Official Blog | Friday | March 12th, 2010

NHL Season Should Not Be Interrupted by Olympics

The start of the 2009 Major League Baseball season was maddening.  Instead of the focus being on the start of the MLB campaign, the International Winter Games took precedence.  Teammates were pitted against each other as they represented their home countries.  It was, in my opinion, a strange and inappropriate way to start a Major League season.

Even worse is this year’s paused action by the National Hockey League to give way to the 2010 Winter Olympics.  It’s hard to imagine that it is in the league’s or the fans’ best interest to entirely stop NHL play mid-season so that certain players can leave their professional teams and represent their countries of origin.

As much as I enjoy watching the Olympics, I strongly believe that a professional athlete’s first responsibility should be to his employer and that, short of a natural or man-made disaster, a season’s schedule should never be interrupted. 

What about potential injuries?  What about teammates playing against one another?  What a shame it would be if  teammates clashing ended up in a season-ending injury.

More than anything, the rhythm of the season has been severely disrupted — and NHL devotees’ attention has been short circuited.  It’s hard to imagine that a two week, mid-season shut down of League activity is in the best interest of the game.

This experimentation with season disruption should stop.  Fans of professional sports teams should know that the leagues they support are 100 percent committed to their respective sports — and that any given season takes precedent over theatrics or other interuptions.  All the leagues should end this experiment immediately and recommit themselves to their own product and their fans.

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Detroit Lions’ Jim “The Hatchet” David belongs in Hall of Fame

There’s the old showbiz joke — you need two comics to tell it — that identifies what it takes to make a good comedian. The first guy says “What you really need if you want to tell jokes…” and before he can finish the set-up, the second guy interrupts by blurting out “timing!”

That evergreen has some application when considering the recent elevation of former Lions defensive halfback Dick LeBeau to the National Football Hall of Fame. Controversy swirled around LeBeau’s status — both during the long period when he was blocked from Hall admission, and again now that his longtime coaching record afforded him a second chance via a Senior Committee recommendation of the Lions #44 to the Hall.

Much of the debate centered around the influence of his coaching career, a multi-faceted five team resume that began immediately in 1973 after the culmination of his 14 years patrolling the Lions defensive backfield. The issue raised here does not address his coaching possibly adding weight to his candidacy. Let’s instead take a look at LeBeau’s record and Hall qualifications and compare them to another Lions defensive back, Jim David, another controversial Hall “nominee” (an unofficial term; as with LeBeau many have touted the late David as Hall worthy), and see how time played a crucial role for both.

Dick LeBeau put in an amazing 14 seasons with the Lions, 185 games from 1959-72, showing amazing resiliency for a corner. He was a three time Pro Bowler (Lions fans may recall him stepping out of a starting lineup to do the “Twist” once when he was introduced in Hawaii), and a member of a famed backfield contingent, the “L” boys of Lane, Lowe, Lary and LeBeau. His best credential would surely be the 62 interceptions he rang up in his career. He lacked blazing speed, but at 6′1 and 187 pounds he was a real ‘gamer’ providing steadfast play for the Lions.

But then there’s David, who has not made the Hall, and for whom the term “gamer” might have been invented. If the legendary “Hatchet” wasn’t the meanest man in the NFL, he was surely the toughest 5 ‘10 back in the history of the league. He threw his paltry 178 pounds around with reckless abandon, earning Pro Bowl recognition in SIX of his eight years with the Lions. (David’s backers would tell you he should have been selected seven times, but was barred in 1953 after he ended Y.A. Tittle’s season — and the 49ers title chances — with an “accidentally” applied knee-to-jaw tackle when the QB made the mistake of trying to dive into the Lions end zone on the Hatchet’s side.) David compiled 36 interceptions over 96 games, and — maybe the highlight of HIS resume — he played on three World’s Championship and four division championship teams in Detroit.

And as LeBeau played with the All-L backfield, David was an integral part of the “Chris Crew,” the defensive backfield headed by Hall of Famer Jack Christiansen and later anchored by HOFer Yale Lary. In fact, both players ran alongside greatness. Besides Lary, LeBeau partnered with Dick “Night Train” Lane and later Lem Barney in Detroit, two more legendary Hall choices.

