What did I tell you?

I said it was over, and, of course, I was right. The Celtics eliminated the Pistons last night, 89-81, and you have to give the
Celtics lots of credit for not folding when they fell behind by 10 in the second half.
The game was there for the Pistons, and the league was set for an exciting Game 7, with lots of story lines. And, quite frankly, I expected to see a Game 7. But that's finished, and the league gets what it wants in the Finals, Lakers vs. Celtics.
Let's not blame the NBA for this loss; the Pistons had the game in their hands, on their home court, in front of their home fans. The Celts won with great determination. It shows that every so often it can be done in the NBA.
It is time for us, however, to examine the Pistons. Now, I watch them less
than any of the other professional Detroit teams, but I go back to Bing and DeBusschere, so I can speak to history. Joe Dumars has done an exceptional job building this team, but he's got some tough decisions to make.
First, the coach. Flip Saunders is not the answer. The Pistons remain an undisciplined, unpredictable group on the floor, and that's a reflection of the coach. The team settles for jump shots in tight spots, and it does not have an inside presence on offense.
That brings us to the next point, Rasheed Wallace. As an observer, an educated one, I say he's the most frustrating, disappointing, selfish and unmotivated pro in Detroit (now that Shaun Rogers has been traded from the Lions.)
The Pistons keep waiting for Rasheed to show the way in the postseason, but he is incapable of such leadership and domination of games.
Defensively, he's OK. But, overall, he's old by league standards, a pain in the ass on the floor with officials and in displaying his lack of respect to teammates, the game, the league ... you name it.
So, it's time for Flip and Rasheed to be shown the door. From my research, Rasheed next season is on the fourth year of a five-year, $57 million contract. Could the Pistons deal him? I doubt it. You have to be creative in the NBA to broker a deal with a player who makes $11 million or $12 million a season. And that the Pistons pay this guy that much is really an indictment of the NBA and its players. Except for a few short stretches, Wallace got his ass kicked by the Celtics Kevin Garnett. It was not even close, and that matchup advantage is one of the major reasons the Celtics are moving on. Wallace, who dogs it during the regular season, is paid to produce in the postseason, and this makes three or four seasons in a row where he has failed miserably.
As for Saunders, it's time for him to move on, too. He seems like a good guy, someone who was eager to help this unit reach the Finals again. But he does not have the dominant personality to make that happen. I'm convinced a new coach is necessary.
But even then, over the next few seasons, I'm afraid the Pistons are destined only to reach the conference semis or finals before bowing out. This team is spent. It is time
to retool, to rebuild. And I think Dumars will do just that.

You gotta like Babcock's style

Any hockey coach worth his salt will tell you that shift management is a huge, huge part of creating a positive flow and energy for his team. After Game 3, Mike Babcock had to be irate with his two standout forwards, Datsyuk and Zetterberg, because they extended their shifts. Especially Datsyuk, who was out for one second-period session for what seemed like three minutes.
But Babcock is a smart guy, and instead of blasting his two stars after the game he blamed their long shifts on himself. The coach played them too much, he told media after the Game 3 loss.
When the Wings are really, really rolling, Babcock does a great job with shift management. I do think in the regular season he tends to use the Dynamic Duo too much to kill penalties, but he reaches out to all his players for contributions.
I think the Wings will be extra special on Saturday night. I think you'll see them with a very good idea about how they want to play and what they want to do. You won't see turnovers, and you won't see Pittsburgh applying too much pressure because the Wings will move the puck with more authority in the back.
I predice a very, very close game, a one-goal game. I can see the Wings winning a nail-biter. And one reason for the victory will be Babcock's mind game with his two stars. They'll be playing a lot, but they'll be on the ice for shorter, more effective shifts. All in all, that will be a huge factor.

A few days off, so I'll tune in the NBA

Because of national TV, the Wings-Pens get a couple of days off. A Game 4 that normally would have been played tonight is on for tomorrow, on NBC, at 8 p.m. That means for one day I can turn my attention to the Pistons, who trail the Celtics in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, 3-2.
Two must-win games face the Pistons, and, sorry to say, it is over for them. It was over in Game 3, when they lost at home to a Celtics team that had yet to win a road game in the playoffs.
I like this Pistons group, and I like the rookie, Stuckey, too. Next to the Wings' front office, the Pistons are a model franchise for pro sports teams. Joe Dumars is great at player personnel, and they seem to uncover diamonds in the rough in the draft.
I say it's over for them, however, because they had their chance to run away with this series when they won Game 2, in Boston. But by losing at home in Game 3 they relinquished their home-court advantage. And in the NBA, that is crucial. Also, after last night, with the Lakers dethroning the defending champion Spurs, the NBA wants badly a Finals that showcases the best rivalry in its history: Lakers vs. Celtics.
And if you don't think the NBA is a choreographed league, then look at the Fisher foul on the last play of the fifth game in the Lakers-Spurs series. I've heard some announcers and members of the media say that a foul should not have been called on Fisher, but the league itself does not agree. Had a foul been called, the series might have been tied. But the NBA refs swallowed their whistles, because, in part, the league wants Kobe and the Lakers in the Finals.
I will be rooting for Billups and the boys tonight. I like their work ethic. But with Rip Hamilton nursing a bad elbow, the Big Stiff, Rasheed, shooting from the perimeter instead of posting up, and the NBA geared to Lakers vs. Celtics, it is OVER.
If the Pistons do win tonight, then it's OVER in Game 7. But bet the house on this: It's over. It's Lakers vs. Celtics in the Finals.

