Where art tho Pistons?

What has happened to our beloved Detroit Pistons. Once one of the more prominent teams in the NBA, now their are fighting to keep a playoff spot. Trading for Allen Iverson was suppose to make us a better team, but obviously that has not worked out. I can't Blame Joe D for pulling that move, because with the team we had going into the regular season, nothing was going to be accomplished. However there is a few things that catch my eye when I watch the Pistons.

We have no low post presence, do not say Rasheed Wallace, because we all know that he lives by the 3 point line, if he would make his presence felt down low, we will be a much better team. I am not asking for him to do it all the time, but do it in spurts! Show me something Sheed, SHOW ME SOMETHING!!!! (The trade rumor, sheed for Elton Brand would be a good deal for the Pistons.)

AI and Rip Hamilton do NOT get along. It is obvious when you see them play together, they have no chemistry whatsoever, and when AI is on the line, RIP never acknowledge his presence. I can't say I blame Rip, he lost is starting job to AI, and his numbers are down, but its no excuse, they are two great players, and they should make each other better, and they are not!

Michael Curry is a horrible head coach. How can he keep a superstar like Iverson on the bench the whole 4th quarter in a game that was close?!?! I can't remember the game but it was last week, yes we lost that game too. Anyway, Curry is way to inconsistent, and he needs to stop changing the starting lineup every other game. Let the players get some chemistry together, and then hopefully results will start to show.

Either way the Pistons are in a lot of trouble. To me this season is a lost cause. Hopefully they will draft a legit big man, and/or get a good player off free agency.

Oakland loses a tough one.

Well my boys lost their first ever game to North Dakota State University, by the score 81-71. I really didn't expect Oakland to win, but when they were up at the half 44-40, I thought they had a real good chance of pulling off the upset. Now we have 4 losses in the Conference, so we can kiss the regular season title goodbye. Oakland can thank themselves for that, losing to teams like Southern Utah, and Centenary, when they have no business of losing too.

Oakland loss is simple, they didn't make shots down the stretch. Kangas hit a 3 to tie the game at 64, with a little over 6 minutes left, but NDSU went on a 13-0 run to seal the victory. Our boys need to regroup and think about tomorrows game at South Dakota State, because they really need that win to maintain their 3rd position in the standings.

Two things really bothered me about the loss, and they are strongly correlated. Lately our starters have been producing all the scoring. We really need our bench to step up and score some more points. If they can't score we wont go far in the Conference Tournament. So Dan "the man" needs to step up as well and Blake Cushingberry. Coach Kampe really needs to play more than 7 people in a game! What is up with that?! Why is Matt Samuels not playing?! Coach needs to give his start players some rest, and stop playing them 38-40 minutes a game! Again if that keeps up, we wont go far. I realize our injury situation, but still 7 players cannot cut it, Samuels needs to play at least 10 minutes in a game.

Alright, I am done complaining about our bench. However tomorrow is a much needed win for our boys! SDSU is a very streaky team, so hopefully we get them on an off night, and not take them lightly.

Lions trying to change their Image.

I would want to too, after going 0-16 and 50 years of futility. I personality, thinks its a good idea. They need to do anything that they can to change their image, and separate the new regime from Matt Millen. Hell, the Lions even hosted a town hall meeting! When did that ever happen? The Lions organization actually wants to listen to their season ticket holders?!?! I almost had a heart attack! The best news about that is that they might change the logo. My first reaction, ABOUT TIME! I believe they should go back to old school uniforms. However, I like the actions of the front staff so far. At first I was pissed when they hired Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand, but when I have time to think about it, and see what they are doing, they might be a good hire, MIGHT. I also liked the fact that Mayhew called out Cory Redding, and telling him he needs to start earning his paycheck, best thing I've heard a Lions GM say in a very long time! I believe this group of guys are committed to the organization, and will actually turn this team around. However, it will probably take them 3 years with the disaster Matt Millen left us.

Can Kangas be stopped?!

Holy Cow, seriously! 8-8-7, those are how many three's Kangas has hit in 3 straight games! Not only is Kangas shooting lights out, he is leading his team to victory! Oakland won all those games, including yesterday at the O'rena with a little over 3,000 people in attendance. Not only did the fans witness a blow out victory (86-46) but they saw Erik Kangas make history, he became the all-time leader in 3 pointers made in Oakland history. Erik you have had one hell of a career at Oakland, but your not finished, I want to see you lead our school into another NCAA tournament birth! With the way Kangas is playing, he seems bound and determined to carry his team to the big dance!

As a team Oakland seems to have finally gelled. They are finally playing good solid defense, and Benson and Hudson have really come on as of late. I love the starting line up of, Kangas, Jones, Benson, Maynard, and Hudson. They are the best players on the team by far, and as a unit they are playing great. As a team they will have a huge test against them this week as they go against both Dakota's schools. I will be happy with a victory, but if we were to pull off both, look out, we will be going dancing!!

