By Denny McLain
LIONS
I don't know where to start with our Lions but the latest example and their performance this past Sunday calls for some questions to be asked. Is Matt Stafford hurt? Does Johnson still have a concussion? Why is Stafford missing so many receivers? Is there a disappointing situation that needs to be tended to by the coach? Has our head coach come to close to his stars?
Does anyone ever sit out a play, be punished in some form for a quarter or anything when they make a bonehead play? If Stafford is not hurt and his inconsistency this year has been so dramatic then the obvious answer is the game plan of the head coach.
Guys are not running the right patterns. We still do not have a running game of any kind. Are we ever going to fix that issue? It’s time for ownership to re-examine what is going on with the team. Just because we won 10 games last year does not qualify us to be in the Superbowl. I also have this feeling that if the Lions do not make the playoffs, we may have a new coach next year, because to fall off this far, would be something worse than losing 16 games.
How can a quarterback throw for 5000 yards one year and look like a newbie this year!
He has a chance with his arm to be a superstar for a very long time but if there is some kind of contract renewal clause in his deal that he can't get hurt to get the money then everyone needs to know about it.
There has been way too much hype this year. I have been there, you don’t want out of the game, there may be bonuses if he plays so many minutes or other rewards if he meets certain accomplishments, but if he is hurt he is killing the team and the team is just one more game from elimination from the playoffs.
The rhetoric and promotion of the team before the season started was that of a Super Bowl bound team. The only way that the Lions are getting into the Superbowl is if they buy tickets. Too many penalties, missed passes, fumbles and yes it's easy to criticize the stars but keep in mind there is no “I” in team.
Now they suspend Young for conduct that’s inconsistent with the word “Team.” He’s been lots of trouble since the start of training camp, having fights, hitting one of the starters and lots of other things. I suggest to him if he has this much anger, go sign up for the Marines, get a rifle and go fight the terrorists, he has way too much rage to play in a “Game,” yes a tough game, but none the less, a game.
On the other hand, no one has been disciplined that anyone is aware of, with the exception of Young; why not? Lots of guys have been arrested and not a word about discipline, could that be the real reason that our Lions can’t play to what we expected, our Coach is too close to the players, a good manager or coach must have at least an arms-length of separation to make sure that the players know that there is one man in charge, the coach. So when asked about facing Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt this week, Raiola gave his honest opinion today.
RAIOLA
Raiola responded by saying that JJ Watt is explosive and by the way he is explosive Raiola for the record said. "You know whatever. Bring it."
When asked a follow-up question about Watt's ability to knock down passes, Raiola was more direct, "We play top D-tackles every week, so J.J. Watt, bring it." - Dominic Raiola
I, Denny McLain have always been told to leave the sleeping giants lie and don’t kick them, God forbid that JJ Watt becomes a super star against Raiola and our Lions this week.
Just for the record: Watt has batted down 11 throws, four of which have turned into interceptions for the Texans. The Detroit Lions entire defensive line, eight players in total have combined to knock down four. Ray let ‘em sleep.
RED WINGS
I don't get it. What the NHL has to understand or maybe not is they have the least attended sport with the least amount of people interested in there sport. To go out on strike or be sent out on strike 2 * within 5 years is driving away support, fans, and more importantly income for the players, the guys who need it the most.
I don't know who's running the NHL anymore. Gary Bettmen is being called an idiot by the players now! I think the players have to realize that they have a gift from the NHL owners, and that's how to make lots of money!
That does not mean I support the owners. I went out on strike with Major League Baseball in 1972 and we fought like hell to gain increases in numerous areas with our union and today Baseball’s Union is the strongest of them all! Player’s money negotiations is give and take, and if we believe everything that we hear right now its all take by the owners.
I suspect the owners have plenty of insurance to offset losses and of course the arenas that they play in must still be paid but again more than likely with insurance. This appears to be the NHL owners trying to bust the Union. More than 1/3 of the players are playing elsewhere now. I only hope for everyone's sake they settle this debacle very, very soon.
Just like the Pistons attempts at getting people to the Palace, fans do not like to put up with hearing millionaires argue and debate each other, this has to come to an end quickly or the only teams left will be possibly Canadian, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit and Chicago. Maybe that's not such a bad idea. Could eliminating some of these other teams save the league?
TIGERS
The Tigers got a super early Christmas present. Torii Hunter. How in God’s name can he hurt you? The thing is it the first five guys in our line-up: Jackson, Hunter, Cabrera, Fielder, Martinez.
I do have doubt about Martinez cause after sitting on one’s arse for 18 months it is so tough to come back and play well, but who knows, it is all about being able to capture your concentration: if he is healthy and can make some defense once in awhile, the Tigers if the pitching stands up can win the division by 20.
I personally would love to see other teams in our division play better and make it a race, this past season we, the Tigers, made it a race because of our incredible inconsistency.
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