Ok It is time to RE- Hash a old and sore subject... STEROIDS!

For well over the last 2 seasons of Baseball there has been a "ON GOING" never ending 24/7 coverage of the use of "Performance Enhancing Drugs" During this time there has been very little coverage in the other 3 major physical sports (Football, Basketball and Hockey) involving PEDs. Yes Shawn Merriman was suspended for steroid use but it was a 15 second blip on ESPN and conversation over.

Come on wake up! What do you think the percentage of Football Players are that are that are shooting up a "undetectable" form of PEDs so that they can grow to be 10 times the size of a normal human being.

Basketball Players have to be in "TOP" Shape to run up and down a court over 90 games a year but you do not hear about the use of PEDs, BUT you do hear about them smoking pot and doing other recreational drugs, staying out all hours of the night fighting in bars and taking pop shots with there hand guns.

The thing that I find to be MOST interesting is that the sport that has been bashed the most for being "DEAD" to the eyes of a viewer is the NHL. Talk radio outside of the true Hockey Faithful laughs and jokes about the NHL, well... INSERT THE RANT.

             The NHL has god gifted men who are out there day in and day out playing a boys game, these guys give there heart and soul to be a team and play a sport "TOGETHER" to achieve the ultimate prize.

The sport is fast paced non stop action that even on TV keeps the mind stimulated. Yes there is fighting in this sport but lets think about what other sport has fighting... HMMMM ALL OF THEM! 9 times out of 10 when hockey players are done beating the snot out each other they have buried the hatchet and continue on, some times those guys will meet up after a game and have dinner together.

You don't hear about a Hockey player being involved in Bar Brawls, shootings at strip clubs, branishing a gun in some guys face or being suspended for , Pot, or any other Recreational Drugs, ODD you don't hear about Hockey Players being suspended for Performance Enhancing Drugs either.

Hockey Players are normally nice guys that go home when they are done playing the game, they have families and are close to them as well as thankful to there Moms and Dads, They are media friendly and support there communities with many of charities and events to raise money for the needs of the community.

So take note MEDIA and other bashers of the game of Hockey when it boils done to it the roll model sports figure should be a Hockey Player.

Getting down to the final few days before the Trade Deadline and does anyone see a problem with 3 out of the 4 lines for the Red Wings? I see a few minor problems that need some tweeking or there will be a early round exit again for the Wings.

1) The only scoring line that is the hottest in the NHL is that of the Euro Twins and Homer the +/- for these guys is sick but that leaves doubt to me of how they will fair in the playoffs there is not enough "grit" on this line to be able to make the sick moves they make in the playoffs as shown last year verse the Oilers.

2) The Langer Line continues to struggle, please dont get me wrong I feel Dan Cleary could very well be a "come back" player of the year but this line has been a struggle all year to stay consistant. The size of Robert Lang should tell a different story but it does not, this would have been a good line to have had Mr. Peter Forsberg on if they would made the trade. This line lacks "grit".

3) The Detroit Red Wings have the smartest "Blue Line" in the NHL why is that a weakness? Well all Brains and no Beef makes the Wings a weak Defense during the playoffs. Sure Lidstrom, Mathieu, Cheli,Lebda,Kronwall and company have Hockey Smarts but they lack "grit"

Is it me or do you see a pattern here? I do..NO GRIT...No Grit No Glory.

I am not Kenny Holland nor am I Mike Babcock but if I were Mike for a Day I would be asking for 2 players to put this very well built Hockey club over the top.

Marty LaPointe and Bill Guerin

If the Wings had 2 guys on the Ice that would make a player wonder who was coming up behind them when there picking on the Euro Twins it would boost the scoring ability of this line and others.

I dont wanna sound negitive about the state of this team but a one line no grit team is not gonna bring the cup back to Hockey Town!

Getting down to the final few days before the Trade Deadline and does anyone see a problem with 3 out of the 4 lines for the Red Wings? I see a few minor problems that need some tweeking or there will be a early round exit again for the Wings.

1) The only scoring line that is the hottest in the NHL is that of the Euro Twins and Homer the +/- for these guys is sick but that leaves doubt to me of how they will fair in the playoffs there is not enough "grit" on this line to be able to make the sick moves they make in the playoffs as shown last year verse the Oilers.