Well, the Tigers finally found their closer. Detroit recently sign free agent Brandon Lyon to a one year contract, which is worth $4.25 million. I think this is a really good sign for the Tigers. Seriously, who wants Fernando Rodney closing for us?! I sure as hell don't. We will have a guy that is in his prime of his career, that has experience closing. I will admit he is not the best, and he needs to cut down on hits per innings pitched, but he has the potential to be a really good closer for us. It also helps that he plays in a really good pitchers park. The tigers also signed veteran lefty Scott Williamson. I know the Tigers have very low expectations going into this year, but I believe they will have a great year coming up!

Kangas Bomb!!!!!

Who is Erik Kangas? Well he just might be the best shooter in the nation that no one knows about! Tonight against IUPUI, Kangas helped lead Oakland University to a much need victory. He only shot 8-11 from behind the arc, finishing with 33 points. His last time out Kangas scored 39 points while going 8-13 from behind the arc. I still wonder how a player like Kangas ended up at a Mid-major school, and not playing for the big boys. If Kangas can keep up this hot shooting I expect Oakland to be dancing.

Freshman Drew Maynard had 15 points for OU. Keith Benson had 9 points, 10 boards, and 4 blocks, while Johnathon Jones had 7 points and dished out 10 assists. OU's next game is at home against Western Illinois University, 6 PM at the O'rena. Hopefully you guys will make the trip!

State lost to WHO?!?!

Yeah, I had to do a double take also. I did not watch the game, mainly because of my night class, with a professor that I can barely understand trying to teach us Economics...But Michigan State lost to Northwestern!!!!! Out of all the schools in the Big 10, losing to Northwestern is uncalled for! Northwestern has never made it to the NCAA tournament, EVER! Just when I start to think that the mighty Spartans might make a deep run in this years NCAA tournament, they pull this stunt. Now I have no idea what to think, I suppose it depends on what team shows up for the Spartans. They have a team that can make a serious run for a final 4 bid, or they just might get upset in the first round. Hopefully this was a wake up call for State, and they will play the way they are capable of. I'm still in shock that they lost to Northwestern!!!!! Come on, State won 15 straight conference home games, to have it snapped my Northwestern!! Wow...

The Defensive Coordinators are set.

Both Michigan and the Detroit Lions have hired their new Defensive Coordinators. Michigan hired Greg Robinson, while the Lions hired Gunther Cunningham. Right now I have mixed emotions about both coaches. Both have a lot of history on the defensive side of the ball, but recently both coaches struggled. Robinson was formally the head man at Syracuse, before getting canned this off season. Cunningham had the 2nd worse defense this year, only ahead of Joe Berry and the Lions.

The thing that bothers me most about Cunningham, is that he is old, he has 40 years of coaching experience, and I am hoping that he didn't let the game get ahead of him just yet. However before last year he did have the 13 best defense in the league, its not great, but he was making strides every year prior to this year. Cunningham also had to deal with a bunch of nobody's on the defensive side this year. Hopefully with some talent he will be able to turn the Lions defense around. Did I just say talent?!?! Well, we all know the Lions lack talent on the defensive end, well maybe a TON of talent, but hopefully with the draft we can get some stud players. That is a big hope though. I really wanted a young guy that has fire, passion, and creativity, but maybe next time. Only time will tell if this was a good hire.

Now with Robinson. We all realize that he was a horrible head coach, actually he was brutal, he couldn't so squat with Syracuse, and he is not a very good recruiter. However I am hoping he is the 2nd coming of Dick LeBeau. Robinson has success being a defensive coordinator, winning 2 super bowls with the Denver Broncos. He was also the defensive coordinator at Texas, helping them to a rose bowl win in 2004. (I do not need to say who they beat either). I suppose Robinson cannot get any worse than Michigan's last defensive coordinator, but being mediocre will not cut it at Michigan. Michigan has a ton of talent coming in this year in their recruiting class, including the best recruit out of Michigan, Will Campbell. By far the talent at Michigan will be much better than he had at Syracuse, however he will have to produce, and actually stop teams this year. Or his tenure at Michigan will be short lived, they cannot afford another 3-9 season.

SIDE NOTES

The Detroit Tigers have signed Juan Rincon to a minor league deal, inviting him to spring training. I think this is a great sign for the Tigers. Last year Rincon struggled pitching for the Indians, but Rincon will be reunited with Tigers new pitching coach Rick Knapp. Rincon is only 29 and is still in the prime of his career. During his tenure at Minnesota he was one of the better set-up man for the Twins. However Rincon is not a closer, and the Tigers will not use him as one. Hopefully Juan can have a bounce back season and pitch like he used to for Minnesota.

