Inge would ground into a force out at home for the second out. Then came a strikeout from Gerald Laird. And the Tigers proved, once again, how hard it is to drive in runners from scoring position when you're wearing a jersey that bears the old English D.

In the bottom half of the 12th, Jim Leyland decided to leave Fernando Rodney in the game, which has had me scratching my head ever since the move was made. Of course, Rodney blew it. Scott Gomez singled to lead off and was bunted to second. Then Alexi Casilla stepped up and singled him home to win the game. It wasn't Rodney's fault. He was being overused. The Tigers' closer threw 48 pitches in the game, which was 13 more than his previous season-high of 35.

Fernando Rodney, who had been one of the team's most reliable players, was hung out to dry in the 12th, and lost the game.

That's cold.

Now give some credit to the Minnesota Twins. They hung in this race all through the year, despite the fact that they often appeared to be fighting a losing battle (early in September, the Twins trailed by as many as 7 games). They stayed strong despite pitching issues and late injuries of Justin Morneau and Joe Crede. They fought hard, and it finally paid off. They deserve a spot in the postseason.

Then again, a huge conflict heading into Tuesday's game was that, well, both teams seemed to be deserving of a spot in the playoffs. Was it really fair that one of them, ultimately, would have to go home? One would think that the Tigers had performed well enough to head to the postseason. The problem was that, on Tuesday, they didn't show it.

And that, without a doubt, is cold.

'Dome, Big Mo, Tigers' offense will all have their roles in Tuesday showdown

And it wasn't too long ago that we thought they were finished.

Just weeks ago it seemed as if they were out for sure. They trailed by 7 games with little season left. As television play-by-play broadcaster Mario Impemba put it, "If they don't watch it, the Minnesota Twins may soon find themselves out of this A.L. Central race."

They weren't a serious problem. Our focus was Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. The Twins were nothing but an afterthought.

And yet, this very Tuesday night, the Detriot Tigers will head out to the Metrodome in a one-game-playoff against the Minnesota Twins to determine the winner of the pennant race.

The Tigers have held at least a share of the division since the middle of May, so it would seem that they would have wrapped things up by now, and yet, heading into tomorrow, their playoff hopes remain up in the air.

And neither team is truly all that much greater than the other. They each have their strengths (offensive power for the Twins, strong pitching and defense for the Tigers) as well as their flaws (offensive woes for the Tigers, pitching issues for the Twins). And obviously they have the same records.

But which one will win? Unfortunately, the Twins do have one added advantage: the Metrodome. Oh, the dreaded dome. Most visitors hate it, and our Tigers are no exception. They have won just twice there, and one of those took 16 innings.

And then, of course, there's momentum, aka Big Mo. I think one thing that often seperates succesful sports experts from sports experts who always get it wrong is their ability to understand Big Mo. It is a determining factor in several games that appears to have no exact science. Believe me, if I could completely explain to you, I would. Part of it is evaluating, but the second, more imporpant principle is being able to feel it.

So who has the Big Mo? One could likely make a case for either team. The Twins are on an extreme hot streak, came from behind, and are playing in front of their home crowd. The Tigers, well maybe it's not as easy making a case for them. Let's just settle for the fact that since they have led the division most of the year, there is a definitely a feeling of superiority. Also key here is whether or not the Twins will keep their firepower going.

As of right now, I couldn't tell you. My feel part isn't talking.

Regardless of Big Mo, one thing is for sure. If the Tigers plan on winning at the Metrodome, they will need some offense. As good as Rick Porcello is, I doubt that he is capable of keeping a high-powered Minnesota Twins offense from scoring any less than 3 runs. So obviously the Tigers will have to fight fire with fire.

The Tiger offense has been feast or famine all year long, and if they plan on winning Tuesday, they better go with the first of those two.

Wings open in Stockholm with 4-3 loss

But don't let that decide your opinion on their chances this year.

It was quite disappointing, really.

The Detroit Red Wings blew a 3-1 lead Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues, who rallied to win it with three goals in the 2nd Period to win it, 4-3.

Now don't get suddenly worried. I have confidence that the Wings can recover from this, simply due to the fact that, well, they're the Red Wings. And we can always count on the Red Wings. Call me naive all you want, but this is realism. The Wings have finished at or near the top of the league every year during the decade. They have been by far the most trustworthy team in Michigan.

Times are tough, but the Red Wings ought to provide some relief. I laugh when I hear the argument about how hard it is to make it to three consecutive Stanley Cups. Sure, it's not easy, but it's certainly doable. And there's no doubting that the Red Wings will enter the season very hungry. If losing game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on your own ice, in front of your own fans, to a team that you simply can't stand doesn't result in motivation, then I don't know what does.

Forget the loss of Marian Hossa. The Wings have plenty of potential in star forwards Valteri Flippula and Dan Cleary, both of whom will likely improve, particularly Flippula. I don't know much about Cleary, other than that injury limited him last year which means he ought to be in for improvement. But Flippula is the one that gets my attention. I have to admit that as the season starts, I feel terrific about the young Fin's ability. With Hossa and Hudler gone it means more minutes, something he lacked last year. Flippula will be on the third line this year, and I'm sure that, by the time the season is over, plenty of teams would like to have this guy on their first line. Flippula, a two-way, speedy, stickhandling forward, has shown that he has some Datsyuk in him.

