One sublect that many, including myself, have done for so long is give top ten lists of pretty much everything under the sun. Sports fans really like to make these lists. But what many readers don’t realize, unfortunately, is that 99% of top ten lists are nothing more than an opinion.  Some of the writers don't realize it either though.

Some of the more popular lists I have done would include the top ten baseball players of all time, top ten hottest WNBA players, and the big one, the top ten most overrated sports moments which I wrote earlier this year.

A marketing firm compiled data and fan feedback from all 122 pro sports franchises. With this list it is based on many items. This list is not my list. This list was done by two companies as well.

The list is called the "Ultimate Standings" by Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon and Markitecture INC. The list was published in the May issue of ESPN the Magazine.

The data used to figure all this out was put together with these factors included. Most of these factors included: Ownership, Coaching, Players, Fan Relations, Affordability Stadium Experience, and BLEEP-for-the-Buck.

So who are the Top Ten Franchises and who are the Bottom Feeders? Here are the lists.

Top Ten Sports Franchises:

10. Arizona Diamondbacks

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

8. Detroit Pistons

7.Detroit Tigers

6.Los Angeles Angels

5. Anaheim Ducks

4. Green Bay Packers

3.New Orleans Hornets

2. San Antonio Spurs

1. Indianapolis Colts

 
The Bottom Feeders:

113. Memphis Grizzlies

114. Baltimore Orioles

115. Cincinnati Bengals

116. Seattle Supersonics

117. Oakland Raiders

118. Minnesota Timberwolves

119. Atlanta Falcons

120. Detroit Lions

121. Toronto Maple Leafs

122. New York Knicks

 Notables and other numbers:

The city of Detroit had three teams in the top 12 and one in the bottom. The Detroit Red Wings came in at 12th.

No New York team ranked higher than the Giants at number 48. New York has seven pro sports franchises which is more than any other city.

The New England Patriots were ranked as the 11th best franchise.

The Chicago Cubs were ranked 95th. I guess without any living fans from the last World Series it is hard to rank higher. The Cubs have only won two World Series’ and they were back-toback in 1907-08.

The number 100 team is the New Jersey Nets.

The Indiana Pacers just missed the Bottom Feeder list at number 112

In MLB the Boston Red Sox ranked 89th while the New York Yankees ranked 65th. The Tampa Bay Rays ranked 75th while the Toronto Blue Jays ranked 67th and the Baltimore Orioles were ranked 114th. The AL East is not a good franchise division apparently.

Surprises on the list were the Milwaukee Brewers who were 13th and the St. Louis Blues were 14th.

  The NFL has operated far too long with the current type of Collective Bargaining Agreement. The most obvious problems involve guaranteed contracts and ridiculous rookie contracts. These two issues will be at the forefront of the next contract as negotiations at a snail pace toward 2011 as well as revenue sharing between players and owners.

  As it stands now NFL owners can pull out of the present collective bargaining agreement with the players on November 8, and it appears that the owners are heading in that direction. If the owners pull out of the CBA, there is no salary cap the final year of the agreement (which is in 2010). If the players pull out, players would only receive free agency after six years of service — not four. In 2010 the NFL could operate without a cap. But that would not remain for long. Teams looking for one year success could reap big rewards if they target that year for a run. It would be a big year for one year contracts and the best teams would have the advantage because they would already have the incentive for veteran players looking to win a Super Bowl.

  The first obstacle is a must for NFL players. Get guaranteed contracts. It is amazing in a league that has the highest revenue and has the highest risk of injury that there are not guaranteed contracts. What the owners may want in place to cover the expenses is two more regular season games. They would likely change two preseason games into regular season games. Every other sport has guaranteed contracts why doesn’t the NFL?

  The second change is another glaring need in the NFL. A rookie salary cap like the NBA has. The guaranteed money to top tier rookies has been insane for a number of years now but has taken an even bigger jump over the last four years. Teams with high draft picks are already bad teams, they don’t need to pay top dollar to players that have not even played yet. If a player is a bust it cripples teams for many years. Matt Millen is an easy target for this issue.

