With the World Series hitting an unusual 3.5 inning conclusion, it would not be a shock if the Pistons opener took many by surprise. As one local pundit also exclaimed, it would also not be a surprise to see less fans in the stands this year due to the local economy. This is an unusual situation for the Pistons and its fans who have lowered their expectations to levels not seen since the Carlisle-era. On a fall evening in Auburn Hills, Michael Curry won his first game as the newest head man in Detroit, defeating the Indiana Pacers in the process.
The result was not all that surprising considering the Pacers are counting on Danny Granger and Jarrett Jack to be major contributors this season. The short rivalry sparked by Ron Artest and Jermaine O’Neal is only a fleeting memory now, as are the wins in the Circle City. Curry’s gameplan helped bring the Pacers to their knees with a grinding style that will create close games throughout this season. His use of basically every Piston with a warm-up on, demonstrated that the success of this team relies heavily on the production off the bench.
Notes: Jason Maxiell confirmed today that he has signed a 4-year, $20 million deal with the Pistons. This deal locks up the Bearcat alum through 2013, barely beating the re-signing deadline.
Gordie Howe is known throughout the sports world simply as “Mr. Hockey.” His incredible career dates back to 1946, when at the age of 18, he debuted at right wing for the still young Detroit Red Wings franchise.
This video clip captures Howe’s early days with footage dating back to the 1950s. You’ll catch a glimpse or two of old Olympia Stadium and be reminded why Mr. Howe’s elbows helped make him famous.
If a tree falls in a forest does it make a sound? If a game is not shown to its only fans, should it even count? For the first time since the Lions lacked any black piping on their uniforms, the Lions played to a less-than-empty home building. For the umpteenth time though, they came out flat and found themselves with a similar result. With nine games left in their 2008 schedule, they are in a battle with the Bengals for both the no. 1 draft pick and an effort to avoid NFL immortality.
Dan Orlovsky was a mediocre quarterback at an up-and-coming UConn program and his NFL experience has mostly been with a baseball cap on during Detroit Lions football games. He was not a USC or Florida quarterback who brought a winning attitude into the Lions locker room. A local paper today decided to quote the current starting back about the ticket situation in Detroit, and in no mincing of words, basically explained that this was not his city and he doesn’t care whether the fans show up or not. The funny thing about his comment was the Lions have not showed up in months at Ford Field, and those fans do contribute in some way to Orlovsky’s salary. His comments alienated his skewed views even more from a fan base groaning for a Spartan to take over the top spot.
With difficult games coming up against Chicago and Jacksonville, there is a daunting feeling that the Thanksgiving game against the Titans could be a real scary sight. Sure, there have been some closer results over the past few weeks that have been promising, but the same issues continue to plague this team. Calvin Johnson continues to be underutilized, the running game remains a total mystery, and the team seems to disappear when the game means something. Apparently, Orlovsky and the team are beginning to realize the fans disappear when the losing continues.
Steve Yzerman has been retired for a while now, but he’s still the number one selling custom Detroit Red Wings jersey. This is truly impressive because the Wings just won a Stanley Cup without him on the ice. To think that he out sells the current championship players is nothing short of remarkable — but it speaks volumes for the respect and affection the fans have for Yzerman.
This amazing video was put together by one of Stevie’s biggest fans. It’s safe to say that Hockeytown will never forget its Captain. Enjoy.
Hidden amongst the lead-up to this weekend’s UM-MSU clash in Ann Arbor and the constant shock of the Rays in the World Series, came more news about the current state of the Detroit Lions.
For the first time since the Lions made the move back to Detroit from Pontiac, a “professional” football game will be played in this town and only the attendees will see the game locally. With their time extensions and the fan patience levels run out, the team was unable to sell their final 6,000 seats for this weekend’s game vs. Washington.
Back in the Silverdome days it was not unusual to have a game not shown to its own support base. The Pontiac Silverdome was so massive that fans basically counted on others to fill the seats for them. Since traffic in and out of Pontiac was horrendous, the comfort of a sofa was much more of the norm. Even with Barry Sanders in uniform, the experience in the cavernous dome was not the same level of enjoyment.
Reason No. 2,381 that the Lions organization is in trouble: the biggest news this week about the Lions involved potential misconduct between a former employee (Matt Millen) and a former rival (Brett Favre). That’s what things have come to in this town when the local papers start bringing up your connections to the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and its similarities to the ‘62 Mets and ‘03 Tigers.
How appropriate when in the year following the first ever visit to 18-0 (pre Super Bowl), a different team in the league could fall to 0-16. In fact, it was not long ago when the Lions flirted with that record. I’m actually stunned that Ford Field has not yet been changed to 0-16 Field - a place where this team seems to be heading.
During the 1996 NHL Western Conference Finals, Colorado Avalanche player Claude Lemieux layed a dirty hit on Detroit Red Wing Kris Draper. Lemieux checked Draps from behind and sent him flying into the boards face first. Draper broke his jaw and suffered other injuries from the incident. The hit went largely unanswered until March 26, 1997 at Joe Louis Arena.
That day, one of the bloodiest fights in NHL history ensued as Igor Larionov, Darren McCarty, Mike Vernon, Brendan Shanahan and other Red Wings more than evened the score. It was a brawl for the ages.
Many believe the fight helped inspire the Red Wings to later win their first Stanley Cup Championship in forty years.
Watch this incredible video clip that captures the entire affair. It’s a wonder no one went to jail.
He was the greatest running back of all time. Agility, acceleration, poise, stamina, grace — he had it all. His name is Barry Sanders.
Sanders ended his brilliant NFL career with the Detroit Lions just shy of the league’s all-time rushing record. He stepped down at a time when he could have shattered the mark — and he ended his career in its prime.
This well crafted film is a reminder of just how special Sanders was as an athlete.
It wasn’t much — but back then it seemed like everything. It was on the turntable of every faithful Detroit Tigers fan and it somehow seemed to capture all of the excitement and hope of a truly magical season.
The Year of the Tiger album remains a favorite nostalgic item for Detroit Tigers fans. The following video will bring back wonderful memories for those who lived through the 1968 season forty years ago. Enjoy.
Rick Knapp, the Minnesota Twins Minor League pitching coordinator, was hired yesterday as the Detroit Tigers new pitching coach.
It’s hard to say how important a pitching coach is to a team. But I remember vividly the impact Roger Craig had on the young pitching staff of the 1984 Tigers. Craig was an integral part of the team’s success — and he was both instructive and motivational.
Knapp — and the Twins — have a reputation for producing strike-throwers. That is something the Tigers need desperately. This past season, the Tigers were the second worst team in the league when it comes to walks allowed; the Twins are consistently one of the best in this category.
A few turnarounds on the pitching staff – namely Justin Verlander and Dontrelle Willis — would instantly turn the Tigers into contenders. Now Dave Dombrowski needs to bolster the bullpen and possibly sign another starting pitcher to give Knapp something he can mold into a serious staff.
It’s good to see the Tigers moving so quickly and in the right direction.
Does anyone remember why the Detroit Tigers allowed Kirk Gibson to be lost to free agency after the magical 1987 season?
If there was any doubt that Jim Campbell and company made an awful mistake, Gibson showed everybody what a bonehead move it was less than a year later in the 1988 World Series while playing for the L.A. Dodgers.
Here is a candid interview with Gibson as he tells the story of his electrifying walk-off home run in Game One.
