I just wanted to stop by and say that today's Michigan-Notre Dame game was a thing of beauty. Much better than that Nebraska game I wrote four posts about in December.

That is all. 

Two must be worth at least double!!!!!

And  three pictures are worth a whole bunch more!!!!

Thanks also to NEED FOR SHEED.COM  for this lovely cartoon.

Some thoughts on game three of the Eastern Conference championship between the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons....

What is Tom Brady doing rooting for the Heat?

     My friend and Lions insider Ramsey were appalled tonight when we saw Tom Brady rooting for the Miami Heat. I thought this guy was a Michigan Man? And all this time we've been rooting for him as a Patriot under the pretense that he was one of us? Tom Brady has bandwagon fan written all over him.

      So let's break it down. Brady's from California, but he played ball in Michigan, and now he plays ball in New England. Abiding by the normal rules of sports allegiances Brady is allowed to root for the following basketball teams: The Celtics, the Pistons, the Clippers the Golden State Warriors, the Sacramento Kings, or the Los Angeles Lakers. That's a pretty nifty bunch of teams in there including some good historical teams and current teams that in no way involve the Heat. Sorry Tom, you are a bandwagon fan. I better not see you rooting for the Tigers come October.

And what's the deal with Usher?

Why is Usher attending Miami Heat games when he owns the Cleveland Cavaliers? It obviously didn't work when he cheered against the Pistons in the last round so why try it this round while you're wearing a pink shirt? Come on Usher, you've almost reached Lil' John intolerable "I carry around a crunk cup" status. Simmer down.

I don't know what is worse in the series the constant hack-a-Shaq, or bump-a-Ben campaigns or the announcers.

      Late in the fourth quarter after Pat Riley instructed his players to foul Ben Wallace away from the ball twice in a row, Hubie Brown starts talking about how it is a great sign of strategy and gamesmanship.

     How in the world is fouling a known poor free throw shooter good gamesmanship Hubie? It's the exact opposite. I don't agree with hacks on poor shooter when he has the ball or doesn't. The Pistons are notorious for hacking, and although I am a huge fan, I don't agree with their actions.

   Oil slick Riley took it a step further today fouling "Big Ben"when the Heat  was up ten points. I mean where do you draw the line? This type of action may be part of the game but it is unethical and it falls into the gray area of sports.

   I tried to think of a comparison of a similar ethical dilemma in another sport but all I could think of is walks in baseball, but that can't compare, because a walk actually gets you somewhere, but a free throw isn't guaranteed.

    Shaq and "Big Ben" shouldn't be missing all this free throws, but they shouldn't be sent to the foul line too often either. I think overall the foul on purpose gig may be a good strategy but it is wrong and it paints the wrong picture. As a national announcer for ABC, Hubie Brown should realize this not as gamesmanship, but as poor sportsmanship.

The Pistons do not impress me.

Too many turnovers and too many minutes for people like Tony Delk. If any guards are coming off the bench it should be Hunter and Delfino in that order. Delk isn't a consistent shooter, he has a terrible turnover to assist ratio and he drives worse than a Adobe.

In case you missed the first batch, here are some more headlines with an interesting anecdote that you is surely headline news in itself.

MYTH BUSTERS-A.J. Pierzynski proved today contrary to baseball fan's beliefs, putting your ear against Michael Barret's fist does not enable you to hear the ocean.

BOULEVARD OF BROKEN LEGS-Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro broke his leg during the Preakness Saturday ending his racing career and he will likely be put to sleep because he can no longer compete. In an unrelated story, Trent Dilfer should be thankful he is not in the business of horse racing or he would have been turned into glue a decade ago.

MICHIGAN MILLIONS-The University of Michigan Athletic department approved $226 million worth of stadium upgrades that would increase the Big House's capactiy by 750 seats. This comes just days after the Ohio State athletic department approved $226 million worth of salary cap growth for the Buckeyes football team for the 2006-2007 season.

FIVE FINGER DISCOUNT- The Associated Press has reported an 18-year-old teenager accused of stealing Walter Payton's Hall of Fame ring is being held in a Kane County correctional facility. The Associated Press failed to mention that Payton's old laptop computer was also stolen by the members of the Connecticut men's basketball team.

BEEP BEEP!- The Nextel Cup All-Star challenge was held tonight. The no points race changed formats this season. Instead of the first place finisher being awarded $1 million, the first racer to disable the annoying two-way beeping alert will be awarded $1 million and the Nobel Peace Prize for ending noise pollution.

Jon Gunnells is a journalism major at Michigan State University who seriously thinks Ohio State pays its football players. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu

     "That Guy"- There is always one member of crazy cast of characters that can be classified as "that guy." In NBA broadcasting Bill Walton is "that guy," in baseball managing Ozzie Guillen is that guy, and in the world of drunken sports whatever-you-want-to-call-it there is this guy, who thought it would be a good idea to use the Wrigley Field wall urinals as a slip and slide.

     Shock 'em - Earlier this month, I wrote a post about the Wichita St. Shockers unique little hand signal that stands for much more than "shocking" the competition. (You can access that blog here). My blog question of whether or not adults knew what the hand signal stood for has now been answered after six high school baseball players were suspended after using that same gesture in a yearbook picture. One player said he was disguted after finding out what the hand signal really mean. Sure buddy, now you're disgusted -now that your parents know.

          Initiation Roundup- A big thanks once again to the folks at badjocks.com who are offering an end of the year initiation roundup showcasing all of this years hazing experiments and wild sports parties gone wrong. From Duke University lacrosse party pictures to Northwestern University soccer pictures you can't go wrong.

       Roid Patrol- I found a pretty cool link showcasing baseball cards of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire side by side for every year they played baseball. Go here to decide who you think roided up better.

     Go Jesus!- It's official throwback jerseys are not overplayed now that a company has bible themed throwback jerseys. Ironically, David Dejesus still doesn't have one jersey sold yet.

Now that you've seen my hot links for the week, I will leave you with this week's line of the week:

"Flip Murray couldn't guard him with a tire iron," George Blaha on Cavaliers guard Flip Murray who apparently couldn't guard Chuancey or Rip with, well, a tire iron.