Some other needs in this deal are better pension plans with health insurance for former players. How can a league discard the players that made the league what it is today.

According to a story from ESPN.com there is a lot more to what the owners want as well-"Beneath the surface of this increasingly rancorous dispute is the bargain the players and the owners made in March 2006, an agreement that provided significant increases for players in salaries and bonuses. Instead of 55.5 percent of NFL revenues, the players now are entitled to 60 percent. The salary cap has jumped from $85.5 million per team in 2005 to an expected $123 million per team in 2009, an increase of 43 percent.

Although the owners agreed to those increases, they are not happy about their decision. A number of owners claim their profits have dropped from 10 percent each year to only 4 percent since the 2006 bargain was struck." - Lester Munson ESPN.com

Also of note from the ESPN.com article from Lester Munson: "Upshaw and others involved in NFL labor issues expect the owners to announce that the players will be locked out of training camps, putting the 2011 season in jeopardy. An NFL lockout would come six years after the National Hockey League locked out its players, which killed the 2005-06 NHL season.

The NFL's union, according to Upshaw, will counter with decertification, which means it will give up its role as the official labor organization of NFL players and become a trade association.

"How can they lock us out if we are not a union?" Upshaw said.

Jeffrey Kessler, a union attorney who was a leader of the court fight that led to the 1993 restructuring of the NFL, added: "If you lock out players who do not have a union, it is an antitrust violation."

The battle will lead to the same kind of litigation that began after the players' unsuccessful strike in 1987 and led to the 1993 settlement that allowed owners and players alike to prosper for 15 years. It will be a high-stakes struggle, as the players will seek to duplicate their triumphs in the early '90s with demands for triple damages and injunctions."

This does not look like it will be pretty if this is already starting. With all the egos involved the only real losers will be the fans who are treated to court room drama, lawyer speak, and replacement players. There really isn’t anything like Billionaires arguing with Millionaires!  It doesn't look good but there is still hope that this can be taken care of before doomsday in the NFL.  This may come down to the final hour.  There are a lot of layers to this and one can only hope that they will make sense of all this and get the new deal done.

 

Every pundant with a computer, google, and watched the NFL draft  has given their grades to NFL teams for last weekends drafts.  We all know you can't judge a book by it's cover, it is the same with the draft.  It is comical to me to see that many in the Detroit Media and many fans give the Detroit Lions and Matt Millen a C+ and even as high as a B+ for their draft.

  Some of the comments I have read are that the Lions seem to have filled so many holes in their roster.  Another is that the Lions finally drafted players that want to play football.  If that has been the problem than why did it take eight years to figure out?  I think anyone learns on the job faster than that.  I think I could learn knee surgery faster than Millen learned how to draft and he hasn't really even done that yet either.  The thing is, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SO MANY HOLES IN THE ROSTER IF MATT MILLEN WOULDN'T  HAVE CREATED SO MANY HOLES IN THE LIONS ROSTER IN THE FIRST PLACE!

  Another thing I found ironic was that Matt Millen, the guy who had to get rid of as many of Bobby Ross' players when he came in, drafted one.  Bobby Ross was the coach that first brought S Caleb Campbell into Army football.  Now there is actually people critical of Campbell's patriotism for heading to the NFL instead of Iraq?  Are you kidding me?  This is a great PR move for the Army and a great recruiting tool. 

I wonder just how many of these people have ever served our country themselves?  Funny how I have only heard 100% support for Campbell from other military brats.  It is like people who rip on the President of the United States but don't even vote.

  For the first time in years the Lions are going to go defense first in the NFL draft.  The last time they did they drafted LB Ernie Sims.  It has worked out well so far.  This year it appears that Florida DE Derrick Harvey will be the Lions pick at no. 15.  If Harvey is drafted before the Lions pick, Tennessee LB Jerrod Mayo will be the pick.

  The Lions have signed veterans at CB and S in Brian Kelly and Dwight Smith.  They also traded for Cleveland CB Leigh Bodden.  The Lions biggest defensive needs are at DE and LB.  The Lions need a DE opposite of DeWayne White.  White played very well when he wasn't hurt and made a lot of big plays in 2007.  The Lions need a DE opposite of White to help him out, something Kalimbust Edwards never could do.