2) The Langer Line continues to struggle, please dont get me wrong I feel Dan Cleary could very well be a "come back" player of the year but this line has been a struggle all year to stay consistant. The size of Robert Lang should tell a different story but it does not, this would have been a good line to have had Mr. Peter Forsberg on if they would made the trade. This line lacks "grit".

3) The Detroit Red Wings have the smartest "Blue Line" in the NHL why is that a weakness? Well all Brains and no Beef makes the Wings a weak Defense during the playoffs. Sure Lidstrom, Mathieu, Cheli,Lebda,Kronwall and company have Hockey Smarts but they lack "grit"

Is it me or do you see a pattern here? I do..NO GRIT...No Grit No Glory.

I am not Kenny Holland nor am I Mike Babcock but if I were Mike for a Day I would be asking for 2 players to put this very well built Hockey club over the top.

Marty LaPointe and Bill Guerin

If the Wings had 2 guys on the Ice that would make a player wonder who was coming up behind them when there picking on the Euro Twins it would boost the scoring ability of this line and others.

I dont wanna sound negitive about the state of this team but a one line no grit team is not gonna bring the cup back to Hockey Town!

Ok,

I don't wanna do this but I am not left with much choice. I am a father of a 12 year old girl who has yet to have her first taste of the NHL's finest franchise (Red Wings for all you Leaf and Habs fans). Recently my Ex Wife has stumbled into the Universe of common sense and has given me a extra weekend. The weekend is March 4th 2007 oddly enough it is like the best possible option to get her to a Red Wings game. My problem... I need 3 tickets TOGETHER and I can only afford about $60 a ticket... SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME! I am desperate to not break this kids heart to hear that Horn blow at the Joe this year.

Thank you.

1DetroitFan

YOOHOO!!! GUESS WHO JUST SHOWED UP???

If you Guessed Stevie Y your dead wrong!

Suddenly Pavel has mad himself know to the Red Wings and things could not be looking better......RIGHT?

Well seems to me the Cherry Tree has swallowed up "The Dominator" for about 5 minutes each and every game and catches his attention just enough to allow 2 or 3 goals.

Am I crazy or should we request that the Dom be without a stick and hanging upside down for 60 minutes?

I was at the game Tuesday night vs the Sens and what i saw in the 2nd perod was horrible, Dom totaly fell asleep and let 2 soft goal in to blow a game that the Wings could have used. I know that his contract is for the playoffs, but with Osgood out and Joey McD not to ready for a fulltime gig dont you think we should start shopping around?

DOM could you please please stop eating Cherries from that tree and come on down to the Joe for 60 or more minutes of hockey? The fans of  Hockey Town would like to see the softies blocked too!

Well it seems to me that this years title of Cardiac Cats has been stripped away and some how been handed to the Detroit Red Wings. This so far has been a up and down season as they continue to search out themselves for chemistry and leadership. With there PP being ranked last in the NHL and a PK near the bottom as well it seems to me that it is a miricle they are not down there with the Blue Jackets. I find it very interesting that Pavel Datsuyk is wanting to have a hefty pay raise on his next contract and refuses to except Kenny Hollands latest offer, The Red Wings have done a lot for Pavel and he should consider that when thinking about his offer, Oh yeah and one more thing Pavel if you want the Sun Moon and Stars for a NHL contract you might want to start playing Hockey like you invented it! Because from where I sit your not putting up those type of numbers to get PAID!

Regroup Red Wings Regroup! I know you have the youth and talent to be a continued power house in the NHL.

Anyone else out there with a Red Wheeled Rant???

Post it here so we can all chat Hockey eh?

2 weeks ago my wife and I sat in front of this very computer that I am typing from now and clicked on "Best Seats Avalible" the order was for 2, Little did I think about where we would be sitting nor little did I care.

I highlighted to my wife that the Tigers were making the Motor City and the State of Michigan hold on for fan appreciation weekend, she has recently became one of the biggest fans to the Boys of that Old English D this spring when we went to spring training. Before then she only had slight interest in them because she knew it is the team I have loved my whole life. Now this season she is calling me at work and giving me play by play updates and where the White Sox and Twinkies were in the standings.

Our seats for what was to be the most memorible game of the season were located in Section 330 row 14 (Nose Bleeds) We did not care, we had to be there... Right?