Moronic hockey writers

Virtually every story from every Web-based newspaper site promotes the concept that Crosby dominated the Wings last night. My question is, are we watching the same game?
Crosby got some chances, just as he did in the first two games in Detroit. But he had three shots on goal, had one power-play goal, and NEVER dominated the game.
Is he good? Was he good last night? Of course, but the real difference in Game 3 was the Penguins total effort, especially in the way they applied pressure to the Detroit defense. The Wings simply did not have the puck as much or as long as they did in the first two games. The Pens came more in waves, and when Stuart turned the puck over on the game's first goal, it wasn't because of Crosby. He scored, but the goal was more Crosby being in the right place at the right time than anything else.
The problem is these moronic USA hockey writers have virtually no idea of how or why things happen in the games. If you want your hockey served with a dose of reality, you must read the Canadian papers. Ooops, Sportsnet.ca headline: Sid makes it a series. Even the Canucks are morons sometimes.
Hey, he's a great player, especially when you consider he's 20 years old. But the real dominant player for the Penguins last night was their goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury. He's the one who made tough saves when it was 3-1 and then 3-2.
Overall, the Penguins deserved to win this game. They forced the issue, had more jump and got off to a good lead, at 2-0. They got the breaks because they made them with hustle, effort and passion.
Now, it's the Wings' turn. If they respond in Game 4, they have the chance to bring this back to The Joe up, 3-1. I believe they can do it. But, as Franzen said after Game 3, "We didn't think it was going to be easy."

They're back in it

As expected, the Penguins performed more admirably at home, winning Game 3, 3-2. Great third period, as good a display of playoff hockey as I've seen in a long, long time.
The Wings were pretty good themselves, but I really like Babcock's self-criticism after the game. I also thought the Wings lacked flow because Zetterberg and Datsyuk were getting too much ice time. As a coach, you have to use all your guys, because it only leads to a choppy game, and that's what the Wings played. When they go full-guns with their lines, the Wings have so much energy. It was good at the start, when the Wings had a 9-1 advantage in shots on goal, and then, when some penalties started to come their way, the Wings relied far too heavily on the Dynamic Duo.
More later.

Gary, Ron and Keith

I must say that the Mets' TV guys, Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez, are very good. They talk a lot during the game, but it never seems to be too much because most of the time they are so damn insightful. Darling, a former pitcher, will give you something good about delivery or pitch selection. Hernandez is great when it comes to analyzing hitters, looking for a certain pitch. And Cohen is a superb fit because he allows the other two to talk about the game. Cohen has great Mets memories, growing up as a fan of the team and then serving for 20 seasons as a broadcaster. He's smooth and he understands the game and some of its most obscure rules. On TV, the former radio guy lets the picture tell the story. And he moves between Ron and Keith, asking either or both smart questions about the game.
Well done, guys.

Hard on the ears

"Andre Dawson has a bruised knee and is listed as day-to-day (pause). Aren't we all?"

Vin Scully said this during a national TV broadcast in 1991. I looked it up. It's funny. It sounds so unrehearsed.
And it's just the way he talks to people. I know because I once sat at a table with him in the mid-1980s when the Dodgers visited the Cubs in Wrigley Field. He and I shared a little pre-game meal in the press room, and he was matter-of-fact, just a solid guy. I doubt he remembers me. Hell, I almost forgot the meeting myself till a few minutes ago.
But I keep coming back to Scully because he is such a natural in the booth. Like Ernie Harwell used to be when I was a kid, and "a man from Grand Rapids" grabbed a foul ball in the stands at Tiger Stadium. That was an Ernie call. He just mentioned the name of a Michigan town or city, apparently to let listeners from those places know he understood how they felt about the Tigers. It was a neat trick, original. It was natural. And that's the point.
I don't get anything original, nothing seems natural when I tune in today's broadcasters. Mike Emerick does the NHL on NBC tonight. In NY City, Emerick is lauded by experts as one of the best. He's hard to listen to, though, because he NEVER stops talking. He's nonstop, word after word after word. He hardly every takes a breath, and most of the time it's just grating on the ears. After a few minutes, it makes me tired just listening to him.
Joe Buck does this, too. Nonstop talking. He never shuts up. If his name weren't Buck, he'd be in Peoria, doing minor-league games. He's nothing like his dad, who was as good as Vin and Ernie.
I rarely listen or watch the NBA, but Mark Jackson is plain lousy. And Jeff Van Gundy is plain silly. The only two worth listening to in that league are Mike Breen and Doug Collins. In NY City, Marv Albert, who is on the national broadcasts for the league playoffs, is considered godlike. Personally, I say he's stiff, overrated.
Both Emerick and Buck often seem to be shouting at me. At least that's how I feel as I listen to them. They don't raise their voices in an effort to sell an important play or moment as much as they yell, like fans themselves. It's almost comical how excited they seem to get. Quit shouting at me. Stop talking all the time. On TV, can you let the story unfold? We have the pictures right in front of us. Be economical with your words, please.
I have been listening to the Tigers' TV dou of Mario Impemba and Rod Allen lately. Impemba is OK, actually. He's not overly talkative, and he tries sharing thoughts with Allen. But Allen is simply awful. He talks all the time, too. It's like he gets $2 for every word he says on a broadcast. It's terribly annoying. And he's not overly insightful. He tells us he was talking to someone in the locker room or in the dugout, like that's a big thing. Hey, moron, you are a member of the media. You have access to players. You think that you have to pound that into our brains?
Instead of saying, "I was talking to Gary [Sheffield] in the dugout before the game ..." just say, "Sheffield said ..."
Maybe I'm listening too closely to all of this. Maybe I'm watching too many teams, too many games. Maybe I should turn the volume off.

By the way ...

Pistons are done. Stick a fork in 'em. That Game 3 loss at home was the killer. No way will they be able to win two in Boston. The NBA does not work that way.
And, of course, the Pistons' fate was established last night, when the Lakers went ahead, 3-1, in their series vs. Spurs.
The NBA desperately wants Lakers vs. Celtics in the Finals. It can pull out all the old clips from the NBA film vault, and the few remaining NBA fans who have a brain can just have kiss fest.
The NBA is so close to being fixed, in my humble opinion, even the folks in pro wrestling get a kick out of the league.

