Official Blog | Tuesday | January 6th, 2009

Dec
01

Pistons Playing Flat, Uninspired

By Jeff

The NBA has arguably one of the lengthiest regular seasons, where roughly 10% of the 82 games have any meaning. Nonetheless, it has come across lately that the Pistons leave Sundays reserved for the NFL. With their most recent loss the PIstons have dropped to 6-6 with Iverson on the team and 0-4 on Sundays. With the team no longer holding practice before Sunday games, and apparently holidays for some others, this current squad may be destined to make up their ground in the playoffs on the road.

This team has shown a troubling epidemic lately that should cause a number of sleepless nights for Joe Dumars and staff. The team has shown up for some games (see fourth quarter of Cavs game, Lakers game) while taking other games off (Celtics game, T-Wolves game). The on/off switch plaguing the team is very similar to the attitude seen with Rasheed Wallace in the past. It took Iverson only three weeks to cause his first flap with the team, there is no reason to expect more from himself and others along the way.

With the first full month of the season in the books, the Pistons find themselves in an unusual situation where they are in a group that includes Atlanta, New Jersey and Toronto in the battle for the final home court spot (if the season were to end today). Orlando, Boston and Cleveland are all playing solid basketball right now and there is no reason to expect that to stop. The same can be said for a Pistons team challenging its first-year coach.

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Nov
30

Red Wings’ Legendary Bad Boy “Terrible Ted” Lindsay

By Steve

Ted Lindsay was one of the most hated — and respected — hockey players of all time.  He earned a reputation as a rough and tumble brawler with a bad attitude and killer instinct.

This video from the Legends of Hockey series captures the essence of “Terrible Ted” and his incredible career with the Detroit Red Wings.

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Nov
28

Listen To a Rare Ty Cobb Radio Interview

By Steve

Ty Cobb shaped and defined Detroit baseball more than any other player.  The Georgia Peach’s aggressive, gritty style of play is the foundation upon which the Detroit Tigers franchise is built.

While there is ample video footage of Cobb during his playing days, very little audio exists.  That’s because video cameras didn’t capture sound in those days.

This clip provides audio from a radio interview that Ty Cobb gave on the Coca-Cola Top Notchers program in 1930. The interview is conducted by famous sportswriter Grantland Rice.

I can tell that the interview was scripted because I’ve heard other, more candid talks by Cobb.  In any event, it’s still amazingly cool to hear Cobb’s voice — and insights into his remarkable career.

 

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Nov
25

Thanksgiving: A Detroit Football Tradition

By Jeff

Long before the days of extravagant halftime shows on Thanksgiving or television awards marking the MVP of a regular season game, the Lions have hosted football games on Thanksgiving afternoons. For the 69th time on Thursday, the Lions will take the field on Thursday afternoon as part of the NFL’s Thanksgiving Classic.

The Thanksgiving game was originally a gimmick by original owner G.A. Richards to get fans to attend Lions games - a tradition begun by the Detroit Heralds, Tigers, Panthers and Wolverines of the 1920s. While slow at first to catch on, the Lions Thanksgiving game was the only one to survive throughout the years until the Cowboys joined in during the 1966 season. In 2006, the Chiefs hosted the first evening game to complete a three-game slate of football.

Each team has not played every year since the special game’s inception. The Lions took a break from 1939-1944 for the war, while the Cowboys took 1975-77 off for the St. Louis Cardinals. In fact, many fans will also remember that Thanksgiving used to always mean Lions-Packers. These two teams squared off every year from 1951-1963 and have played a total of five times since the merger, including last year’s 37-26 loss.

Detroit’s 35-32-1 all-time record will yet again be placed on the line Thursday along with that 0-11 number that’s been hanging over their head’s since that perfect preseason. The Lions have not won a game in five tries and look for that streak to end against the Titans on Thursday.

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Nov
24

Red Wings’ Henrik Zetterberg: A Magician With the Puck

By Steve

When hockey is watched live and at full speed, it’s often difficult to see the amazing moves that take place on the ice.  Slow things down a bit and the magic reveals itself in awe inspiring ways.

This highlight video of Henrik Zetterberg, shot in slow motion, clearly demonstrates the incredible puck handling ability of the Detroit Red Wings star.  Zetterberg has got it all: speed, agility, instinct and grit.

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Nov
21

25th Anniversary of Magical 1984 Tigers Season On Deck

By Steve

Today it almost seems like a distant dream.  I was 13 years old in 1984 and manning a souvenir stand on the corner of Cochrane & Kaline Drive.  My team was inside the ballpark performing magic acts every night and the entire city, region and state stood captivated by the entire script.

I was just a kid, but I realized at the time how unique the 1984 season was as it played itself out.  A no-hitter the first week of the season; a 35-5 start; record crowds at The Corner; a wire-to-wire first place year. 

1984 even had its perfect nemesis: the pesky Toronto Blue Jays.  Because they made it close throughout much of the season, it made it even sweeter when the Tigers pounded them repeatedly and they finished in second place — 15 games behind the best team in baseball.

2009 will mark the 25th anniversary of one of the most memorable seasons in baseball history.  1984 was far from Orwellian.  It was a boyhood dream come true.