The Game started like any other both teams trying to get a feel for the studs on the bump low and behold we got a feel in a hurry racing out to a 6-0 lead with Bondo flat out dealing. Both of us in complete joy and shock that it was coming, I mean after all even if the Twinkies won it would not matter we were gonna bring home that division crown. Soon it became 7-4 and like that you could feel the tension in the air considering that we had gave up a 5-0 lead on Friday. Ok were alright here comes the Skipper calling to the pen for "The Man" Zoom Zoom Zumaya suddenly it felt ok again.

Now it's 7-6 and like the blur in front of your eyes when you get sucker punched I had no idea how it seemed to be slipping away, then tragity struck as a routine ground ball turned "Cubish" 2 men on 1 out and into the mit of the senior Tiger Brandon Inge the choice - Tag the runner and settle for 2 outs or try to hurry a inning ending double play. I sat in horror as I watched the ball sail into Right field.

As quick as the energy entered Comerica on this warm and sunny Sunday it was sucked out. Now all we could do was sit and play in our minds what we as fans could do to get this game won, I reached into my back pocket and yanked out the Big League Chew (Original) shoving as much of it in my mouth as possible so did my wife "#### up".

Flipping the hats inside out the whole section of nose bleeders began the rally caps, there were mothers, fathers, kids, and grandparents all screaming at the top of there lungs and beating there hands red.

On this day, this "Fan Appreciation Day" we as fans were dealt the ultimate punch in the gut and swept right out of 1st place by the lowly 100 loss team 3 years running KC Royals... Thanks, Thanks alot glad you feel good about it, glad you ended your season on a "high note".

Now we can put things into percepctive, fly out and face the "Evil Empire" for a best of 5 series in witch ESPN and others give a better chance of the Royals having a winning team in the next decade then for the Tigers to take the best of 5 from NY.

I lay this argument out there for you, the 7 games that these 2 met this year on paper was obviously in favor of Steinbrenners over paid posse of multi-millionares, but I watched all of them and witnessed something that the Over Paid Pinstripers did not have...Heart and Fight to play a entire game. I feel it will come back to bite them, maybe not against my team but it will come and get them. If what I hope comes true then I will be sitting some where in front of a big screen and watching a "Grudge" match so to speak when the Twinkies and Tigers square off in the ALCS, after all if it did happen should'nt it be the 2 Cinderella stories?

So in conclusion I say this to some of the other teams fan base.

1) To the KC Royals fans. Keep your brown bags handy because looking at what little you have going for you in the farms indicate your gonna need to hide your faces for years to come.

2) To the Twinkie fans. Thanks for taking what shoulda been ours, we did not do the job that needed to be done to get it and you snuck up and grabbed it AGAIN (and I am not forgetting 1987)

3) To the Chicago White Sox fans Most of you seem to be rude and suddenly spoiled by a Championship but when you realized it was not gonna happen for you then you quickly pulled for the Tigers, THANK YOU. See you next year for what should start to become a "REAL RIVAL".

4) To the Toronto Blue Jay fans (I doubt your reading this after all when you fail to finish in the playoffs it's right back to the Leafs) well let me just say I think that you can say now we are even, your 2 out of 3  last week secured the same type of fall we handed to you in 1987 so EVEN it is OK? P.S. LETS GO RED WINGS!

5) To the "EVIL EMPIRE" fans, 39 pennants and 26 World Championships... You don't need another one for awhile longer so I wish for you a Error Riddled 3 baseman who strikes out in clutch situation (opps you already got one) Good Luck in the ALDS hope you lose (no offense).

Well when the season is over for the beloved boys in the Old English "D" I will have one heck of a blog to put a cap on my season of Tigers Baseball. Till then GO TIGERS!!!

I am over the anger now my Wife says she doesnt think she is gonna throw up like she felt on Sunday and we are both still wearing the Old D's on our heads! A new season is upon us and I hope that we are playing in all 19 of them!

Well Well Well the Tigers Magic number is 18... Funny it has been that number now for awhile witch leads me to the question "Who's Your Tiger?"

Mine is Placido Palonco missing out of the line up since 8/15 with a shoulder injury, since then the Tigers runs per game is down from 5.2 pg to 3.7 pg (kind of a big difference) since 8/15 the Tigers have not won a single series (0 for 7) and they have dropped drastically in the standings now clinging for dear life with a game in a half lead over the Twinkies and 3 over America's most hated CWS.

It is with this that I would like to say PALONCO FOR TEAM MVP!

Now it is time to nominate who is NOT my Tiger for the last month... wait a minute I better make it a plural phrase who are not my Tigers (sound better?)