  If both Harvey and Mayo and drafted before the Lions get to pick at 15, then it may be one of two RBs.  The Lions released Kevin Jones in the off season so they will be looking at a RB anyway.  The plan may be to wait until the 2nd or 3rd round for a RB.  If the Lions are forced to draft a RB in the first round it will be either Oregon's Jonathan Stewart or Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall.  Mendenhall had a freakish 9 yards per rush last year.

  Next up on Matt Millen's to do list is logic!  The logic that every "football guy" has.  "You win games in the trenches"  Something the Lions have not done since Matt Millen has taken over.  Matt Millen has not drafted an offensive lineman in the first two rounds of any draft since 2001!  That year he drafted LT Jeff Backus and C Dominic Raiola and both have been starters since 2001.  Logic tells me that lineman drafted after the first two rounds is not Millen's expertise and he should refrain from doing it again.

Since the 2002 draft the Lions only have two starters from their 1st and 2nd round picks.  Six of the 12 picks aren't even on the team any more and two aren't even in the league at all!  This is just since 2002.  Two starters from 6 drafts.

Those in the know in football and in most sports know the real deal is that you free agency is used to cover mistakes you have made in the draft.  Well the Lions have made so many mistakes in the draft that the salary cap wouldn't even really allow them to do that.

 

This time of year Hockey could change its name to Goalie. Playoff success is generally predicated on a teams goalie play through out the playoffs. Goalie play with a healthy dose of shut down defense is the key to almost every Stanley Cup winner. Pretty much every team in the playoffs this year has a goalie that is capable of leading their team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Lets look at each series and take an educated guess on which teams can emerge into round two.

 

Eastern Conference

1. Montreal Canadiens vs 8. Boston Bruins- Montreal one of the world premier hockey cities is juiced for the first round this year as the Habs have a number one seed. Montreal should sweep this series as they did the season series 8-0. Boston may get one win in this series but with as many injuries as they have had this season and right now, it just isn’t their time.

Montreal Sweep 4-0

2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs 7. Ottawa Senators - Ottawa started as one of the leagues best. But the last three months have been unkind in Ottawa. Pittsburgh has so much offense and Sidney Crosby may just be healthy. Ottawa ousted the Penguins in just five games last spring. That plays big in a team motivation to seek revenge.

Penguins in 5 4-1

3. Washington Capitals vs 6. Philadelphia Flyers- Both teams finished the season strong and both have top notch goalies. The Capitals boast an attack lead by scoring sensation Alexander Ovechkin and back him up with solid goaltending from trade deadline pick up Christabol Huet. Philly on the other hand finished the season 7-1-1 and have Martin Biron who will be a factor in net for the flyers. However I feel the Capitals have too much momentum going into the playoffs and will win a very tough series.

Washington 4-3

4. New Jersey Devils 5. New York Rangers. New York dominated to season series winning the first seven of eight. Both have strong goalies but the Rangers have the match ups that are going to stifle a Devils team that has made too many lateral moves with their roster over the last two years. It takes more than Martin Broduer to win a series, or does it?

New York 4-2

Western Conference-

1. Detroit Red Wings vs 8. Nashville Predators- The Wings get lucky having a first round series without west coast travel. The Wings being in the Eastern time zone often have series travel issues this time of year. Nashville is yet to win a playoff series and they are due. However they aren’t going to get this one. The series may get stretched to six games due to the massive injury list the Wings have but they have the best goalie tandem in the league. They will start Dominik Hasek and have back up Chris Osgood who actually lead the league in GAA percentage and started the All-Star game this season.

Detroit 4-2

2. San Jose Sharks and 7. Calgary Flames- This series may be a little tight than most have anticipated.The Sharks have been one of the leagues hottest teams but Calgary is one of the hardest working teams. Here is where the multiple over time games will come in . Both teams goalies are among the leagues best. The goalie match up of Nabokov and Kiprusoff shoudl carry this series at least 6 gams.