More punch will come from youngsters Darren Helm, Villie Leino, Justin Abdelkader, and, perhaps most of all, defenseman Jonathan Ericsson aka Big E. The Red Wings have also added enforcer Todd Bertuzzi and shooter Jason Williams. My guess is that they took Bertuzzi to replace Kopecky and Williams to replace Samuelsson. If I'm correct, then there's a good chance that the strategy will work.

There will be a renewed focus on defense and goaltending this season, which is no surprise considering Osgood's rocky start last year, as well as the ineffective penalty kill. Ericsson will add some skill to the defense, and Chris Osgood has vowed to avoid another terrible start. I remain convinced that what Osgood encountered was a mental problem and nothing more. He put it behind him with a Conn Smythe-worthy playoff performance, and ought to avoid it this year. And with guys like Niklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Ericsson, and Brad Stuart behind (or rather, in front of) him, he should have all the help that he needs.

There is no reason to suddenly be worrying simply because of an 0-1 start. The only way that this will shape the Wings' season is if they let it.

And, given their track record, it's safe to say that they won't.

Pick of the week

Last week Brett Favre showed why he is considered one of the greatest of all time. This week he'll be taking on his old Packers at home on Monday Night Football.

Now there are plenty of people out there who are still mad at Favre and are rooting against him. Too bad for them. I like the Vikings simply because of the fact that they are strong at every position.

Season record so far: 1-1

Tigers open another big series

Our Detroit Tigers are heading into a 4-game home series against the Minnesota Twins tonight, with the slight luxury of a 2 game lead.

If the Tigers win at least two games, they will make things very hard on Minnesota. This is certainly an attainable goal, considering how outstanding the Tigers have been at home this year. But it is by no means in the bag.

Let's be blunt. The Twins are 11-2 since losing Justin Morneau. And while I have no doubt that the Tigers are not overlooking the series, the Twins will likely be a bit hungrier.

If the Tigers are going to take two or more games, they will need to play at their best, despite their home-field advantage. If the Pitchers play to their full potential and the hitters step it up, they should be able to easily win two, probably three of the games.

But they cannot afford to enter the series overconfident. If the Tigers lose the first game, in front of their home crowd, the pressure will shift to them. They will find themselves suddenly a little nervous. Scrambling could result from this, something that is never good.

Instead, the Tigers must head into the series understanding that Minnesota is capable of beating them, and therefore play their hardest so they can get that first win and hopefully plant a seed of doubt.

There's only seven games left for the Tigers, but they remain tight in what is, without a doubt, the league's most exciting race.

Favre leads miracle comeback, Vikings remain unbeaten

Brett Favre may have finally silenced those who believed that he made a mistake in coming out of retirement.

On Sunday afternoon, the Vikings QB threw for more than 300 yards, and that wasn't even the real story.

The 39-year-old veteran and his purple-clad teammates took control of the ball trailing 24-20 with less than 2 minutes remaining. Favre stayed calm and moved the ball down the field. In the closing seconds, Favre fired the ball 33 yards to wide receiver Greg Lewis for the game-winning touchdown with 2 seconds left.

And you thought that the Lions' victory was the only miracle you were going to see.

I'll admit that I wasn't able to control myself, seeing the sudden turn of events in my favor. Favre had turned things around. The Vikings still had a shot at winning 'em all. And I suddenly found myself shouting "HE DID IT! HE DID IT!" I couldn't help it. I was so caught up in the moment.

This was a game that ought not to be forgotten, as the only other time I remember being this thrilled while watching a game came last year when Santonio Holmes made his miracle catch to win Super Bowl XLIII for the Steelers. But if you ask me, Holmes may have been outdone by Lewis. Holmes's play remains superior only because it came in the Super Bowl.

Back to Brett.

On Sunday Favre destroyed the myth that he was only winning because of help from star running back Adrian Peterson. He showed that he still had the ability to perform as gunslinger. And, perhaps most importantly, he showed that he could still perform in the clutch.

That's why you want Brett Favre on your football team.

So now the Vikings are at 3-0, and they have shown that they are two-dimensionally strong offensively. Therefore, their quest for a perfect season remains strong. Not only are they immensely talented, but they also are apparently strong in another way:

They know how to win.

Victory

At long last, the Detroit Lions were finally able to get rid of the "0" in the win column.

The Lions took down the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon, 19-14. Loyal fans in Ford Field cheered them on the whole way. The game was blacked out locally, but that didn't prevent some from tuning into it via radio.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw one touchdown and no interceptions. Overall the Lions looked a lot better on both sides of the ball. The game officially ended when linebacker Larry Foote tackled Redskins' running back Ladell Betts. I remember hearing Dan Miller, the Lions' play-by-play radio broadcaster, ending the whole thing dramatically:

"Game over! Losing streak over! NIGHTMARE OVER!"

And a feeling of great joy came to all of us Lions fans. It was big. It almost felt like winning a Super Bowl. Having lost so many games provided us with a fresh perspective on winning. A Lions victory was so wonderfully surprising, so greatly unexpected, so happily relieving, that it had us practically floating.

Maybe Coach Jim Schwartz really can dig us out of this hole. Maybe Matt Stafford really is the next Bobby Layne. Maybe...

Winning brings confidence and optimism. It can lift up an entire city or state. Michigan hasn't felt this good since the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup back in the summer of '08.