1) N. Perez (what a joke)

2) Curtis Granderson (love the kid but he is swinging at anything NOT in the strike zone)

3) Sean Casey (yes in a previous blog I called for the trade to pick him up but his average is dropping faster then the Tigers Standings)

4) Chris Shelton (I am not sure any more if this kid is the future as I am seeing visions of Carlos Pena' running in my head with his problems)

5) Magglio Ordonez' (Boy oh boy would I like you to be the CLEAN UP hitter)

6) Omar Infante (You have booted a few BIG plays that have cost a few games...Love the bat but learn the breaking ball and you would be better)

7) Jeremy Bonderman (last 6 starts what has happen? come on dude you are my Favorite to watch pitch)

Last but not least....Drum Roll Please! Tap ti tap ti tap

Dmitri Young! (notice no number?) DY you were my Tiger as evidence on my Jersey but it has circulated now that you have poisoned a well gellin club house AGAIN! Thanks for screwing things up AGAIN! I now see the connection between you and your brother who I also enjoyed watching till he played chuck-a-bat... thought you were gonna be the difference maker well you were the difference between winning team and slumping team, Thanks Again now I need a new Jersey or stich remover.

I should not be sitting here gripping about the negative but I can not hold back any longer for 12 years now this team has time in time again broke my heart and had horrible seasons...

Now they have finally strung together a winning season yet they are on the verge of dropping right out of it all. I guess my expectations might have been set a little to high to early considering I went to Florida this year for my first time and saw what was there a team with grit, that grinded every at bat every play in the field and every pitch. This is a team that was aggressive at the plate when it was in the strike zone, there was a combination of small ball and long ball. They asked questions when there were things they KNEW they needed to improve on, they played 9 inninngs of baseball and didnt show up later on in the game to try to come back. They were aggressive in general and looked to me at that time in spring training that they were gonna win the who damn thing!

Now they are trying to break my heart worse then '03 being this close to taking the whole division and falling out of it all together would be a heart break all on its own.

I would say its time to rally round the team but we have done that all year...

Now its time for the team to rally round themselves and go out and finish this off right!

HA HA I caught your eyes didnt I? Well now that I have let me make it clear I do NOT want him back as manager I want the Tigers to make that extra effort and well deserved push to get him into the Hall of Fame. Here is my case Tramell played for the Detroit Tigers from 1977 till 1996 in that time he won many trips to the all star game with his timely hitting and stellar glove work, in 1984 he was given the ultimate prize a world series title. Tramell comprised a well played career hitting a lifetime average of .285 compiling 2365 hits driving in 1003 RBI's.

Alan not only brought grit and determination to the plate with his key hits and smart base running he brought it to the field. From 1977 till 1996 Tramell turned 1321 double plays in 2002 games played on the field. Tramell also carried a .976 fielding percentage.

Tramell was a 6 time All Star, 4 time gold glover, 3 time silver slugger (late in his career) and a World Series MVP. Tramell's number rank amongst the greats of our time in the short stop postion and rank at the top of all time for the short stop postion for the Tigers.

Tramell played the game the right way a true gentleman, professional sportsman like attitude that could only be displayed by few, there were no scandals, gambling, or drugs.

In 2003 Tramell was brought back to Detroit to try to bring a baseball city back to glory, it worked he brought with him Kirk Gibson and Lance Parrish to bring fans back to the park in a kind of "HEY LOOK EVERYONE THE GANG IS BACK!!!" In 2003 Tramell and staff were handed the AAA Detroit Tigers and told to ride it out, he did all the way to a stellar (or should I say Cellar) record of 43 - 119. It came as a black eye to the city, the fans, and Alan Tramell. This would be the begining of the rise of a sleeping Tiger, in 2004 Alan came back to Detroit and tried to steer the ship the right direction, the off season brought in some bigger name players and managed to send some players packing. A tough season but a eventful one none the less finishing out the 2004 campain with a 72 - 90 record, this was the 2nd best turn around in Major League history, that year the fan base also climbed by almost 600,000 truely showing that interest in the team was still there. Saddly in 2005 his record was scared by injury and a loose clubhouse that was hard for a man of his type of character to maintain they finished there season with a 71 - 91 record. Alan was fired in October and was told he could stay on as a special assistant, I am sure as he cleaned out his locker and desk he realized he had to much pride to be nothing less then what he wants.

I only hope that there is a team out there with a spot that has his name written all over it, a true leader with baseball smarts and determination to be a succsess.