San Jose 4-2

3.Minnesota Wild vs 6. Colorado Avalanche- Minnesota is facing a very different Colorado team with the addition of many former players they acquired late in the season. Colorado needs to show that they are the Avalanche of old and not and Old Avalanche team. Minnesota may have enough to get to round two but I don’t see it happening. The only way the Wild move on is if the defense they have dominated with can hold up with a revamped Colorado team.

Colorado 4-2

4. Anaheim Ducks vs 5. Dallas Stars. Dallas just lost leader and defensemen Zubov and deadline acquisition Brad Richards finished very mediocre. Anaheim is the defending Stanley Cup Champs and they are for a reason. They boast four top tier defenseman and know what it takes to win a cup. They also have a very solid goalie in Jean-Sebastian Giguere.

Anaheim in five 4-1

This is it for round one. What do you think will happen? I think I made my case but series aren’t played on paper/blogs. If you are a NHL fan this is the best time of year. Every goal is huge.

What I did was put my email address over to the right. I wrote that you can send me a question about your team and I will answer it. well a lot more took me up on it that I thought would.

Lets get right into it,, Also if you have a sports related question and are looking for a non biased opinion shoot me an email to Here we go starting out in Arizona:

Do you think the Arizona Cardinals will make the playoffs finally thin 2008?

Jaun - Phoenix

RG: It may be yet another year. The recent signing of Clark Haggans is a step in the right direction. They need Matt Leinert to really turn out tp be the QB they want him to be and what they need him to be. He can be special.

Do you think Justin Verlander can throw another no hitter this year?

Brent - Livonia, Michigan

RG: maybe not this year but he has the best stuff in the AL. He could later in his career but in back-to back years is asking a ton out of a very young pitcher.

Do you think Matt Millen will get fired after this season?

Rick, Florida

RG: No, I think he will have to resign after 15 years or so. All I want to know is how do I get a job working for the Lions front office. I would feel very secure. Actually former Lions head coach Daryll Rogers once said after a game in which the Lions had lost eight straight said "What does a guy have to do to get fired around here!

Can the Dodgers make the playoffs?

Julio, LA

RG -hey can if they make a move early in the season. They have some weaknesses at SS 3b and you never know if you can get over 100 games with Nomar. I am going to say no and by double digits. This is Sand Diego's year out west as well as Colorado coming off a World Series loss.

What can hockey do to connect the players and fans better?
Sandy - Minnesota

Sandy well one thing most people don't know is also something that goes on in baseball. With so many foreign players that are in each league they don't all speak very good English. Some say it is too embarrassing and scary talking on American television being afraid to sound ignorant or say something stupid.

Give it time, the lockout wasn't that long ago and it took a HR chase on Steroids to get baseball back four years after the strike.

Do the Tigers have the best line-up ever?

Theresa, Michigan

RG- they may have the best ever but only if the produce like it.  They have a lot of guys who hit well above .300 and just playing the averages it has been said they could score over 1000 runs this year.  Having the best line up ever remains to be seen.

Will Cleveland win the A.L. Central in 2008?

Max, Ohio

RG- No I don't think so.  They have a great team but thety may not have enough to beat out Detroit.  Also don't forget Chicago is better this year as well.


Hey knucklehead send me an email and I will post it.  I have a few more I will be posting later but the are the latest:

bob260505@yahoo.com

With new team and contract Miguel Cabrera will enter into the 2008 season a made man. For the first time in his career Cabrera will have protection in the line up. The Tigers have potentially the most potent line up ever when you consider the balance in average and power top to bottom. Now he has money in the bank and has a line up that should allow him to get more good pitches than ever. In 2007 Cabrera hit .320 with 34 Hrs and 119 RBI being protected in the line up by Hanley Ramirez.

Look at the Tigers one through nine. Lead off with one of the games best young stars in Curtis Granderson who in 2007 hit .302 with 23 Hrs and 74 RBI. Granderson also 38 doubles and 23 triples which led MLB. Throw in 26 stolen bases as well.