Up 2-0 before I can blink

I was out of town, actually coaching ice hockey, so I've been a bit lax in updating the blog.
But I am amazed. Not amazed because the Wings are ahead, 2-0, in the Stanley Cup Final series, but because the Penguins haven't scored a goal in two games. Because the Penguins actually look terrified and mystified at the same time. I figured that with Sid The Kid and Gino Malkin the Pens would be able to put lots of pressure on the Wings' defensive style of play. That's not happened.
One thing I've also noticed in the first two games is that the Penguins are really not taking care of the puck. Their forwards are marshmallow soft on the puck, especially in the neutral zone. And against the Wings, this type of soft play is a killer. Because if your players won't battle for the puck, the Wings are going to have it ALL the time. And when you lose it in the neutral zone, as the Penguins did on Brad Stuart's goal, the first goal of Game 2, the Wings will generate counter-attack offense.
And, of course, that's the second thing, puck possession: The Wings have the puck, make plays, then do a great job of getting it back the few times they lose it. Their puck pursuit continues to be special.
And another thing: The Wings play too fast for the Pens. The Wings do have a fast-skating team, but so do Edmonton and Calgary and Ottawa. But what the Wings do consistently better than those teams is "play fast." They move the puck -- tic-tac-toe and tape-to-tape -- better than any team in recent NHL history. It's one-touch passing at its best, and if any defensive player is out of position, well, it can be costly. And the Wings are tougher than most opponents think; when they do lose possession, they are tough and hard on the puck in an instant.
Now, I fully expect the Penguins to win a game in Pittsburgh; they've been too good at home to think otherwise.
But if the Wings win one game in Mellon Arena, this thing is over.
By the way, I've always known it at Pittsburgh Civic Arena and "The Igloo." And I remember when Les Binkley was the Pens' first goalie.
My, my, I am dating myself.

Franzen returns to practice

It's a good sign that he's skating again and the Wings are figuring that he'll be back for the Stanley Cup Final. For about the last 30 games, including the regular season, Franzen has been one of the most effective players in the league against the wall and in front of the net. That's right, the entire NHL. Against Pittsburgh, which has a size advantage in this Final, Franzen should have an important role. I like his mobility, and if you factor in that his presence gives the Wings three very fast and productive lines, well, it's a huge, huge intangible.
Kelly Hrudey of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada made the point the other day that the Wings are aggressive and physical up front, even though they are not an overly big team, while the Pens have a skilled but slow defensive corps. If Hrudey's analysis is accurate, it bodes well for the Red Wings -- especially if Franzen returns.

Tigers get the sweep

Bonderman goes six solid innings, the Tigers get some pop from the bottom of the order, in Joyce and Inge, and they sweep the Mariners. Don't know what to make of this. But I didn't think I'd find a team playing worse than the Tigers. That's what the Mariners are doing, though. They have absolutely no starting pitching, no bullpen and little offensive pop. The Mariners gave up 12, 9 and 9 runs in losing the three to Detroit, and the Tigers' hitters looked like a new breed of cat.
Hold off before celebrating, however. At 20-27, they are six games behind division leader Chicago. Oh, yes, and next up is Minnesota, which kills the Tigers.

Pistons need a road win

I don't like the idea of the Pistons dropping the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals on the road. Even though their past two series say otherwise, I don't think the Pistons will be able to play from behind vs. the Celtics.
The Celtics are too good defensively, and it looks like with Billups nursing that leg injury, the Pistons will be offensively challenged. Combine these two factors, and you have a Pistons' failure.
On the other hand, the Celtics have felt heat from their fans because of their struggles in the first two rounds. Here's a link to what's bothering the Celtics' coach, Doc Rivers:

http://bostonherald.com/sports/

Now, if the Pistons can win tonight -- and that's a big, big if -- I'll stay with my pick: Pistons to reach the finals. Otherwise, it'll be over for them in six. The Billups injury is more of a factor than I first thought.

Won that coulda been stolen

Woulda, shoulda, coulda. The Pistons were within stealing a game in Boston last night, but they fell short. Based on this one game, I think the difference is going to be the Garnett-Wallace matchup.
Garnett was superb last night, making three-pointers, driving inside and being extremely active. Wallace, on the other hand, was one-dimensional, for the most part, trying to hit from outside. He had, if memory serves me correctly, one significant drive, late in the first half.
And, of course, Billups did not have a good game. For the Pistons to win, these two have to excel.
I believe Billups, despite his sore leg, eventually will turn it up a notch. But I have very little faith in Wallace to do the same.
When the Pistons won that title a few years ago, many experts pointed to the trade for Rasheed Wallace as a significant turning point. Rasheed gave them inside strength, offensively and defensively. And, despite his penchant for technicals and jawing with officials, he is often called a good teammate.
Only in today's world can a professional athlete who plays when he wants and wastes so much time on complaining to officials be called a "good teammate." I heard it again last night, from Mike Breen in the TV booth.
If he was the reason the Pistons won a few years ago, you can make an argument he's the reason they haven't won since. He's been an underachiever in the regular season and a bust in the postseason. He settles for jumpers instead of driving to the basket, being the offensive force underneath that he MUST be if the Pistons are to beat the elite teams -- Celts, Spurs, (and now) Lakers.
I still think the Pistons can win this series. But last night was a key, key game. It was a game the Pistons had within their grasp, and they needed Wallace to pull his weight. Sadly, for them, he faltered again.

I'll take Pistons based on ...

I have only one thing to go on in picking the Pistons, and that's the struggle of the Celtics in the first two rounds. The Celtics needed two Game 7s to get to the Eastern Conference final? How's that again?
I haven't watched much of the NBA postseason, but I expected more from the Celtics. It appears the team cannot turn it up a notch, and Paul Pierce, despite his wonderful Game 7 vs. Cleveland, has not played up to par.
And I am very happy to see Lebron James on the sidelines. You'd think he had won 10 titles with all the pub he gets. C'mon, gimme a break with all the "King" stuff.
I like the Pistons' grit. They play great defense, have handled enough adversity over the years and seem to have peaked at the right time. They stumbled a bit vs. Orlando, but then ended up taking over, without an injured ChaunceyBillups for the last two games. They are rested. They are ready.
Pistons in SEVEN.

Yes, yes, yes!