Now, that sure sounds like an odd statement. But different teams means different perspectives. We're used to seeing the Red Wings dominate the league, so the only real joy we can get from them is that which is universally uplifting: Winning a championship. The Lions, on the other hand, have been so indescribably bad that winning just one game sounds great.

Yes, sir, it was a fine day indeed, the day in which all the talk of repeating 0-16 disappeared completely.

Now, as Jason Hanson said, this doesn't mean that the Lions are going to the Super Bowl, but it is definitely a step forward. In the first two weeks, the Lions were beaten by strong teams. On Sunday they took down one of the weaker teams. Not great, but not terrible either.

Now that the streak is over, the Lions can concentrate on bigger things. The pressure is off of Stafford now, which is really big considering that the former Georgia QB's biggest weakness is often his tendency to push himself too far, thereby making mistakes.

The Lions have officially established themselves as competetors. They will still probably miss the playoffs, and more likely than not finish with a losing record, but at least they will compete.

Pick of the Week

Few of us will forget Super Bowl XLIII anytime soon , especially those on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals have started the season 1-1, and will face Indianapolis this week. So we must ask ourselves: Is Kurt Warner really good enough to take down Manning and Co.? I doubt it. As good as Warner is, there is no denying the fact that he is getting old. Sure, he's still good and all, but better than Manning?

And as far as defense goes, the deck is stacked in Indy's favor. Forget last year's playoff performance. The Cardinals rode strong momentem and took advantage of some teams' overconfidence (cough, cough, CAROLINA, ahem).

And even if they do have an advantage in the running game, is that really enough to get them to victory? I don't think so. I like the Colts in this one. I'm counting on you Peyton Manning. Brady let me down last week, so please PLEASE come through for me.

The Power of Purple: Why the Vikings just might have a shot at a perfect season

The Minnesota Vikings will head into week 3 as one of the NFL's 2-0 teams.

The difference: The Vikings are probably the only team with a realistic chance of keeping the zero in the loss column.

I'm not saying that I expect 19-0. I'm merely stating that it is a realistic possibility with the squad that the Vikings have assembled. For those of you that disagree, I ask you this question: Where are the Vikings weak? Offensive line? Get outta here. Steve Hutchinson is better than a lot of teams' entire line put together. Run defense? Nope. Kevin Williams and Pat Williams (aka the Williams Wall) lead what was last year the league's toughest run defense, and will likely be so again this year. Pass Rush? Nope. The Williams Wall helps out again here, but more important is Jared Allen, considered by many the league's top end. Secondary? Not with Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield and his sidekick Cedric Griffin. Wide Receiver? Nope. Bernard Berrian is solid, Sidney Rice is in for a breakout year, and Percy Harvin adds the "wow" factor. Quarterback? Not anymore, thanks to a certain former Packers quarterback named Brett Favre (perhaps you've heard of him?). Uh, running back? Ok, do you guys really need me to answer that one.

A surprising truth is that the Vikings actually already had a lot of this covered in '08. The defense was already strong, and I'm sure that you're all aware of the damage that Adrian Peterson did last year.

The main difference this year is the passing game. The developments of Sidney Rice and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe give the Vikings the weapons necessary to complement Bernard Berrian, and adding playmaker Percy Harvin certainly helps. The fact that they were able to successfully pull a future Hall of Fame quarterback out of retirement (can't remember who) doesn't hurt either.

The Vikings will not be an easy team to beat this year, primarily because there is pretty much no strategy that will really work against them. You can't hope to win a low-scoring battle against them, considering the playmakers they have offensively. The teams that defend the pass well may be able to stop Brett Favre from making much of an impact, but even if they do, all Favre has to do is give the ball to Adrian Peterson, and, as John Madden would probably put it, Boom!

And the idea of winning a shootout is out of the question as well because it won't be easy to put points up against the Minnesota defense. You can't hope to neutralize Peterson by getting a huge game out of your running back because the Vikings are too good at stopping the run. If you think that you can use the deep ball, think again. The Vikings, particularly Allen, can consistently rush the passer. You tell me how you're going to throw the ball deep when by the time your man is halfway there you already have to worry about a huge 270-pound monster in your face. The best chance may be pricking them apart with short passes, but with cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin, even that is difficult.

The Vikings are an elite team, and their schedule doesn't pose too many great threats. The biggest roadblock will come week 7 against the Steelers at Pittsburgh. There are only two other elite teams on their radar- the Ravens and the Giants- and both of them are played at home.

The Steelers may be one of the few teams that are capable of taking down the Vikings. So let's examine the matchup:

When the Vikings have the ball, Brett Favre will have a rough time against the Steelers' top ranked pass defense. Their best hope for scoring is that Adrian Peterson plays like a beast. Given what we've seen so far of Peterson this year, I wouldn't be too surprised if that happens. The man has hardly looked even human lately.

When the Steelers have the ball, their weak side is exposed. Their weak running game won't stand a chance against Minnesota's rush defense. They will need to use the passing game to score.

It's almost certain that this will be a low scoring game, and there are two players that will likely have the biggest impact on the outcome. One of them is Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. There's also another. Hint: he's on the Vikings and he's a running back whose name isn't Chester Taylor. And his name starts with A.