This Bless You Boys video produced in the midst of the magic by WDIV-TV, Channel 4 captures the spirit and energy of the season from the fans’ perspective.  My brother Dave and I can be seen in the clip selling our wares on the street corner if only for a brief moment.

Enjoy.

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Nov
19

Frank Navin R.I.P.

By Steve

He wasn’t an overly popular man — but he is unquestionably one of the Founding Fathers of Detroit baseball.

Frank Navin’s affiliation with the Detroit Tigers dates back to 1902.  He started out as a bookkeeper for then-owner Samuel Angus.  The very next year, Navin bought stock in the Tigers and became a minority owner.  Prior to the 1907 season, he purchased 50% of the team from the new owner, William Yawkey.

From 1902 to 1935, Navin was involved in the direct management and oversight of the team.  It was Navin who signed the still unknown Ty Cobb and Hughie Jennings and built the teams that would win three consecutive American League pennants in 1907, 1908 and 1909.

Navin became president of the Tigers in 1908 and remained in that position throughout the remainder of his life.  Gambling problems forced Navin to sell part of the team to Walter O. Briggs Sr. in the early 1930s, but he remained active in the management of the team.

Perhaps Navin’s most lasting influence came in 1911-1912 when he tore down Bennett Park and built a steel and concrete structure that would bear his name.  Navin Field opened in April of 1912 and propelled Detroit baseball into a whole new level of play.

Navin Field served as the stadium (with multiple expansions) housing the Detroit Tigers for the next 88 years.  From 1912 through 1999, the Detroit Tigers played in Frank Navin’s home away from home.

Recently, my father-in-law stumbled upon the burial site of Frank Navin at a Southfield cemetery.  Navin remains above ground in a mausoleum guarded by — what else? — giant tigers.  Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is located at 25800 W. 10 Mile Road near Beech Daly.  Below are photos of Navin’s final resting place.

It should be noted that Navin worked his entire adult life trying to bring a World Series championship to Detroit.  He did so in October of 1935 — and died just a few weeks later.

Frank Navin's mausoleum at Holy Sepulchre Cemetary in Southfield, Michigan.

Frank Navin's mausoleum at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.

Giant tigers stand guard on either side of Frank Navin's burial site.

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Nov
18

Six Away from History

By Jeff

The Lions running game looked to be in full attack mode Sunday. Too bad the Panthers looked to be even better. For the fifth time in six games the Lions took the field looking for their first win and have nothing to show but a single-digit loss margin. This team is now at 0-10, a mere six games away from the NFL’s version of the “Hall of Shame”.

For those optimists, I will mention that if not for a blown call at the goal line, the Lions would have had it tied up in the fourth quarter. I would also mention that, even through his injured legs, Culpepper is the best QB the Lions have placed on the field this season. He knows how to run an NFL offense, the biggest criticism placed on Orlovsky and Stanton. His two-year deal is still questionable as a whole, but it provides security that the Lions will hopefully put the embarrassing loss to the Jags behind them.

For those reading the morning paper today there was a Web site mentioned that begged for the Lions to fill the NFL void in Los Angeles. In our city’s history this is not the first time a city has either threatened to leave and it likely won’t be the last. In fact, this isn’t even a threat, this is a local suggestion to another city. Unlike Fire Millen or Scott Mitchell + an expletive, this demonstrates a humiliation well beyond the job loss numbers we read about or the other difficult economic trends. 0-16’s biggest victim is not a single coach or GM, it’s the city that pays its hard-earned dollars to go to games, but cable packages and wear Lions apparel.

Most likely first win games in order:

1) 12/7 vs. Minnesota; 2) 11/23 vs. Tampa Bay; 3) 11/27 vs. Tennessee (they will put up a better fight than most think)

Not going to happen:

1) 12/28 @ Green Bay; 2) 12/21 vs. New Orleans; 3) 12/14 @ Indianapolis

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Nov
17

Is Lidstrom the NHL’s Greatest Defenseman Ever?

By Steve

There’s no doubt Nicklas Lidstrom is an incredible hockey player.  But is the Detroit Red Wings captain the NHL’s greatest defenseman of all time?

You be the judge as you watch this incredible homemade highlight film.

 

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Nov
14

Stanley Cup Rematch

By Jeff

The recent Wings-Pens game was much more than your average regular season game at the Joe. With storylines of past players meeting back up in the rink, and some anger boiling over from last season, the latest match-up between Motown and Steeltown ended up with an unfamiliar ending from last season. For this season though, high scoring has been a huge warning flag for those hoping for a repeat.

This game was one of those epic games that comes along every 10 years or so. Not since the famed Wings-Avs fight night on one March evening have teams battled in a game that only counts for two points when it’s all said and done. Following 60-plus minutes, the Pens finally came out with a gutsy 7-6 OT victory by the tremendous play of Jordan Staal.

The Wings, who at one point led by three goals, played sloppy coming home and the young Pittsburgh players made them easily pay. For a rare opportunity for Detroit fans to see their home squad over these past few weeks, both teams clearly did not disappoint. With questions continuing to surround Osgood and Conklin, fans may shortly be hoping to see a new face in net.

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