After Granderson you have the best second baseman in baseball. Placido Polanco in 2007 hit .341 had 9 HR 67 RBI and only 30 strikeouts for the entire season! Polanco also was perfect in 2007 committing zero errors.

Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez hitting before, around, or after Cabrera followed by Carlos Guillen who hit .296 last year is a switch hitter and also had 21 Hrs and 102 RBI. Don’t forget Magglio hit 28 Hrs and hit .363 with 139 RBI.

You also can not forget the Tigers addition at shortstop Edgar Renteria. The Tigers brought him in because they had to move Carlos Guillen to first base because of his kness. This should help Guillen play in more games this year also. Renteria however is not a slouch either. Renteria hit .332 last year with 12 Hrs and 57 RBI in Atlanta.

So with new contract in hand baseball’s best player under 25 becomes the 4th highest paid player in MLB.   One other factor in Cabrera getting the deal was showing up to spring training trim and much more fit than expected.  It showed right away that he was excited to be in Dewtroit.  Dontrelle Willis speaks often on how high Cabrera's sports IQ is.  He says that Cabrera really understands and loves the game of baseball more than most other players do.

Here is the report from the AP:  By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer Tigers and Cabrera agree to $152.3 million, 8-year deal

 If you missed it, the Lions cut RB Kevin Jones and DE Kalimba (Kalimbust) Edwards yesterday.  Kevin Jones was the starting RB and Kalimbust was a DE who was listed as inactive many of the last games in Detroit.  But if you ask me he has been inactive his entire career other than the one play he made on Brett Favre in this picture.

  I can respect Rod Marinelli for trading away top players like Shawn Rogers to Cleveland and cutting Kevin Jones.  But why would he not ask for Matt Millen to resign?  He should go straight into his boss' office (Matt Millen) and ask for his resignation.  If he does not resign, Rod should go straight to team owner William Clay Ford.

  It seems rather odd that a GM in charge of player and coach personnel who demands so much of them, has not delivered one thing in eight years as the Lions top boss.  Matt Millen's record is an abysmal 31-81.  Millen could have the Lions go completely undefeated 19-0 for three straight years and still have a losing record!

  It seems rather odd that a person at any job could make so many bad decisions year after year and keeps his job.  Especially in sports where winning is the bottom line, isn't it?  Why doesn't Rod ask for Millen to walk away so the franchise can begin to heal?

  How about someone tries to weigh the good moves to the bad ones.  Are the outsiders from the organization the only ones who see this?  Do they walk around Allen Park (training facility location for the Lions) saying to each other how brilliant Matt Millen is or WOW that move Millen made worked out great!

  From drafting Charles Rogers,Mike Williams, Joey Harrington in the first round to signing Jeff Backus and Corey Redding to 7 year $49 million deals.  Redding made him the highest paid DT at the time which produced a whopping 1 sack this season playing next Shawn Rogers. 

From the 2002 and 2003 draft, the Lions have two players remaining. The Lions do not have a starter on the roster, other than Roy Williams, from the 2004 and 2005 drafts.  Most people know you build winning teams through the draft, not through free agency.  Millen has been in charge of the Lions drafting for 8 years now.

Another surprise with Millen is that the Lions owner WCF brought him in because he is a "football guy" and that is what the Lions needed.  But don't most football people know that you win games in the trenches?  The Lions have failed to address the offensive and defensive lines for many years now.  The Lions have not drafted an offensive lineman in the 1st or 2nd round since 2001 when they drafted center Dominic Raiola and tackle Jeff Backus.  Both still start for Detroit.  How many WRs, QBs, and RBs to they have to draft, give a truck load of money to, and then cut having a huge dead cap number year after year before something is done or someone other than the coaches gets fired.

As former Lions coach Daryl Rogers once said after another loss in an 8 game losing streak "What the hell does a guy have to do to get fired around here ?"

Lions fans tried what was dubbed the "walk out" protesting Millen.  Nice to see the game was SOLD OUT!!  How about a protest that would make a difference.  Don't walk in the door in the first place!  Stop buying tickets, watch them on TV for free.  Then when the games start getting blacked out and it starts hitting WCF where it hurts, his bottom line, he may actually do something about this living Lions fan nightmare called the Matt Millen experiment!