Holmes will be the Steelers' best chance of putting points up offensively. They won't be able to run the ball, and while Big Ben is good, he's not that great. To score against Minnesota, he'll need a lot of help. If Holmes can perform like the force we saw in Super Bowl XLIII and we've seen so far this season, chances are that he'll make a big difference.

For Peterson (in case you didn't figure out that it was him yet) the concept is much more simple. With the tough defense that the Steelers have, the Vikings will need him more than ever.

Now given the fact that Peterson is a better player than Holmes, it would appear that the Vikings have the game, but don't call it just yet. Remember that the game is being played at Heinz Field. The Steelers overall winning streak ended Sunday, but their home-field one remained intact. Heinz Field looks to be this year's version of the '07 Gillette Stadium (the Patriots' home turf) - the place where no one wants to play. But if things go as I expect them to, there may be a home stadium that is even more feared.

The Metrodome.

Tigers come up with big win over Twins

In defeating the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon, the Detroit Tigers certainly helped their chances at winning the A.L. Central.

Sure 2 out of 3 would have been nice, but the Tigers' victory their second this year at the Metrodome, and the first in regular innings (the other took 16).

If the Tigers had lost, their lead would have dropped to one measly game, not too comforting given the way they have been playing lately. Not too mention that it would likely have continued their bad momentum. Instead, the Tigers won the game and increased the lead to 3 games.

The Tigers now head out to Cleveland. Prior to the Metrodome series, I said that the Tigers would need to win at least one game. They did. Now they will need at least two. I don't care that the game is on the road. The Tigers need as many wins as they can get, since they play their last 10 games against the Twins and the Chicago-don't-forget-about-us-just-yet-White Sox.

If they win the series against Cleveland, not only will it obviously help them in the win column, but it will also flip the way that we look at the Minnesota-Chicago series. If the Tigers are winning, then Minnesota winning is kind of good because it practically eliminates Chicago from contention, and since the Tigers would also be winning their lead would stay intact.

A sweep would probably be best, but I'm not going to ask for too much. Even powerhouses like the Yankees and Angels aren't expected to just go around sweeping teams on the road. And the fact that the Tigers are one of the league's weakest road teams this year certainly doesn't help their chances.

What the Tigers need to do is take advantage of their Sunday victory by using it to swin momentum back in their direction. And now is the best time to do so because if the Tigers lose the series to Cleveland, chances are that the bad momentum will rear its ugly head again.

And when you're closing out the season against your two biggest division threats, bad momentum is something that must be avoided.

Lions lose, but look sharper than in week 1

Sure, they lost. But the Detroit Lions didn't look too bad on Sunday. They were facing a tougher team than in the previous week, and the game was a lot closer.

The fact that they were able to take a 10-0 lead against what is arguably the best team in the NFC is a reason for confidence. Granted, blowing the lead to lose 27-13 was more like our typical Lions, but still.

Last year the Lions were a completely overmatched team. A defensive line coach for head coach, his son-in-law for defensive coordinator, an offensive line coach for offensive coordinator, a broadcaster for a general manager, you get the idea. They may still be a little short on talent, but at least they showed that they could compete.

They didn't lose because they were pitifully incompetetive. They lost because the Vikings are a powerhouse, and the Lions were still one of the league's less talented teams. But they aren't by any means completely terrible this year. On the offensive side of the ball, this is the first time in a while that the line has actually looked decent so far. Over on defense, the additions of Julian Peterson, Phillip Buchanon, Grady Jackson, Travis Henry, Larry Foote, and rookie safety Louis Delmas have helped them out. With Sims, Peterson, and Foote, the linebacking corps will likely be one of their most improved areas.

Basically, my goal here is to restate what I said last week: The Lions are an improving team. They aren't ready to be playoff contenders, but they are likely good enough to win some games this year.

They may have a chance next week at home against the Washington Redskins. Granted, the Redskins are a good team, but the game will be played at home, and it is probably the best chance they will have to avoid going 0-6. Especially considering the Redskins' sloppy 9-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

And as bad as the Lions are, the Rams are a lot worse.

Tigers open crucial series vs. Twins

With the Tigers holding a 4 game lead heading into today, there is no doubt that their 3-game series at the Metrodome will have a large impact on, and maybe decide, the A.L. Central race.

It won't be easy. The Tigers have fell to the Twins in all but one of their visits to the dreaded dome this year, and that took 16 innings. The Twins may be without Justin Morneau, but considering that they are 4-1 since the first baseman's injury, it isn't too comforting.

While I have no doubt that the Tigers want to win this series, they should still be in great shape if they can avoid a sweep, a goal that actually seems realistic. If they can do that, they will still hold a 3-game lead and not have to return to the Metrodome for the rest of the season. If the Tigers fail, and get swept, their lead will fall to one game. One measly game.

Which certainly isn't too comforting, given their pitching situation. Washburn is hurt, which leaves a big hole in the 4 and 5 slots. And the fact that Edwin "Unsteady Eddie" has been showing a lack of production doesn't help, either. One can laugh, saying that Jackson is simply slumping, and is bound to recover, but let me play devil's advocate here. What if Jackson's early domination was simply a fluke, or maybe a one-time wonder. Just ask Armando Galarraga.

Whatever the case, the Tigers will certainly be a lot better off if they can win at least one game at the Metrodome.