The Detroit Tigers owe it to Alan Tramell to retire # 3 and place him among the Tiger greats, it is a beautiful ballpark with bigger then life statues along the left center field wall but it misses a true great.

2006 is the year of the turn around and a showing to the baseball world Detroit is back, without Alan Tramell this could not have been possible. This year at seasons end the City of Detroit, the Detroit Tigers and all fans owe it to Alan Tramell, bring him back for a special day and show him the respect he deserves.

THANK YOU ALAN FOR EVERYTHING!

Well here we are Sept. 1 2006 and the boys in the Old English D are about to take us for the stretch run rollie coaster ride of our lives.

Recently I wrote about the "Magic Number" you know the one that clinches the first winning season in 12 years, well if no one noticed we finally got there!!! Now I am happy and frusterated all in the same time. Happy that this is NOT a losing season but Frusterated to the extent that I am seeing old habbits creep back into 25 guys. August by far has been the worst month to watch going 13-16 and dropping big big ground, happy I am that they have done so and the White Sox continue to stay around the same pace frusterated I am because this Division should be a week away from being locked up. Looking ahead at the strength of schedules I hesitate in saying we will be okay, but I think we will be okay... RIGHT? (OMG Can October please hurry!)

This team needs now to be the time to get hot, find themselves, become the "clutch" players they all know that they can be fire up on all cylinders and run!

You cannot due that when you LEAD the Majors in strike outs 929 and are one of the lowest in Base on Balls 339.

Curtis Granderson said something after the loss to the NY Yankees Thursday... "We need to be more aggressive with our at bats."

WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?

Curtis are you kiding me? You are a great player and a talent for years to come but you do LEAD ALL players in S/O's

Redifine aggressive as taking a few pitches remembering that a walk is as good as a hit! runners on base make the score bigger then when the runners are in the dugout! Learn from your own lessons Inge walks and you came up to bat Wed. night and how on earth I couldnt have been more wrong...YOU WALKED!!! Now C-Mo comes in and what do you know 5-3 Tigers win!

So in closing Tiger fans hold on keep the faith (again if your riding that band wagon you can exit now) remember since the late 60's only 3 teams have NOT won there division when leading by 4 1/2 games going into the final month of play the Cubs, the Red Sox, and the Angles. let us not be that 4th team... GIT-r-Done Cardiac Cats and Cowboy the hell UP!

I think Motown has had enough heartbreak this year with the Red Wings and Pistons.

Ok here we go... Did anyone read or hear the news? Ok well if you haven't let me fill you in... Detroit just got swept out of Chicago on a plane to Boston. Now that I have said that I will point out a few things and toss in a dash of questions.

27 innings played from Friday to Sunday...

22 Strike outs by Tigers hitters (also leading the majors in S/O)

1 Base on Balls (they are one of the worst in the majors there)

6 Errors

6 Runs scored (when they average 5.15 a game)

I see there plus the 2 previous games they lost to the Twinkes as a recipe to a "SLUMP"

On a positive note this is the first series they have dropped in around the last 15 or so and there slump has been against 2 of the majors hottest teams. I would much rather have that as a slump then being swept out of KC and spanked by the Devil Rays. While other teams have swept some birds this weekend it was not without some PITCHING struggles. I look forward to the Red Sox/ Tigers series this week and cannot wait till the White Sox come back for a Visit in Detroit (Consider that thought of a I.O.U.)

PLEASE READ CLOSELY!!!

If you are a bandwagon fan and are hoping off please take the first street west and go band wagon some place else thanks.

I am suprised by the surge the Tigers have put on this year and believe they were due to find themselves, I would like to thank the Chicago White Sox for the SWEEP SWEEP chants and the Sweep itself because I believe you might have placed a fire under a team.

NOW THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION!!!!

Earlier this year I was sitting at work stuck listening the Chicago Sports Radio and all I heard was whining and complaining about how the Tigers have got the "EASY" schedule and have just been beating up on all the bad teams. Soon after a bit of a struggle for the Tigers when they played the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox this same station was quick to point out that the Tigers could not beat the "ELITE" teams. Struck me as funny considering that the Tigers have the 4th best record in baseball behind the Yankees, Mets and White Sox for beating teams over .500. So if were to lose to the poor teams and beat the "ELITE" teams what does that make are record?  ( I think it would be WORSE then KC) now can we beat the ELITE teams... lets see how the script finishes because the last I check there are 162 practices and up to 19 performances (ALDS 5 ALCS 7 WS 7) so in the eyes of the critics the Tigers should be 162-0 at seasons end or they should be 0-162 there is a damned if you do situation if i ever saw one.