In sports what do they always say?  Hey don't take it personally it is just business.  Maybe that doesn't apply to Matt Millen just coming from him onto players.   Sometimes I wonder if Matt Millen is even for the Lions because he seems to make many things happen against them.  Maybe Millen is all part of Bill Belicheck's master plan!


Pass this on to as many people as possible.  Help out a Lions fan in need of more than one playoff win since 1957!  Besides why wouldn't you?  What have the Lions ever done to your team?

  This season in MLB there is one new rule that is making at least one coach upset.  The new "Mike Coolbaugh" rule that all basepath coaches must wear helmets when they're on the field has been set.  Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa it against it.

 Mike Coolbaugh was killed while coaching first base for Colorado's Double-A Tulsa affiliate last July 22. In a game at Arkansas, Coolbaugh was hit below the ear and knocked unconscious by a line drive. Coolbaugh was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. He was 35. In 2008 a new rule makes it mandatory for all coaches on the base paths to wear helmets.

  Dodgers 3rd sack coach said in a story on MLB.com "That's not for me," said Bowa, a former player and manager in the Major Leagues in his first year with the Dodgers. "My question is, how can I be in the league 40 years and the league says who wears a helmet and who doesn't? One guy got killed and I'm sorry it happened. But bats break and they can be a deadly weapon. Do something about bats.

"Umpires get hit with line drives. I've probably seen 50 of them get hit. If coaches have to wear helmets, umpires should. I'll sign a waiver. And there should be a grandfather clause. These are very cumbersome. They talk about delay of game, and when the helmet falls off, you'll have to stop the game. It should be an option. I know I'm talking for a lot of guys who won't say anything. I'll write a check for 162 games if I have to not wear it."

I am not surprised the new rule had a complaint against it.  I am sure many more coaches didn't like it either.  The chances of getting hit and killed by a ball are so small that there isn't another case in the 120 plus year history of MLB. 

  Bowa has actually worn a helmet in the spring but he may just take a little more getting used to it than others.  It could be something much worse to have to deal with at your job like many other Americans are dealing with right now, not having one!

  Begin Rant-  Larry BLEEP it up and forget about it.  Hockey players got used to it real quick and it was a good thing they did.  What he should be upset about is having to wear a full blown uniform with hat and cleats!  How about to add to the coaches looking so much like players they give the base coaches gloves to look like foul 1st and 3rd baseman!  I don't think putting on a batting helmet is going to hurt you!

  Maybe I am completely off base here (pun intended).  Maybe the NFL should make the coaches wear shoulder pads ,cleats, and helmets.  NFL coaches have more of a chance getting hit by someone or something that could severly hurt them than any other coach.  Maybe the NBA should have the coaches wear shorts and tank tops as well!

If you are a member at FANIQ.com than I have a poll in which you can vote on this topic.  FANIQ members can vote here.  If you would like to sign up you can sign up here.

 

 

Darren McCarty is making his way back into the NHL. The former Wing and most recently Calgary Flame forward had been injured and out of hockey. Finally back healthy McCarty played in the IHL a team co-owned by Red Wings center Kris Draper, McCarty's former Grind Line linemate.
He signed with the Flint Generals.

In Flint it sparked attendance and sold out games. The Generals have a good team but have not drawn very good crowds all season, until McCarty arrived.

Then he got a minor league pro tryout with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the minor league affiliate of the Red Wings.

GM Ken Holland told Anshar Khan on Mlive.com "there are three options to signing McCarty: Put him on the NHL roster immediately and keep him there, send him back to Grand Rapids on a two-week conditioning stint, or sign him and send him to the Griffins indefinitely. In order to send him to the minors, he would need to clear waivers, unless it's just for a two-week conditioning stint.

"The intention is to eventually get him up here," Holland said. "In my mind, he's not ready to be put on an NHL roster. I don't think Darren is quite there, conditioning-wise. He's got to lose some weight."

Fans in Detroit will go crazy if he gets brought in. He was a fan favorite for 11 years in Hockeytown and would give the Wings a spark.