Well, that was NOT easy. It's great to see the Red Wings back in the Stanley Cup Finals. I was telling my oldest child while watching the game that even as you get to my age, watching your team advance through the NHL playoffs is extremely exciting theater.
I've neglected the Pistons on this blog. I am not much of an NBA fan, and I admit it, but it is kind of neat to have both winter teams (that's what they used to be) moving along nicely. I'll watch the Pistons in the conference finals, but I won't live and die with every basket. With the Wings, and this goes back to childhood, I seem to grit my teeth on every shift. It's great fun, even for a geezer like me. There's no comparison, even with a stiff like Bettmann running the NHL, hockey beats basketball, hands down, every time.
Now, can you imagine an NBA player taking a puck (or fist or something) to the face, getting stitches and then coming back to play, the way Kris Draper did last night? Neither can I.
I mean, Draper scored a goal off his face last night -- OK, off his chin -- but where else does this happen? He's stitched up, numbed up and gets back into the game almost immediately. Next to rodeo cowboys, there's no athlete as tough or gritty as a hockey player. Even NFL players, as tough as they are, don't go through the grind that is the NHL.
And, then, Dallas Drake gets two points -- a goal and an assist -- in the first period and finishes as the game's First Star. Now, how many times in the NBA does the third-string guard make a major impact in a playoff game? Like once every 2,000 years, right?
That's why hockey is so great, the greatest game. A hockey team depends on virtually every player to do something on every shift. It might be a simple dump-in, or it might be a backcheck that denies an offensive rush by an opponent.
One miscue, and it could mean the game.
Take, for example, Mike Ribeiro on the Draper goal. He's got Draper covered, then turns away from him as the play gets to the crease. If Ribeiro stays on his check, I bet Draper doesn't score. Instead, Ribeiro turns right instead of left, and the Wings move on.
I think the Wings can beat Pittsburgh, but so much depends on good bounces and good goaltending. Babcock and Tippett both said as much last night, at postgame press conferences.
The league is so close, there's not much on some nights that separate the best team from the worst team. Certainly, the Wings have shown for most of the year they are a little better than everyone else. But they did not play the Pens in the regular season, and who knows which players will be clicking come Saturday, in Game 1?
I suspect the games will be very, very close, and a power-play goal here, a penalty-kill there could very well decide a game, even the series.
Getting the lead will be huge for the Wings; they are much, much better, like most NHL teams, at playing with a lead.
But Pittsburgh has the ability to strike quickly, with Crosby and Malkin and a very good supporting cast.
I like the Wings in 7. But I have my fingers crossed.

After 44 games, I'd say the Tigers are STUFFED

I did not get a chance to watch the Tigers yesterday, and that's a good, good thing. It's awful stuff, watching their hitters trying feebly to do some damage.
The more you watch, the more this team looks like a major crash waiting to happen. As good as he is at handling players and teams, I can't believe Leyland is going to last the season with this crew. They really are horrible, in terms of their approach on offense. Their first 44 games are just stunning. At 17-27, they are 10-games under.
Consider these numbers:

• To reach .500 any time soon (like maybe around 47-47), they'll have to go 30-20 in the next 50 games; that's .600 baseball.


• Let's say they can get hot and reach 47-47. At that point, they'd be at 94 games played, and they'd have to stay hot to reach 88-90 wins (likely for securing a playoff spot).


• At 47-47, they'd face 68 games remaining.
  
• With 68 games left, they'd have to go 41-27, 14 games over, for a .603 winning percentage, to reach 88 wins overall. To get to 88-74, at this point, seems an insurmountable task.

So, over the next 118 games, does anyone see the Tigers going 71-47? Neither do I. This season is OVER!

Taking a punch

The Wings' loss Saturday was a real stunner. They had their chances, especially early, and you just seemed to feel when they didn't solve Turco early that he would get stronger and stronger. The Stars obviously have some momentum, and they seem to be much better at competing in scrums and such.
One frustrating aspect of the Wings' game was their dump-ins. They kept putting pucks to close to Turco, and he was able to make outlet passes. It seemed bad luck early, but as the game went along you had to figure the Wings would put more pucks in corners. Instead, they just kept making dump-ins that Turco could handle. As a result, the Wings did not have as much sustained pressure in the Dallas zone.
I also was surprised the Wings were caught making bad changes on both of Dallas' goals. This goes back to Turco, making good clearing passes. But on both Dallas goals, Brett Lebda was hung out to dry. You have to give the Stars' forwards points for making great shots. But better dump-ins and better changes, now, that's not too much to ask. It is disappointing to watch that 3-0 series lead fizzle away, no question.
But let's put this thing in perspective: If you'd have told ANY Wings fan before the beginning of the series that Detroit would be ahead 3-2 going back to Dallas for Game 6, they'd have taken it without reservation. So that's where we are ... now what?
Obviously, if the Wings are going to win tonight it's going to be a 2-1 or 1-0 game. Dallas is into its stingy mode, and the Stars are one of the best defensive teams in the league. In front of its crowd, with Turco playing so well, the Wings MUST to score first and score early. Leading 1-0 after one would be a great scenario; now, Dallas has to chase some and gamble a little more. And its crowd is a little tentative, not so raucous.
In today's NHL, with so little separating the teams, from top to bottom, the key factors are goaltending and getting the first goal, especially in the playoffs. Ozzie has been excellent, even in defeat. Let's hope some of the Wings' snipers have enough in the tank for a victory in Dallas.
If it goes back to Detroit for a Game 7, I still like the Wings' chances. But, now, there's no margin for error, and the pressure is all in the Wings' court.

Refund from DirecTV?

As a subscriber to DirecTV's major-league baseball package, I wonder if I it's too late for a refund? I watched the Tigers last night, and I suspect this is going to be the pattern this season. They looked ready to snap their losing streak, but, in the end, they lost again. That's 11 losses in their last 13, if you're counting. But why bother? They will be well under .500 this year. If they win 80 games, I'll be shocked. They had a players-only meeting on Thursday, then promptly lost again last night.
And against Arizona, they wasted a very good