Oakland University Men's basketball has a home game tomorrow against in conference rival IUPUI. The game will be on FSN Detroit. I recommend that people try to make the trip to Rochester, (only $5 for a ticket) or watch the game on TV. I know many people for Southeast Michigan doesn't know much about OU basketball, but they have a good team, and a program on the rise. Oakland is led by Junior point Guard Johnathon Jones and Senior Guard Erik Kangas. JJ is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 PPG while also posting 6.1 APG. While Kangas leads the team in scoring with 17.8 PPG, and sporting a 39.5% from 3 range. Kangas is a deadly shooter, last time out against IPFW he scored 39 points while hitting 8-13 from behind the arc. Hopefully my boys will pull off another victory!

Pistons Head Man

Good Ole Michael Curry. He did exactly what Flip Saunders did, but faster, he lost the team. The Detroit Pistons lost 5 in a row, before their victory to a bad Memphis team, which was not an easy win for them either. You guys can complain about Allen Iverson, and how you wish we didn't make this trade, but it comes down to coaching. Curry can't cut it. He was a solid NBA player, and a good Assistant coach, to whom players could run to him for comfort. However, for being a head coach, he is lousy. I would take Flip back any day!

Curry is scared to step up to the big boys, and tell them they are coming off the bench. I bet Curry wish he could take back that statement when he said Rip Hamilton or AI is coming off the bench when Rip gets healthy. Well both of them said they were not coming off the bench, and instead of Curry stepping up like a head coach is suppose to be, he backed down like a coward. Now the players will do whatever they want whenever they want, just like the Saunders era.

I am sick of the pistons horrible play, and Curry needs to step up if this team is going anywhere. If I were him I'd make Rip come off the bench, because AI and Rodney Stuckey have good chemistry playing together. Then I'd tell Sheed to stop shooting all these 3's and play down in the post like a good big man is suppose to. However, I realize that this will never happen, and I will predict that the Pistons will be knocked out early in the post-season. Oh well I can dream like my fellow Piston fans. Good night Detroit.

The Super Bowl is set!

How about those Cards! I'd be the first to admit that I didn't give them a chance to go to the super bowl, and some how they have done it. Plan and simple, Warner is playing great and Larry Fitzgerald is hands down THE BEST RECEIVER IN THE NFL!!!! They showed a ton of heart after blowing that huge lead to come back and take the lead late in the game. I'll be rooting for those red birds, now its only the Lions and Cleveland Browns to never make the Super Bowl. Good luck Cards.

And now for Pittsburgh. They have one hell of a defense. I was hoping the Ravens could come back and win it, but Flacco made a rookie mistake and threw a pick 6. Overall it was a great game, but seriously these refs need to wake up. They made some horrible calls, I mean horrible!!! How can you call a guy for a roughing the kicker when the kicker landed on him!!!! TOTAL BS!!! Good thing it didn't cost the Ravens any points.

And for big Ben, he is just an average QB, I am sick of all the talk of how good he is, seriously people WAKE UP!!! Jim Natz telling us how great of a pass he made, throwing of his back foot for a TD, made me want to vomit. MEMO to Jim, he threw a pass that was across his body, and across the field (AKA throwing a duck), he was sooooo lucky he didn't get picked off, the only reason why he didn't, becuase the defensive player slipped and overran the ball!! Alright I am doing venting. PEACE!

First Post!

Well, here it is my first post ever. The main reason why I started this blog is to meet people that love their Detroit Sports as much as I do. I mean I love my Detroit pro teams. At this moment I am watching the Pitt, Ravens game, and I keep dreaming about the Lions. One day, I promise all of you one day it will happen.

Anyway before I get anymore off topic let me tell you some stuff about me. Right now I will be my name anonymous, just cause I think it will be interesting. Anyway I am a senior at Oakland University. I am a huge OU basketball supporter and I try to go to all their home games if work and school allows it. You guys should really watch their games, its great basketball, we have a good team, the cheapest seat is $5, and there is not a bad seat in the house!

Baseball is my number 1 sport. I played it my whole life, and in the summer and fall I play in softball leagues. I also enjoy football and basketball. I am not a huge hockey fan, but I do follow it, and when the postseason comes around I will start to follow the Wings.

I should warn you guys right now, that I speak the truth, or the way I see it. If I'm mad about something I will call it like I see it. If someone needs to get cut, or get fired I will say it. I will not try to offend any of you guys, just remember it is my opionion, and I dont have ties to anyone.

Plain and simple I love sports, and I Truely believe that us, Detroit has the best fans in the word. I hope you guys will follow along with my post and enjoy the read. Also feel free to comment, I do enjoy the feedback.

PS. I will not strictly talk about Detroit sports, and our local Universities, but of course I will have input of big games around the US.