Pick of the Week

After Michael Vick, there are two things I can't stand when it comes to football. One is the fact that everyone acts if Super Bowl XLII (aka the Giants' upset of the Patriots) was yesterday. The other is Rex Ryan. I'm sorry, but I just don't agree with his aggressive style.



Before the season, when asked about New England, Ryan said that he didn't come to New York to "kiss Bill Belicheck's rings". He also scoffed at the Pats' defense.

Well I have a feeling that it's time for Ryan to pay for what he said. That's why I'm going with the Patriots this week.

And by the way, Mr. Ryan, you may not kiss Belicheck's rings, but given the weapons the Patriots have and how far the Jets have to go, you sure won't have one of your own when the season ends.

Don't be surprised by Cutler's struggles

As much as so many people were surprised by Jay Cutler's subpar performance last night, I must say that I was not surprised.

I think several people are forgetting that the Bears already had a talented quarterback in Kyle Orton last year. Cutler was simply able to enjoy the benfits of playing with a strong line as well as playmaker Brandon Marshall while Orton was stuck in Chicago with absolutely nothing.

While several people expected Orton to shape Chicago, I insisted that it would be vice versa. Supporting cast can play a large role for a quarterback, and Cutler went from one of the best to one of the worst.

There are two things also to keep in mind here: Everyone who leaves Denver ends up screwed, and every quarterback that goes to Chicago ends up screwed. I know the first seems a little superstitous, but the latter makes perfect sense.

But many forget that you can't ignore the tendencies. In fact, from what I've seen, ignoring tendencies is often the biggest mistake made by my fellow experts (reminder: Sports Illustrated picked the Bears to win the NFC North).

Perhaps one of the reasons I was immune to the Jay Cutler overhype is that I'm not afraid to go against popular opinion. When it comes to the NFC East, the country seems almost split between those who picked the Eagles and those who picked the Giants. There's no way I would pick someone else, right? Wrong. So I'm picking the Cowboys because I think that Romo is better off with T.O.? Wrong again (actually I completely disagree with that theory).

So who does that leave? The Redskins? Yep, the Redskins. The addition of Albert Haynesworth will add big plays, which is really all that the defense was missing last year. Offensively they have plenty of underrated talent in Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, and Clinton Portis, who led the league in rushing yards last year, but no one thinks of that since their to busy either overrating Eli Manning or somehow finding an excuse to cheer for Michael Vick.

And now we have Cutler, who, when it comes down to it, is nothing more than another Chicago quarterback.

Loss not pretty, but definitely an improvement

Admit it, it could have been a lot worse than it was.

The Lions may have fell, 45-27, but, for what it's worth, they looked a lot better than the Lions that went 0-16. They put a decent amount of points on the board. They made some big plays. They hung in there until the fourth quarter, which is saying something considering the fact that last year most of their games were over in the first quarter. Heck, half of them were over before they started.

The best part of the game may have been watching Louis Delmas. The safety drafted in the second round from Western Michigan showed on Sunday that he can be quite a playmaker. He made a big play when he scooped up a New Orleans fumble and ran it for a touchdown. More importantly Delmas does something that we haven't seen any Lion do in a while: He actually tackles players.

Of all the Lions draft picks this year, I have always liked Delmas the best. I have a feeling that the hard-hitting safety just might be able to spark a new era on the defensive side of the ball.

And it's not just Delmas that should give us some confidence defensively. With Julian Peterson, Ernie Sims, and Larry Foote, the linebacking corps actually looks a bit (I can't believe I'm about to use this adjective to describe the Lions) intimidating. The line is still shaky, but the secondary might be able to improve once Phillip Buchanon returns from injury.

On the offensive side of the ball, meanwhile, the Lions looked pretty good. Rookie Matt Stafford threw three interceptions, but also made some nice throws. Mistakes are bound to happen if you're a rookie quarterback that doesn't go by the name of Matt Ryan. Calvin Johnson reminded us why he was the lone bright spot in 2008. Kevin Smith didn't do anything great, but I still remain sure that he is in for a very good year.

There is also talk that the offensive line, last year considered by many, the weakest part of the team, has shown improvement. It's hard to tell from the first game, but I'll say it probably looked better than it did last year.

As far as coaching goes Jim Schwartz appears to know what he's doing. As a guy who worked under Bill Belicheck, Schwartz looks pretty good to me. I love the choice of Scott Linehan as offensive coordinator. As for the defense, Gunther Cunningham is a guy who pushes his players, which probably means harder tackling, something that was in devastatingly short supply last year.

The Lions do appear to be rebuilding, or at least improving. Remember that the process of going from the bottom of the league to a Super Bowl-calibar team rarely happens in the time of just one season.

There is a column in the Detroit Free Press by Michael Rosenberg titled: "The Road to to I" which is about the Lions going for their first victory (Rosenberg is also the author of last year's column, "The Road to XVI", which spoke of why the Lions were bound to go 0-16). Prior to Sunday's game Rosenberg announced that, in order to back up his column, he had decided to pick the Lions every week until they win. I like it, but there's one problem: Why didn't I think of it first?

At any rate the Lions are headed into the 2009 season, as a hungrier, stronger team with good coaching. And although their early schedule appears to scream "0-6!", I have a feeling that we're in for a season that has somewhere between 4 and 6 wins.

And only in Detroit does that sound optimistic.