effort by starter Jeremy Bonderman, plus they booted it around in the field -- again.
Bonderman pitched into the seventh, but he should have been into the eighth. The Tigers gave the D-backs three extra outs, including pop-up miscues by Guillen at third and Cabrera at first. And there was a throwing error by Guillen in the D-backs winning rally.
Defensively, we know they have problems. But these are major-leaguers, and these were not difficult plays by any means.
Another glaring problem is the team's lineup/offense. They can't tack on runs after getting an early lead, and they way it gives up at-bats, well, it's almost high-school in nature. They have one decent inning, then they fire blanks.
Except for perhaps Guillen, Ordonez and Polanco, these guys just throw away at-bats. Granderson, obviously, must adjust and start hitting the ball the other way; pitchers keep working him outside with strikes, then inside with breaking balls. Since his return from a hand injury, he's been very ordinary.
Defensively, the Tigers are stuck. They are what they are. I suspect Guillen and Cabrera will improve, but Renteria is awful at short. On the pop-up Guillen missed, a good shortstop would have called him off. It was a foul pop deep along the third-base foul-line, and that's typically a play for the shortstop, who has the better angle. Renteria, once again, stiffed out.
But on offense, this is not going to change. These guys are big-league hitters who, unfortunately, hit ONLY one way. They don't adjust, they don't make minor tweaks. They hit to their strength -- ONLY -- and you can see this will be a big, big problem.
Now, where's that toll-free number to DirecTV?

Tough, tough loss

Let's see, the Wings get a goal waved off, and it was a bad call. Holmstrom was NOT in the crease whatsoever. Cleary taps at a rebound in the crease, and it hits the post. Turco plays out of his mind ... And the Wings lose.
I never expected a sweep. While it was nice to think of getting this over in four games, there was every reason to believe the Stars would come up with a monster effort last night. They did, winning, 3-1.
I think there was great hope when Zetterberg tied it 1-1 at the start of the period, and then when the Wings seemed to take over for the next 4-5 minutes.
But Dallas deserved to win this one. The Stars were a little bit better on Wednesday night. They had a little more jump. And, for the first time in the series, they got some huge, huge breaks.
Ozzie was great at the start; he kept the Wings from falling into a hole in the first period.
So, we move back to the Joe for Game 5. I have some reservations, because as Stars coach Dave Tippet, as well as Modano, said last night, the two-day rest serve that team in a positive manner.
But I have faith in the Wings. I think they end it Saturday.
They had better, however, because if they let the Stars climb completely back into this series, I can see Game 7. Yikes.

OK, let's get to the Stanley Cup Finals

I trust the Wings to be ready for tonight's game; this is a very focused group, and they have a good approach. When Chris Osgood was being interviewed on TV after Game 2 in Detroit, he made sure to mention the team's ability to put things behind it quickly and then get ready for the next obstacle.

It's hard to believe that Osgood has become one of the team's senior spokesmen. It seems like only a few years ago that he was a 20-something youngster, leaving the crease to make that clearing pass along the boards that led to the decisive goal in an embarrassing loss to San Jose in the playoffs. Remember how crushed he was? Now, three Stanley Cups later, including one as the starting goalie, Osgood is the team savior. There are better goalies, sure, but is there any better fit to a team?

I'm not sure, but I think we've grown to appreciate Osgood for being just a regular guy. He lost his job, was ushered out of town, and then he came back to be a backup. Now, he's in the spotlight, and it could not happen to a nicer guy.

He will play well tonight, I'm sure of it. And in playoff games, so much revolves around the goaltender. One more to go, boys, and we're playing for the Cup.

Have you had enough with the Tigers?

Watching the Tigers blow the game Tuesday night vs. the Royals was really, really irritating. Edgar Renteria is an experienced player, a World Series champion, and he doesn't have enough sense to hold onto that two-out infield single last night? He makes a wild relay. The ball rolls into the middle of the infield. And the winning run scores. From second base.
Renteria told media after the game that making the play to second was the "only chance." He said he had one thought, to get the inning-ending out. What a chump. How about making the Royals get a hit with the bases loaded instead of throwing the play away and allowing the go-ahead run to score?
The Tigers are starting to look like a team that has good numbers, batting average, etc., but can't win. Renteria has virtually no range at short, and I have no doubts the deal for him will come back to haunt Detroit. Jair Jurrjens is going to be a superb pitcher in the National League, and he'll be winning games when Renteria is in a rocking chair.
The Tigers needed a shortstop who could pick it and really help the team's pitching staff. Last summer, at the trading deadline, they made a bid for Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson (.296, 12 HR, 56 RBI). Wilson is hurt this year, but I believe that was the deal to make. Detroit could have kept Jurrjens and still plugged its hole at short with a younger player and one who appears to be in much better shape. Wilson is 31; Renteria is an old 33. And if you think I'm being too harsh, look at Edgar's gut.
Get used to this, folks. Tigers are a bad team. No bullpen. Erratic starting pitching. Porous defense. Lack of situation hitting. Gee, what a mess. Did anyone see this coming?

Game 3 ... Yikes!

It was utterly fantastic watching Zetterberg and Datsyuk, but I was also amazed at Dallas' lack of work against them in Game 3 Monday night, a 5-2 Detroit triumph. On the fifth goal, Zetterberg beat FOUR Stars in the corner and skated out to set up Datsyuk's third goal, his first NHL hat trick. The only obstacle was a weak stick check by Ribeiro, and Zetterberg skated right through that.
On his short-handed goal that made it 4-2, Zetterberg whipped past forward Brad Richards, who had been the Stars' point-man on the power play, and waited...waited...waited before lifting a wrister over an out-of-position Marty Turco in goal.
On each of the goals, the Stars had people in defensive position -- two players were in the neutral zone on the fourth goal -- and a little back-checking would have helped Richards. And the only resistance the Stars could muster on the final goal was Ribeiro's stick check?
There's no question that the Stars are overwhelmed here, but I think one of the reasons is being overlooked. The Stars had to beat Anaheim and San Jose to get to the conference final, and that path to Detroit has exhausted them.
Last year, the Wings had a similar situation, having to go through first Calgary and then San Jose to get to eventual Cup winner Anaheim. Except for a bounce or two, the Wings might have won that series, too. But, remember, Krowall and Schneider, two of their top-four defensemen, were injured and did not play against Anaheim. Would they have made a difference? Would an easier path have helped? Most likely the answers are yes and yes. Hey, Anaheim deserved to win. The Ducks got breaks and capitalized.
But these "breaks" are not uncommon in the NHL playoffs, which I think are the most grueling and demanding in all of pro sports. Like Babcock said in a question to a reporter vs. Colorado: when we had injuries last year, no one cared. It's part of the game.
The demands of a tough path are apparent in the Eastern finals, too; Pittsburgh had an easier trip getting to the conference final; the Rangers did not put up much of a fight in Round 2, which was surprising. The Flyers had to skate through Washington and top-seeded Montreal. Now with injuries, the Flyers are not able to compete at the same level.
Give the Wings credit. Give the Penguins credit. But we should acknowledge their good fortune, too.