So why LeBeau, and why not David? Like the joke about telling jokes, it’s all in the timing. And timing eventually worked for LeBeau in overcoming the glare given off by his famous backfield mates. While David and LeBeau seemed evenly matched by averaging roughly 4.5 interceptions per season, a working theory was that both failed to receive initial Hall support because they would have been the third of their backfield “teams” — the L Boys and the Chris Crew — to gain admittance. Surely some voters, at the time of David’s and LeBeau’s original consideration, figured that elevating three of four backfield starters from the same team would have been a bit much. Thus did both fail to gain entrance when first eligible.

But when LeBeau’s candidacy was considered the second time around, sparked by his long coach’s service and recommended by the Hall’s Senior Committee, the bright and apparently blinding light cast by Lary and Lane and then Barney had long worn off. And thus voters were able to consider his candidacy outside of his starry backfield affiliation. It makes it seem possible, if not likely, that a new consideration of Jim David — on his own instead of as the third Chris Crewman — could yield similar results.

Sound goofy? Possibly. But it’s an argument that makes sense to many.

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Highlights from Damon Press Conference

The Tigers made official today what we already knew – Johnny Damon has signed a one-year, $8 million deal to join the Tigers as an outfielder. Damon will wear the number 18 for the Tigers, a number that has rarely been ever worn by a full-time player (see Rudy Pemberton). Also, it seems the Tigers are 100% in favor of Austin Jackson getting most of the playing time in center with the aging Damon and Ordonez playing the corners.

The most interesting news to come out of today’s press conference, was the amount of influence Dontrelle Willis had on bringing Damon to the Tigers. While Damon apparently had the Tigers in his sights during the Nook Logan/Granderson era of 2005, it was Willis talking about the team atmosphere that provided the extra push for bringing Damon to the Tigers. Dontrelle’s subpar record and astronomical salary should rightly be placed under question, but his defense for a team that has held beside him during the worst of his career, is extremely commendable.

Damon, now looking considerably less Caveman-like, repeatedly told reporters that he always had Detroit in his sights. While that comment is somewhat open for discussion following wooing from the Braves and White Sox, it does demonstrate how much playing for a team in a smaller market has an appeal for him. His time with the Royals and Athletics is nearly a decade in the past, and hopefully his abilities are not also a distant memory. He mentioned his friendly relationship with Verlander and Bonderman as also being catalysts for making the move. Recent articles suggested he was a big fan of Steve Yzerman as well.

This season will also determine the future direction for the Tigers organization. Ever since the Granderson trade/non-Polanco contract tendering, Detroit has shifted between a team playing within its struggling economy and a team still reeling from last year’s near trip to the playoffs. The current line-up has very few players between the extremely young (Sizemore, Avila, Porcello) and the veterans (Ordonez, Guillen, Damon). Even if the Tigers are successful this season, the path to the future is as unclear as the Tigers’ outcome this season.

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Detroit Tigers Should Consider Kirk Gibson For Next Manager

I think we all know that sometime in the next two or three years Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland will probably retire, resign or be fired.

And when that happens, Tigers’ management should seriously consider hiring Kirk Gibson to lead the team. No this is not just sappy 1984 sentiment. This is based on Gibson’s ability and his passion for the game and for the Tigers.

If you recall, Gibby previously served as a coach for buddy Alan Trammell when he managed Detroit from 2003 through 2005. The Tigers were losers during that rough period but let’s remember that Tigers GM and President Dave Dombrowski and team owner Mike Ilitch didn’t provide much talent until the 2005 season. And most importantly, Gibson was not the manager.

Many believe, including Leyland, that Trammell and Gibson had finally instilled professionalism back into the clubhouse and helped prepare the club for the 2006 run to the World Series.

If there is anyone who can motivate players it is Kirk Gibson. Just ask any former teammate from Detroit, Los Angeles, Kansas City or Pittsburgh. He does not put up with crap, he is a positive motivator, and from what I’ve been told, he has a very good baseball mind and would be able to put together a strong coaching staff.