Steelers open up with victory in OT

The Pittsburgh Steelers took down the Tennessee Titans, 13-10 in overtime despite losing defensive playmaker Troy Polomalu, who left in the second quarter with a sprained MCL. Polomalu is expected to miss 3-6 weeks.

For the time that he did play, however, the Steelers' strong safety sure put on a show. He made several tackles for the Steelers, several of them recorded because he cheated up to take down Titans' running back Chris Johnson. Polomalu also had the play of the game: A leaping one-handed interception grab.

A lot of people talk about what a talented safety the Colts have in Bob Sanders, or how great Ed Reed is, but Polomalu may actually be the best safety out there. He always knows where to be, and is one of the hardest hitters in the NFL.

Speaking of hard hitting, the Steelers once again showed the NFL why they won the Super Bowl and went 12-4 in the regular season despite playing the league's toughest schedule: they are the league's most physically tough team on defense. When you tackle like that on defense, it strikes fear into the hearts of your opponents.

Bottom Line: Until further notice, no team is stronger than Steel.

Inge critical to team's success

The gold-glove candidate third baseman should decide how far the Tigers go.

It was only last year that trade rumors surrounding Brandon Inge surfaced. I'm sure you're all familiar with what happened that season: The Tigers loaded up with what were apparently hard-hitting veterans and benched Inge. Everyone thought that they were headed for the World Series. Instead, they finished last in the A.L. Central.

Now Inge is back, playing everyday third base, and the Tigers are winning their division. Although the title is far from in the bag, the Tigers do appear to be the no-brain favorite. Because of their weak division, the Tigers can afford mediocre hitting as long as their pitching staff remains formidable.

But will that be enough in the playoffs? Not a chance. If the Tigers are going to overcome powerhouses like the Yankees and Angels, they're going to need some offense. The return of Carlos Guillen has helped, and Placido Polanco and Magglio Ordonez are looking much better than they did earlier in the season. Alex Avila has emerged as a useful pinch-hitter.

But for the Tigers to truly be considered a strong offensive team, they need Inge to keep hitting the way he is now, and not like he was, say, a few weeks ago. Back in '06, Inge was hitting his best, and the Tigers won the A.L. crown. Last year, he sat out and the Tigers finished in last.

Inge supplies the Tigers with the extra power that they will need in order to be considered an elite team. He energizes the rest of them. He has been here longer than any of his teammates. It wasn't too long ago that it seemed that the Tigers could not win a game unless they shut out their opponents. Miguel Cabrera appeared to be the only hope of scoring. But now that Polanco, Ordonez, Guillen, and Inge have stepped it up and new weapons Alex Avila and Aubrey Huff have started hitting, they appear to be in good shape. But will it last?

It's hard to tell, but Brandon Inge may decide the answer to that question.

What's wrong with a change of heart? Apparently more than what's wrong with killing dogs.

I can't believe that there are people out there cheering for Michael Vick and booing Brett Favre. And yet I see plenty of football fans saying that Vick has "the right to an occupation", but at the same time getting ticked off at Brett.

Hello? Anybody home?! Vick tortured and killed several dogs. All Brett did was come out of retirement. Does retiring somehow terminate your "right to an occupation"? Is that "right" still there in spite of what you do off the field?

And if any of you had forgotten, let me remind you that Vick hung dogs from trees, electrocuted them with jumper cables, drowned them in water, and even had them enter into a pit against other dogs. Vick did all that, and laughed.

Of course that's not nearly as bad as (gasp) announcing retirement and then (double gasp!) deciding to return. No, it's perfectly fine for Vick to be extremely cruel to dogs, but for Brett Favre to come out of retirement is just terrible.

First things first: there is no such thing as a "right to an occupation". If there was, I'd take my hockey stick, walk up to the nearest NHL team and drop that line so they would have to let me play.

Come on, people. Playing in the NFL is a privilege. What Vick did should have made him lose the privilege. But it's not just the fact that Vick is returning that's ridiculous, it's the fact that he wasn't jailed for a good ten years plus. If life were a giant monopoly game, all the star atheletes, and celebrities for that matter, would be loaded with "get out of jail free" cards. To suggest that Vick received the sentence he deserved, is practically laughable. None of the big names do. That much is evident when over 100 MLB players are juiced up on steriods

But the sad truth is that fans often don't see things as right or wrong. They tend to only care about what's going to happen on the field. They want Favre to retire so the story can go away and they can move on. And they want Vick to return so, well, the story can go away and they can move on. I know a lot of this is the media's fault. They practically spent an entire day discussing Vick's signing with the Eagles, and another day talking about Favre's return.

Whatever. I have two words for you: go Vikings. I'm really happy to see Favre on one of my favorite teams. The addition of him makes them, in many people's opinion, NFC favorites.

As for Vick, the day the first Eagles game comes on this year is the day I turn off my TV and go for a walk with my dog.

Mail Time

To: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and all other "experts"

From: Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick



NADAL: Hey, sorry to bother you. I know you all are probably busy writing yet another article about how dominant Roger Federer is and therefore don't have time to read this, which is ok. I don't mind. Go ahead and continue. No, really...



Ok, who am I kidding? I'm sick and tired of the Roger Federer appreciation tour. Have you all forgotten that I hold a large lead over him in the head-to-head category? Are you all too busy marveling at his 15 major titles? Psh, by the time I'm done I'll have more than 20 of those.