Ribeiro, Ozzie escape suspension

OK, the NHL did the right thing by not suspending either Ribeiro or Osgood for their little scuffle at the end of Game 2. But, I must say, I'd rather see a good, old-fashioned brawl, the kind the Flyers used to ignite, than this cowardly stick stuff.
In the old days, Billy Smith of the Islanders might have been exchanging punches with Flyer ruffians Bob Kelly or Gary Dornhoefer. They'd not have reduced themselves to some silly stick-swinging. That's for, well, who knows who?
I do hate the stick stuff, and I hate that there is very little fisticuffs in the game today. We did have a quick bout yesterday in the Flyers-Penguins clash, but I still think too many players resort to sticks and nasty hits from behind to "get even" with opponents.
I like the hockey tradition of standing up for yourself, naturally, as well as evening old scores by standing toe-to-toe.
Right, Grapes?

Word(s) from Dallas

I don't have much faith or put much stock in hockey writers from most USA newspapers. Most of the time, the least experienced stiff on the staff gets the job (including in Detroit).
That said, the Stars blog at the Dallas Morning News Web site is somewhat interesting.
The writers are taking pretty much a homer view on the Ribeiro slash of Osgood. I don't think there will be a suspension. And Osgood did push the handle of his stick outward as Ribeiro skated past his net in the final seconds.
But there is one issue no one is considering, and that's the work of Turco on the Wings' players throughout Game 2. He was called for one penalty, and he could have taken about four of five more. I suspect Osgood's little push toward an oncoming Ribero was a natural response to what he was seeing all game from Turco. Now, Turco did his job. He's got to protect his area and discourage Wings from going there. And Osgood's response could have been -- and being an old goalie I guarantee it was -- taking a stand for his guys. "If he can do it, so can I," Ozzie seemed to be saying with the little nudge to Ribeiro.
If the league is going to take a stand, it will have to warm BOTH teams about goalies whacking and chopping at players OUT of the blue crease area.
My prediction: No suspension.
Any way, take a look at the "homers" and their insight: http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/

I do agree with them on this point: This series is FAR from over. Dallas has played too well against two of the tougher, bigger opponents in the West. Beating Anaheim and San Jose back-to-back was no fluke. The Wings will be fortunate to split in Dallas.

Happy Mother's Day

We'll watch the Tigers, with continuing disinterest. For one thing, it's Mother's Day, and it calls for a cookout around here. Nothing fancy. Just steaks, baked potatoes and some grilled veggies. Simple but nutritious.
But back to the Tigers: It's not the fact that they are losing, but the way they lose.
I imagine Leyland must be going crazy, and yet I do like the moves he is making. Other than playing Sh**field at all, the switch between Cabrera and Guillen is a no-brainer, despite what national media were saying yesterday.
Eric Karros was saying on yesterday's Fox broadcast that part of the Tigers' problem was they were playing many players out of position, and he mentioned Cabrera and Guillen. Then Ken Rosenthal had an in-game "feature" moments later about how Cabrera was a natural first-basemen.
Again, I just love such insight. Who produces and directs these games? It's like an Adam Sandler feature, I swear.

We can't let the Tigers get away without ...

BITCHING!!!!

OK, I did watch the Yanks-Tigers on national TV, and am I the only one who sees a pattern here? I'm really down on Bonderman, who keeps pitching to the middle of the plate. Can he PLEASE pitch inside, so his pitches bite on the hands of left-handed hitters? I mean, geeesh, is anybody coaching this pitching staff? If Bonderman isn't walking someone (29 in 45 innings) he's pitching to the fat part of the bat.
I get the feeling that Bonderman and Verlander are simply throwing and not pitching. Their location is brutal, and it is confusing because it happens over and over and over.
But the pattern I'm talking about is the bad at-bats this team continues to have. Take, for instance, the seventh inning, when the Tigers got two on with no outs. Renteria and Rodriguez had TERRIBLE at-bats; Pudge (I will now forever refer to him as PUKE) swung at a third strike that would have been ball four. I can forgive Polanco, who made the third out, ending the inning, and, any chance for a Tigers' comeback, because he usually has great at-bats. But Renteria's swing was baffling.
Like the pitchers, these guys seem to have no clue.
I took a shot at coaches when I was ranting about Bonderman a few moments ago, but, really, these guys are major-leaguers. They HAVE to know better, to understand situations and what their goal should be with runners on, on certain counts, etc. It's utterly amazing how poorly their approaches are, both at bat and on the mound. I've watched small-college players with more of an idea on how to play the game.
Now, for the worst thing that could have happened: Sheffield doubled in a run in the seventh, and his RBI moved him past Al Kaline on the career RBI list (1,584). He's tied for 33rd with Rogers Hornsby and Harmon Killebrew. Kaline was my hero, and to see him passed by such a selfish creep like ... well it really makes me SICK.
At this point, I can't figure out who I hate the most, PUKE or Sh**-field. And, yes, the asterisks do stand for the letters "I" and "T"

Nail-biter, and a great game by Ozzie

OK, I waited all day for Game 2, Stars vs. Wings, and it was a very entertaining game. Like most everyone else, after the teams scored three times in the first 10-12 minutes, I figured we were headed for a 6-4 game, with lots of offense and lots of mistakes.
But both teams settled into more of a defensive game, and Marty Turco and Chris Osgood were exceptional in goal. Turco faced more shots, and he really battled the Wings, especially Tomas Holmstrom. He whacked Holmstrom several times, including a couple of head slaps. And Turco seemed much more focused.
Osgood, on the other hand, contended with 18 shots, but only one eluded him. And while Dallas did not have many shots, it did have several excellent scoring chances. The story here might be how Dallas did not convert its early chances, especially the 4-on-1 break in the first period.
But this also is a story about a calmer, more composed Osgood. This version of Osgood is much better than the one who won the second of the three Wings' Stanley Cups during this decade-long run (1997). For one, he's more economical; he doesn't seem to flop as much or be scrambling to get into position for a shot. He controls rebounds a heckuva lot better than he did when the Wings lost to Los Angeles in the first round in 2001. He's also better at his angles, attacking shooters instead of staying deep on the goal line.
I've read about him re-tooling his style with a goalie instructor. He does play a bit differently, and although he's still prone to giving up a goofy goal now and then, this older, more mature Osgood exudes confidence.
Now, of course, the big test will be playing two in Dallas. The fans there are among the loudest and most energized in the league, and I believe the Wings need to split there. If they come back to Detroit tied, 2-2, I will be worried.