Last Time I checked Chicago and Boston there were only 2 Worthy names to deserve the coined phrase of "ELITE" those are the New York Yankees with 26 World Series Titles and the St. Louis Cardnals with 16 World Series Titles. I dont think that one World Series Title in over the last 80 throws you in that "ELITE" catergory.

For the people looking at a little picture of the "pennant race" in the AL Central the Magic number is closing in and now stands at 48!  But for the poor and deprived people that for years have followed a team from the corner of Michigan and Trumbell to the now beautiful confines of Comerica Park there is another "Magic Number" that is 9.

Why 9 you ask? Great question, when the 2006 Detroit Tigers win 9 more games it will become mathmatically impossible for them to finish under .500 for the first time in 12 seasons of play. Thus this ends a long long drought of being the laughing stock of Major League Baseball and re-establishes the proud 1901 franchise as a force in a Steinbrenner era of spend $$$BIG$$$ and strip 29 other teams of talent for cash.

Well now that it is on the verge of being a reality i would like to thank the Atlanta Braves for the way they have done it for years, "Grow your own and draft well" this is the motto that has seemed to have become a real trend around the league.

                                               
IT'S ABOUT TIME!

Hope that this could be the Magical Year however if it isn't lets take a quick peek back so that we do not forget the Magic of the Season.

2000 79 wins 83 loses

2001 66 wins 96 loses

2002  55 wins 106 loses

2003  43 wins 119 loses

2004  72 wins 90 loses

2005  71 wins 91 loses

2006  72 wins and counting!!!

Lets face it I started my love for this team as a young boy sitting in my grandfathers garage listening to Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey call it on the AM dial somewhere around 1983 ( 92 W 70 L ) and was like any other in '84 when they ran off 35 - 5 and never looked back ( 104 W 58 L ) since that time they have had 6 winning seasons and you could argue that (but they were over .500) I would love to see this finish in late October if possible but if it doesnt happen I wont frown (maybe cry). Instead I will look back and smile hoping that the Illitch family has been built to stay in Detroit!

So in 9 wins you ask where I will be? Its quite simple I will be intoxicated in some bar near home jumping up and down for joy as the hopes for a .500 season for the 1st time in 12 years will set in, I hope other fans of this proud team will be joining me in that bar and realize this is the FIRST of many magical numbers to come!

Cheers!

I really hate to act like I am patting myself on the back... but I am sorry I got to.

On July 4th I called for Sean Casey and listed his career numbers as being good.

Now he has arrived in Tampa to help Detroit take that final push into the post season,

Dave Dombrowski did the best move on the part of the Tigers not only did he solidify the lineup he brought in one of the best down to earth guys to put in the club house.

Moving Shelton to AAA to work on his hitting, and the resurgence of D.Y. it would appear that magic could happen in Motown. I would not be suprised to see this be the best and cheapest move in the end.

Well now what is gonna happen... Shanahan has left for the East Coast, Yzerman has since retired, and Manny was nicely shown the exit door.

First I would like to say a few things about Shanny.

Truly he is one of my favorite players ( I am Irish too).

His statments he made in leaving were not brash but they did raise my eye, he states ""It really came down to an instinct I had," Shanahan said Sunday. "Detroit has a great past and a great future ahead of them as well, but I guess I just felt that maybe I was identified with the past a little bit more than the future."

Also that Yzerman retiring left him little reason to stay.

Would it have not been a proving point of your worth to have stayed without Yzerman in the lineup to prove you are the next man to step up for the Red Wheel? Leaving some young talent that could still use the Irish guidance woulda made for the better future in Detroit.

Sorry you had to leave Shanny, I am even more sorry you had to  go to the Big Apple (almost as bad as Colorado) I thank you for your years of service and bringing us 3 Stanley Mugs But I do wish you woulda hung the skates up in Hockey Town.

Now for the next year I am minus a few items of clothing!

Shanny T-Shirt and more so Shanny Jersey

I am afraid it is "MAN LAW" that states " If a player is to Retire then the Jersey can remain in play... However if said player is to leave for another team then fans of that such said player endures a 1 year boycott of the said clothing."