Can't you see that my Swiss rival's time as king is running out? You sure seemed to be getting the hint a few months ago after I beat him for, what, the 5th time straight or something like that? You were all getting ready to hop from one bandwagon to the next. Then I lose a couple matches, hurt my knee, and all of sudden we're back where we started? Gimme a break.



RODDICK: I haven't forgotten about what happened last Wimbeldon. Although you may have forgotten that I played in it. I won 39 games while Roger took 38, yet I still lost. Now I know how Al Gore must have felt.

You all are talking about what a great match that was, but it seems the whole thing is about Federer, Federer, Federer. I don't mean to sound bitter, but, hey, I was part of that match, too. I played my heart out and kept it close. Yet it seems I'm nothing but a minor side note. This certainly isn't the treatment Roger got when he lost to Nadal a year ago.

And it's not like I haven't done anything else recently. I beat Federer a few times. I have the fastest serve ever. I'm the best tennis player in America. I may not be as good as Federer but I am very close. Yet he gets ten times the hype that I get.

NADAL: It's ridiculous to say that Roger Federer dominates tennis as much as Tiger Woods dominates golf. I have beaten Federer about twice as many times as he beat me. If anyone dominates the rivalry, it's me. And I'm not the only one who can take him down. Other skilled players like Roddick have beaten him a few times.

I am the future. And soon Roger will be nothing but the past. I have already put a dent in his crown, even if you can't see it. Soon it will be gone. I will shatter any records that he sets. Only then will you finally see that I was the better player all along.

Hopefully you will, anyway.

Favre will remain retired

On Tuesday night, Brett Favre announced that he would be staying retired, as reported by ESPN's Ed Werder.

Ah, too bad. I was hoping that he could head over to Minnesota and fill in their only weak position: quarterback. I guess Favre did what he thought was right, but I'm surprised to hear this and I personally disagree with his decision. I know Favre was having some throwing issues, but he did get the surgery and hey, him at, say, 75 percent, is better than a lot of guys at 100 percent.

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to hope that Tarvaris Jackson does his best.

Not So Different

It's no stretch to say that parallels could be drawn between Favre and Jeter

For those of you who don't know, former Packers and Jets quarterback Brett Favre has recently expressed his interest in joining the Minnesota Vikings.

If you didn't know.

Of course, it would pretty hard for you not to know, given the way that the media (particularly ESPN) has built up every recent comment by Vikings coach Brad Childress. It looks like we might be in for another crazy summer, folks. Ever since Brett Favre first announced his retirement, it's been chaotic. Recently, while brainstorming on the matter, I ended up asking myself, Is this what it'll be like when Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter "retires"?

I know that may sound a bit random, but given Jeter's track record, I wouldn't be surprised. Many people may not know this, but Brett Favre and Derek Jeter are two very similar athlete. To start, both are very good, wholesome characters both on and off the field. Favre is a great guy who has always been loved for his good character and sportsmanship. So is Jeter. Even in a juiced-up era for baseball, most fans highly doubt that Jeter was guilty of performance-enhancing drugs.

But there are two other similarities between these two that likely will have a larger impact. The first is their constant love of the games that they play. It doesn't take a sports expert to tell you that Brett Favre and Derek Jeter both have a lot of fun. Just look at Sunday night, when Angels' pitcher Francisco Rodriguez walked Mariano Rivera with the bases loaded, resulting in an ear-to-ear grin from the Yankees' shortstop, who cracked a similar smile during the previous at-bat, when he was intentionally walked. And if you think that Brett Favre doesn't have a lot of fun, tell that to the guy who made the Wrangler commercial.

The other similarity is one that neither Jeter nor Favre can do anything to change, and that is that both are loved and overhyped by the media. If you disagree, look me in the eye and tell me that devoting more than half of SportsCenter to Brett Favre's reinstatement isn't overhype. As for Jeter, the media seems to spend more time covering him than any other player in baseball, not counting steroid coverage.

Do not mistake me. I am not picking on Jeter or Favre. If Favre wants to play another year, and the Vikings want him, then let him play. Same goes for Jeter, should he go down the same road.

Still the question remains, will Jeter do the same as Favre? It's hard to tell, but judging from what we know, it shouldn't come as a total surprise if he does.

But enough about this, I sound worse than the media for overhype.

Crosby's conduct inexcusable

Shortly after an oh-so-close fall to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom lined up to shake hands with Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby.

Except Crosby wasn't there. He was too busy celebrating his Stanley Cup victory. The length of his celebration made Alex Ovechkin look like Pavel Datsyuk (I hope you're reading this, Don Cherry). Kris Draper was among those who agreed that the Pens' captain messed up

Enough about the argument of Crosby being caught up in the moment. This is the NHL, a league where being respectful has a much higher value than in any other. Yes, he did shake hands later, but leaving Lidstrom waiting was just flat out wrong. If Sid the Kid wants to act like that, then let him pick up a basketball.

Also note that, as a captain, it was Crosby's job to set an example for his fellow teammates. If I were the Penguins' coach, I'd probably take away the C and demote him at least to assistant (then again, if I were coach, Crosby probably wouldn't be captain in the first place, but I digress).

Yes, Lebron was a lot worse, but no, that doesn't mean that Crosby's off the hook. The fact remains that what he did was both disrespectful and wrong.