NY is NOT Detroit, and that's not half bad

In terms of knowledgeable and sophisticated sports fans, New York is way overrated. It's a horrible hockey town; the papers and media barely recognize the sport. Baseball is No. 1, followed by the NFL. But the NY fan is fickle, a front-runner and, quite frankly, as poorly educated and uninformed as most fans. I suspect I'm rolling the NY fan and the Yankees fan into one, and that's probably a bit unfair. But the Yankees have won so much for so long, their fans have this undeserved reputation for being smarter than a fan from a smaller market.
The Detroit sports fan, in some ways, might be more wordly and more loyal than the NY fan. For instance, Detroit fans also support college sports, basketball and football, at big-time venues. They help fill UM and MSU stadiums and arenas for not only football and basketball, but also for ice hockey.
While Detroit fans might be considered more forgiving -- tell that to any Wings goalie or Lions QB -- they way NY fans treat players is laughable. Now, they do know enough to hold Derek Jeter in high regard, but who wouldn't? He's a brilliant player, especially in the clutch. Yankee fans believe their team is supposed to win each and every year, and when it doesn't they're looking to blame someone -- player, front-office person or manager -- instead of giving any credit to an opponent.
Mets fans have shown me no more knowledge than Yankee fans. They booed Johan Santana on opening day, for goodness sake, and the left-hander is supposed to be the pitcher who will bring them a pennant. Mets fans are more frustrated, because their team hasn't won it all since 1986 and it plays second fiddle to the Yanks.
One of the big topics in NY of late is the histrionics of the Yanks' celebrated reliever, Joba Chamberlain. He was the losing pitcher on Wednesday night vs. Cleveland when David Delucci hit a 3-run homer off Joba in the eighth inning. The next night, Joba struck out Delucci in a Yanks' victory, pumping his fist in celebration.
Was it bush-league or just a young player having fun? Look, in pro sports, when you show up an opponent, it's bush. Players in the NBA and NFL can celebrate free throws and tackles all they want, but their excessive enthusiasm is comical -- and BUSH!
Now, in NY, most Yankee fans seem to support Joba, saying he's just a big kid having fun. The same Yankee fans, however, were in their glory last year when Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was unfairly blamed for the team's late collapse. It seems Reyes' hand-slapping with teammates after key hits unnerved opponents. In the Mets' last series of the season last September, some Marlins took offense when Reyes went slap-happy in a victory. The next day, the final day of the regular season, the Marlins beat the Mets, giving the Phillies the division title and knocking the Mets from the playoffs.
To read the NY fan, or better put, the Yankees fan, it's OK for Joba to be a young player having fun, but it's not the same for Reyes.
That's the educated, sophisticated Yankees fan for you.

Sheffield ties Kaline on career RBI list

I absolutely cannot take Sheffield as a player, but even I have to give him his due as a major-leaguer; he has put up some big numbers. He's approaching 500 homers, and he tied my all-time favorite, Al Kaline, for No. 35 on the career RBI list on Friday night.
Sheffield will forever remain one of my most despised players, along with Paul Coffey and Pudge Rodriguez. These three will be hall-of-famers, but I hated the way they played their respective games. Sheffield and Pudge are such selfish, overrated hitters. I wonder what Ted Williams, who approached hitting as a science, would say about these two? I find them almost clueless at the plate; they succeed on talent alone, and when good pitching does rise its ugly head, both Sheff and Pudge are more like Punch and Judy. Oh, yes, I found Coffey to be one of the most corner-shy players in the history of the NHL.
They have ability, talent, a heaven-sent athletic gift. But I would NEVER want each of them on my teams. That said, Rodriguez was great when the Marlins won their World Series in 1997.
But to watch Sheffield tie my favorite Tiger, perhaps my favorite athlete ever (although it's awful close with Gordie, No. 9) on the career RBI list, boy, that was tough.

Surprise...Tigers beating Yanks

I am watching the Yankees' broadcast on NY9, with Ken Singleton, Michael Kay and Al Leiter. Now, like virtually every other local broadcaster in virtually every sport, these three are homers. But Singleton is the most analytical. A former big-time hitter with the Orioles, Singleton's analysis is accurate, sometimes biting, and fair. I like him because he does criticize the Yankees, too. But in the eighth inning tonight, with the Tigers comfortably ahead, Leiter, another former big-leaguer, was dissecting the Tigers poor start to the season. He talked about players out of position, especially Cabrera and Guillen, and he talked about some Tigers getting older, including Magglio Ordonez. Now, Magglio turned 34 in January, and in a previous era he might be considered old. But based on last season and his ability to play the field, I was laughing at Leiter's analysis. Anyone who has watched Ordonez over the last two-plus seasons must marvel at his efficiency in the field. He makes all the plays, unlike the fine-feathered Bobby Abreu, the Yankees' right-fielder.
I was a little miffed that neither of the other two broadcasters chastised Leiter for his take on Ordonez, especially Singleton, who played right field and designated hitter with the Orioles. He should know better.
It's crazy for Leiter to even suggest Magglio is ordinary in the field, because Abreu is the most challenged right-fielder in the majors. Last week, against the Indians, he botched a few plays on balls hit to the fence, and he did the same in the series vs. Detroit in Yankee Stadium.
He can hit, but he never faces the music about his "tentative" play in the outfield. He approaches the fence with all the courage of Barney Fife in a holdup.
UPDATE: Duncan lines out to center to end it, with Abreu on second as the tying run. Tigers 6, Yankees 5.