A man attending a game in a rainbow afro wig and holds a sign that says John 3:16. Also known as "Rainbow Man," the born-again Rollen Stewart and his John 3:16 signs were fixtures at major events in the 1970s and 80s. Mostly behind the uprights in football games.

He brought his sign to the World Series, Super Bowl, Olympics, and World Cup. He was outside Buckingham Palace when Di & Charles wed; he went to see the Pope in Alaska. But he was known as more religious fanatic than sports fan.

In Detroit one sign has become just the same but on a smaller yet growing scale. In Detroit there is the "Fire Millen" sign. If it is seen at Ford Field it is taken and usually taken to the exits. I heard a person say the other day they they have had fourteen Fire Millen signs taken away at Ford Field in Detroit.

But recently it has been popping up all around the country. Some are Motowners on the road at a sporting event and try to get it on Tv and succeed. It is fully endorsed by me to anyone who wants to take a sign to a sporting event and is not sure what to put on it, write Fire Millen on it. You are sure to get some laughs and you will be helping a suffering Lions fan somewhere.

Coming soon I will share with you the most recognizable Lions fan. He is known as the Pilgrim. He is to Lions fan what The Big Dawg & the Bone lady from Cleveland, the Hoggetts from Washington, Spike & Raider Ron from Oakland.

 

Al Davis is at it again.  He is looking to bring in yet another new coach to the Raiders.  After only one season in Oakland, Raiders owner Al Davis wants Lane Kiffin to resign.  Davis would like to bring in former Cardinals and Vikings head coach Dennis Green.

  In a story from ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen:

"Davis has gone so far as to draft a letter of resignation for Kiffin to sign, a source said. Kiffin has refused to do so but has dared Davis to fire him instead. The letter, the source said, was sent to Kiffin two weeks ago.

Kiffin, who was 4-12 in his first season as coach, has two years remaining on his contract at an estimated $2 million per year.

In the letter sent to Kiffin's legal representatives, Davis stated that only he would have control over his staff and full personnel decisions, sources said. According to a source close to Kiffin, Davis had promised Kiffin when he hired him that he would have more control over staff and personnel matters than recent Raiders coaches. Kiffin was allowed five offensive assistants and to name his own staff when he took the job after the 2006 season."


This would be the fourth head coach in four years for the Raiders and fifth coach in six years.  The secret to success is not instability.  Maybe Al's last face lift was a little to tight and it has since impaired his judgement. 

Kiffin had more than just being a rookie head coach against him last season.  He had no stability in many important positions.  He started three different QBs in McCown, Culpepper, and #1 pick JaMarcus Russell.  He also had three different starting RBs as well in Fargas, Jordan, and Rhodes.  Lets not forget that there was a reason why Oakland had the number one overall pick in the first place.  Kiffeen took over the worst team in the NFL.

Lane Kiffin like many coaches should be given at least one more year.  That way Oakland could bring in Bill Cower, a proven winner and hard nosed coach.  Just what the Raiders need.  Besides with Dennis Green, HE IS WHAT WE THOUGHT HE WAS!  Is this really the task that Dennis Green wants or needs to take on at this point of his life?

  Remember Al Davis is the same man who said John Gruden couldn't win the big game.  After trading Gruden to Tampa Bay Gruden then proiceeded to spank the Raiders in the BIG GAME the very first year.  That should have been his first clue that he has lost his touch.

  Every sport has its die hard fan base.  Yes even the NHL.  If you don't live in a state you can play outdoor hockey or Canada you may not believe that.  That is also another argument in my long line of arguments that the NHL should only be in those area I just mentioned.

I was bumping around youtube for a video I saw on another website of an NHL fan caught on the big screen.  It was on Break.com. 

I have put all three videos up against each other in a poll on FANIQ.com.  You can vote here if you are a member, or sign up here.  FANIQ.com is a website that tracks your predictions and opinions on sports topics and games.  Of coarse it if free as well.

I wanted to post the videos here on this blog but apparently Fox sports doesn't have the ability to use embeded objects.  Just click the links below that will get you to the videos on Youtube.com and Break.com

So here is the quetion I pose to you.  In each video you be the judge.  Is is a die hard NHL fan or just another Jacka$$?