Mind your manners, Mr. Crosby, because when it comes to the NHL, it's a very important category.

Stripes to blame?
Several Red Wings fans are angered by the refereeing in the Stanley Cup Finals. One such ticked-off fan writes "This will go down as the first Stanley Cup Final to have a winner predetermined. Congratulations to having a friend higher up, Pittsburgh." I don't like to criticize officials, but I sort of agree with the guy. The Penguins first goal in game 7 should have been an icing call. Had the men in stripes called it right, the game could have changed completely.
But even though the refs were pretty bad, I still have to admit that the Wings could have won it anyway.

From basher to supporter
Former Red Wings basher Berry Melrose seems to have mellowed a bit since being fired as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Heading into the playoffs, he predicted that the Red Wings would face the Capitals in the final. After the Wings fell to Pittsburgh, Melrose basically said that the Wings were the better team and that they should have won the series.

Awards
Alex Ovechkin won the Hart Trophy (league MVP) for the second year in a row as well as the Lester B. Pearson Award (MVP chosen by players) and the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals. Pavel Datsyuk finished third in Hart Trophy voting and was able to once again claim the the Selke (best defensive forward) and Lady Byng (sportsmanship and gentlemanly play) trophies. The Vezina Trophy for best goalie was won by the Bruins' Tim Thomas, while the Norris (best defensman) went to Zdeno Chara. Evegeni Malkin received the Art Ross Trophy for most points, and Steve Mason recieved the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. Finally, Bruins coach Claude Julien won coach of the year.

Wings need to wake up

Sloppy. That's what it was. No ifs, ands, or buts. No question about it. The Wings played flat out terrible in game 4.

Now the series is tied 2-2. These aren't the same Penguins that were lining up to get the Wings's autographs las year. They are capable of taking this series. To prevent that, the Wings must pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and go back to playing good hockey. Two other things would also be crucial.

Utilize Datsyuk

Enough of this confusion. If he's healthy, then play him. The Wings need Pav. In games 1, 2, and arguably 3, Henrik Zetterberg was able to fill in well. But by now he's spent; Datsyuk needs to give him a breather.

We all miss the skilled, humorous Russian. Throughout the season, Pavel has been the heart and soul of the squad.

Crosby and Datsyuk have been killing us. If it isn't one, it's the other. The problem the Wings have had is not being able to shadow them both. Well, now they can. Should Datsyuk return, he could shadow one while Zetterberg takes care of the other.

Give Draper more minutes

Come on, Mike Babcock. Can't you tell that the man's been playing his heart out? The Wings were mostly sloppy in game 4, but Kris Draper actually looked pretty good. Draper is extremely good at winning face-offs. Possession was a problem in game 4. Possession is often gained by winning face-offs. Am I noticing a pattern there?

Draper can play defense. In game 4, odd-man rushes did the Wings in. Odd-man rushes result from sloppy defense. Wow, there's another pattern. Go figure.

And Draper can skate. In game 4, the Wings seemed to be playing at half the speed that Pittsburgh was playing.

Patterns, patterns, patterns.

One thing is for sure. The Wings sure could use a good one.

Wings fall short in game 3

But the important thing is that they weren't slaughtered

Thank God that game 3 is out of the way. Yes, the Wings lost, but come on, were you really expecting a sweep? We all knew game 3 was going to be the hardest game for the Wings, so what happened Tuesday was what I would actually consider to be a good sign.

Are you scratching your head? If so, let me clear up the haze. My point is this: the Wings lost, but it wasn't by much, which is good. Remember that they have already taken the first two games. Heading into Pittsburgh, the Wings looked in control. The Pens' best chance of winning the series was to blow past the Wings in game 3, thus swinging momentum back in their direction.

But instead of that happening, the Wings kept it close. They hung in there for the majority of the game. If the Wings had lost, say, 5-0, the Pens would be in a good position. But the Wings played well and were able to send a message to the Penguins: Even on our bad days, we barely lose.

If the Wings can take game 4 (which I think they can), they will take a commanding 3-1 lead right before their return to Joe Louis Arena. If they lose game 4, well that's another story.

Are you starting to see what I'm getting at? Game 3 was not, by any means, a must-win for the Wings. The more important game is Thursday's. The only way that game 3 could have been devastating would have been if the Wings were blown out because that could have an effect on how they perform in game 4. A loss Thursday could change things quite a bit.

The important thing about game 3 is that it is over, and it ended without torture. The Wings can now shift their focus to game 4 which will, more than likely, have a much bigger effect on the direction of the series.

Forcast for Stanley Cup Final

Going into this selection I have an eight-pick winning streak going. Now it's time for Dr. Sports to come out of hiding and make another selection.

A lot of times when I'm making selections I think: What's the best messenger for who to pick: what you think in your head? Your heart?

In the past I've learned not to allow my wants to interfere with my picks, I've also learned that a lot of times reasoning doesn't work. It's often best to go with your gut instinct and take that team. If you don't have a gut instinct, that's when you start using the reasoning.

If I plug either method into this selection, I'll get the same result. Same goes if I try the heart. It's all the same this time. No arguing.

They all tell me that the Red Wings are going to win.

I am going with the deeper, more experienced squad. The Wings will repeat, once again proving that a European-dominated team CAN go all the way.
Go Wings!