I only hope that this is the year of the Farm because we appear to have ourselves a flat tire in the motor city and thats not good considering how well our division is quickly improving to take out the champs!

Recently I posted a blog on the Trade deadline and the Detroit Tigers. I would like to thank those who conversed with me on this topic, however there is a #### among us! I know it suprises America that somewhere in the midwest there could possibly be a real living breathing waste of gene pool but I swear on my life it is true. I did not need to search for this rare breed instead it came right to me like a tamed animal in the woods.

His name? JCJA. He was so kind to come into my blog and trash on my team and town they play in, here would be the comments from my newly found low IQ'ed Bloggernaut.

 

"who really cares about Detroit, this is a town that is considered a wastepit for all athletes...what about the fact that MLB snubbed Joe Mauer out of starting the All-Star Game? I guess that it shows the stupidity of fans. The real loosers are the fans around the country, whom will not be able to see the best catcher start the all star game...only a has been who is better off as a dh...The fans in Det. need to find something else to do other than vote for a catcher who is only batting his weight of 290 and has only 7hr...what a sham...maybe the Motor City Kittys will have 6-8 guys in the Pro Bowl next year as well. "

Now JCJA let me get this right you refer to the city as a waste pit correct? I have to ask when was the last time it was you came over here to see what is being done to change the skyline and the image, I am thinking you might have gotten off of you John Deere long enough to come in from plow fields and milking cows long enough to spit some trash on something you are ignorant about.

In the Summer of 2004 the Illitch family and Ford family attended the City of Detroit counsil meeting to place the office on notice... "CLEAN UP OR WE WILL" was the words that came out of it, the reason? Glad you asked JCJA it was simple, starting in summer of 2005 till sometime around 2008 the City of Detroit was going to play host to many of major sporting events. The All Star Game, The Super Bowl, The NCAA final 4, The NCAA Frozen 4 and much more. Since that day the City is really taking shape and there are many businesses coming back into the downtown area including resturants, bars, hotels and luxery condos.

Suprised? I for one am not, while I do not live in Detroit it is a town that I frequant and refer to as my own being it is the major city in our wonderful state and it needs everyone to support it.

The part of the comment you made being a wastepit suggest that you are refering to the town, but I could be wrong I can also read into you calling ownership a wasteland. Is that what you meant? Hmmmmm let me see what has that ownership done to be considered that... OH! I got it the Illitch Family has reconstructed a Baseball team in a major 4 sport town that has now started to make the Twinkies a whipping child for years of punishing the Tigers is that it? I could be wrong maybe it is also the simple fact that from Single A to AAA they are now stronger then ever and that does not boad well for your Twinkes Organization. Or could it be that the Illitch family has taken the attention away from the " Hockey State " and brought in " Hockey Town "? Not sure but I am thinking that you suddenly woke up one morning and realized that the sub .500 team that played last year suddenly put you in a hole you cant seem to climb out of and what a way to take it out right?

JCJA I wish you had the facts correct about the catcher postion but then again grabbing cow udders all day so you can supply us with americas dairy needs has got to make a man lose his marbles. Next time you are watching the Twinkies take on whoever watch how effortless it becomes for a runner to advance 90ft down the line because of his great ability to gun down the runner in a steal attempt outside of A.J. Dirtbag of the Chicago White Sox I dont think there are to many catchers with his inadequate arm. If my memory serves me correctly there have been 25 stolen bases this year against your All Star hopeful ranked right behind A.J. Dirtbag with 42, Pudge on the other hand lets see what was it???? Oh right I got it 9. There have been 18 attempts and 9 have been sent back to the dugout to explain why they screwed up thats 50%. But let me give you a little credit Twinkie can swing a bat and we wil get to see that in the All Star game after the running game has been shut down by Pudge and the A.L. has a comfortable lead in the game.

JCJA I wish you well in the attempt to have a new Twinkie Dome built considering your other one is a falling apart football field that ruins the careers of many who play there with the fake lawn you have in place. Good luck in you attempts to dig outof the self made hole your twinkies have put themselves in, good luck in getting your pathetic excuse of a basketball team out of the first round in the playoffs next year, good luck in your efforts to try to get a hockey team to stay in your state and maybe they to could get into the playoffs as well, and I REALLY WISH you well in keeping your football players off "THE BOAT".

Until then run back out and milk us some cows and pick us some corn eh we are all hungry! Thanks Dumb Dumb for the trash attempt!