Video #1-  an NHL fan gives it all he has to help out his team.  You be the judge.


Video#2-  a fan gets caught on the big screen for his big moment


Video #3- I call this one poetic justice and you will see why. 


Video number three to me is the best because the player doesnt let him off the hook, even after he scores.

  Well it isn't like the Vikings organization is known as the example of the class of the league.  With all the publicity the "Sexboat Scandal" received in 2005, the organization was forced to rebuild. 

  In 2007 the Vikings don't have another boat scandal, they have another image problem.  The Vikings have lowered the bar again. 

  Last Sunday WR Troy Williamson missed the Vikings win over the Chargers that saw Adrian Peterson break the NFL record for rushing yards (296) in a game and surpass 1,000 yards after only eight games.  Williamson was in South Carolina attending his maternal Grandmother's funeral.

from Twincities.com:

After the death last week of his maternal grandmother, Williamson rejoined the Vikings on Wednesday and participated in practice. But he lamented that he could not spend more time with his family, particularly his brother Carlton, who is still in a coma after a car accident, even after the club withheld his paycheck.

"I don't care if (the Vikings) would have took my pay for the rest of the year, I was going home," Williamson said. "It wouldn't have mattered to me. No matter what (Brad Childress) would have said, if I had to stay up here or not, I would have been at my house (in South Carolina) for that week."

Williamson regretted that he could not spend more time with Carlton after his car accident two months ago. But when his grandmother Celestine, who helped raise him and taught him to cook and drive, died, Williamson said he had to go home.

"I feel like the thing with my brother, I let that slide," Williamson said. "This is something I couldn't put on the back burner. But when this came up, I had to get up out of here."

Williamson declined to comment, when asked if Childress was understanding.

"It's really been hard for me," Williamson said. "I was glad to go home and see my family. It was something that really helped me. I just got to push through the season." 


I guess they don't have Bereavement pay, they have a death tax.  How is it that an organization can do this to someone who has "play" in his job title.  When you play football or any other sport, keeping perspective on life is getting dimmer it seems.  Even our armed forces come back from a real war for something like this.  They don't get docked a weeks pay do they?
 

11/11/07 Change of heart by the Vikings.   Mike OHara of the Detroit News commented in his blog-

" The Minnesota Vikings are reacting to public pressure -- and public embarassment -- by giving back a game check to wide receiver Troy Williamson for missing a game to attend his grandmother's funeral. The Vikings probably were within their rights not to pay a player who did not participate in a game. But that doesn't make it right. As I once heard when I covered horse racing, somebody who'd gotten the shaft said: "That may be correct, but it ain't right." The Vikings need a director of common sense."

 Different reasons come up every year.  In the NCAA they still go with the BCS Championship.  Every year we all have arguments on who should be in the big game.  Last year many thought Michigan should rematch with Ohio State for the title.  We all know what happened though.  The polls came out and Florida got voted into the game against Ohio State and crushed them.

 That is the problem.  We rely on votes for game participants like it's American Idol?  It has got to go.  Is it really that hard to have a four or eight team tournament to see who really is the best?  Do we really trust all who actually vote on this to make a sound decision?

  Well look at this year.  This week LSU played at Auburn.  LSU is ranked #4.  LSU also got beat last week by Kentucky who moved up to #7 after beating LSU.  How is it that a team beats another and is still ranked lower?  We just saw them beat LSU.  Doesn't that make them better?  How bad does that loss look now that Kentucky followed up that win with a 45-37 loss to Florida?  Didn't Florida just lose to LSU?

Look at all the top 25 teams that have been not only beaten but have been embarrassed this season.  Every week the top 25 teams and even the top 10 teams change more than ever.

Besides, this could be the biggest money maker for the NCAA since the NCAA basketball tournament.  There aren't nearly as many college hoops fanatics as college football junkies.  It isn't like they don't have a month of open schedule anyway.  Last year the two teams in the Championship game had over 50 days off, that is way to long.