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.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
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?
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?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
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 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.
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
Friday, November 13, 2009
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.
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
Monday, November 9, 2009
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?
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?
Friday, November 6, 2009
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 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.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
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.
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.
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