Nobody does it better...

No professional team does a better job of securing the right talent than the Wings. Look at their record since the mid 1990s for proof. Ken Holland always says the team is looking for players who can skate and are good in puck possession/puck pursuit. That's why the team's third set of D is a combo of Lebda and Lilja, with a future Hall-of-Famer in Chelios. Look at the late draft picks, from Franzen to Lidstrom. It is simply amazing that these guys slip through the early rounds to the Wings year after year.
The Wings find more guys to fit their puck-possession skating game than any team in hockey. While most teams are filling their first two lines with scorers then scrambling to fit pluggers and muckers into fourth-line spots, the Wings counter with layers of talent.
For example, is there are better young, third-line scorer IN THE GAME than Filppula? I mean, he can fly, he's so strong on the puck and he finishes. And this kid Helm; he absolutely flies, he's 21, and they get him in the fifth round?
Look, I know this sounds like a die-hard fan, but how can anyone who follows this team really bad-mouth the last decade or so, even the horrible first-round losses to Anaheim, Calgary, LA and Edmonton?
This team has given us nearly 15 tremendous years and three Stanley Cups. If you remember the late 70s and early 80s, then you know where I'm coming from ... look it up. In a 20-season stretch beginning in 1967 the Wings missed the playoffs 16 times.
One thing we might consider, as fans and followers, is the contributions of Bryan Murray in the early 1990s. He did an excellent job of securing some talented players, and the Wings seemed to really take shape then. Murray re-shaped the organization from a rough-and-tumble, veteran group that had reasonable success under Jacques Demers, to a finesse team. When Bowman came in, he had a lot of the pieces to the puzzle. And when he needed to plug in tough, young guys like McCarty and Lapointe, they were in the system. So were some of the Russians, like Konstantinov and Kozlov, and Swedes, like Saint Nicklas.
Murray gets a lot of teams close (Anaheim, for one, and maybe Ottawa) but he doesn't seem to be able to win the big one.
Hey, we should give the guy credit. He deserves it.

Game 1: Wings 4, Stars 1

Very impressed but very worried. This game was too easy. I was surprised the Stars came out so -- I know it's a cliche -- FLAT. What happened to this team's fire, it's drive? It was CLEARLY the best team in the league in the first two playoff rounds. Getting through Anaheim and then San Jose was a major accomplishment, but the Stars didn't show any of the same speed and passion against the Wings.
I like that the Wings were able to roll their lines, because this relieves a burden on Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Far too often, I think Babcock plays these two TOO much. It's good to see Maltby and Draper killing penalties, along with Cleary. When the Wings are ahead, I like to see Babcock rely on some of the other Wings. He, more than any of the Wings recent coaches, plays his top guys too much, in my humble opinion.
Now, for Game 2. If the Wings win, they put a tremendous amount of pressure on the Stars. But a Stars' split means the Wings face all the pressure. Playing in Dallas is tough, and I think this thing will go at least six games. If the Wings lose tomorrow night, I fully expect a nail-biting Game 7.

Checking in on Chauncey

Not much of an NBA fan, but the Pistons ALWAYS intrigue me. I loved Dave Bing and Dave DeBusschere, and I must admit that Isiah Thomas was a helluva small point guard. You can make the argument that Isiah was the best small point guard in NBA history. Plus, he did change his game to win. He became more of a passer and less of a shooter, and to think of him making that adjustment to his game, well, lots of star players refuse to do it. Stephon Marbury comes to mind.
Now, as far as point guards go, Chauncey Billups is among the league's best. And his injury is going to put a real crimp in the Pistons' chances to reach the conference finals. If the Pistons can hold off Orlando without Billups, it will be a minor miracle. They miss this guy, more than any other player.
If Orlando wins Game 4 to tie the series, I see a Game 7, for sure.

By the way ...

I will NOT be flipping channels tonight between the Tigers and Wings ... I could care less about baseball after watching the Tigers the last week or so. I know they were bad when they were winning 40 and 50 games a year, but this is hard to watch.
Go Wings!

Tigers are unBEARable

After all the moves, deals and signings, who didn't expect more from the Tigers? I mean, you have this big-name lineup, you're expecting some f-ing softball scores, right?
I must say, I did predict some of the erratic hitting. There are four Tigers who I love as players: Granderson, Ordonez, Giullen and Polanco. They work pitchers (OK, so Granderson is learning to do this), and virtually all of their at-bats are good ones.
But after these four guys, you can flush the rest of them down the toilet. Especially Sheffield. I've followed him from team to team, league to league, but he's a piece of dirt in spikes. He NEVER adjusts to the situation, and he's left countless runners on third with less than two out (including once two nights ago).
And Pudge is another waste at the plate.
But I NEVER envisioned the dip in the starting pitching. I was confident Verlander would get off to a strong start, and I believed all the bullshit reporting out of Detroit about Bonderman's new off-speed pitch, a changeup.
Well, I should have known better, reading anything of substance coming out of Detroit. What a bunch of shit. The pitching is a waste, and Dombrowski might have blown it buy getting Renteria.
Wouldn't Jurjjens look good in this rotation? Hell, even Joe Sparma would look good about now.

Can't wait for Game 1, Round 3

It's taken an entire year, but the Red Wings are back in the conference finals. Last year's loss to Anaheim was heart-breaking, because the Wings actually could have won two of the games they lost. I can see Scott Niedermayer's shot deflecting off Lidstrom's stick to force overtime in one terrible loss. And I can see Lilja, losing the puck in front of Hasek and Selanne scoring that crushing goal.
We overlook the concept of luck in these games. In today's NHL, the teams are so close. If the Wings were healthy last year, could they have beaten the Ducks? Perhaps.
But the Wings have had some luck, too. Lidstrom's had two long shots, including this year's skip shot past Dan Ellis in the first round against Nashville. The last time the Wings won the Cup, Saint Nick sent a long slapper past Dan Cloutier in Vancouver in the first round, remember?.
Perhaps we have luck with us once more.