Gibson played 17 years in the Big Leagues, most of those under Hall of Fame managers Sparky Anderson and Tommy LaSorda — and he now has six years of coaching under his belt. He is now entering his fourth season as a bench coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ironically, Gibson’s competition for the Tigers job may very well be his former teammate Tommy Brookens who has climbed the ladder as a Minor League manager in the Tigers organization.

Some team is eventually going to give Gibson a shot at managing. It might as well be the Tigers.

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Inside Perspective: Safe at Home at Tiger Stadium

It seems most everybody wants to be in showbiz these days; and about the quickest route there is via the many television channels and shows that glut the market and destroy the national attention span.

The final game at Tiger Stadium, September 27, 1999.

Back in the 1970s I went to the coast so as to do my part in undermining Western culture, and DID work in the vast wasteland that is American TV. One of my first bosses was a producer/writer who found great success in Los Angeles. He had gone from disc jockeying on radio into TV writing, and he absolutely lived for the day he would see his name on the credits of a national show. I well recall him telling me about the night that his dream came true. He DID write a show, and he DID see his name in the credits at the end. I recall that he was living at the time in a lousy desert outpost near L.A. called El Centro, California. And he told me how he wandered outside his trailer after his show aired, after seeing his name in the credits … and he looked up into the deep sky, and realized that nothing in the world had changed … nothing in THE world or HIS world … just that his name had flashed by quickly on a TV screen. A complete letdown.

Which brings me to Tiger Stadium and Al Kaline (don’t ask how I could make such a preposterous jump, just jump with me.) I ended up working in TV, nationally and locally in Detroit, for many years, about 30 I guess. And there was only one show I ever did that gave me a sense of any real satisfaction. And that was Channel 50’s telecast of the final game at Tiger Stadium in September of 1999, and a special 90-minute tribute to the Stadium and our local sports history there that followed.

Ray Lane, truly a prince of a fellow, hosted that show, and the whole shebang was produced by Toby Cunningham, he of Red Wings TV fame. I wrote the closing tribute show, and had the incredible buzz of finishing it by having Al Kaline emerge from the Tiger dugout, and walk to home plate for one last time. Mind you, this was in a completely empty stadium, with the night lights blazing, and his walk shot from directly behind him AND from the top of the centerfield bleachers. I had written a poem, a tribute to the old ballpark, that Ray recited as Al made his last trip to the plate, looked slowly around the entire stadium, and then made his way up the nearest walkway, into a dark tunnel and out of our sight.

It was the great goosebump experience of my TV life. And the thrill had been multiplied earlier that week, as I — armed with an All Areas TV pass — wandered the old ballpark at will. I strolled the grass on off-days, and explored every section, up and down. I recalled every seat I had ever sat in there, and every game — Lions, Tigers, World Series, Goodfellow’s high school football — that I had attended. It all came back. Especially on that walkway outside the stadium, that ascended on the Michigan Avenue side. Remember it? Walking outside before ducking into the magic that WAS Navin, Briggs, Tiger Stadium. And what came back to me, on my last lone ascent up that walkway, was how my Dad used to guide me as a kid through the crowds that always surged there. He would place his thumb and forefinger on my collar, and steer me through the crowd of cigar-smoking men who pushed and surged against us as we made our way into that special Lions’ … or Goodfellow’s … or Tigers’ game.

And yup … unlike my friend in L.A. … when our Channel 50 show ended that final night, I finally felt some real pride and thankfulness at seeing my name on a TV screen … as the credits rolled for the last time over that now empty yet still gorgeous playing field. The memory and that good feeling linger to this day.

And also, there is this: You can believe it or not, but it is swear-on-my-parent’s-grave true. That last afternoon when I walked up that Tiger Stadium outdoor walkway, after I looked down on Michigan Avenue and remembered so many days and nights entering the stadium there … I stopped just as I crossed into the darkness of the stadium, into the shadows cast by the upper deck. I paused because somebody grabbed me from behind; somebody placed their hand on the back of my neck and squeezed me quite hard, as if in greeting. So I turned quickly to see who it was … and there was nobody there. Nobody at all. I was completely alone.

But of course, I wasn’t. And that’s what I’ll always remember about the closing of Tiger Stadium, and Al Kaline’s last walk home, and my last walk with my Dad. Me and Al and my father, Charles A. DeLisle. All … one final time … safe at home.

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