DSBA BLOG

By Dennis Davidson

Mr. Davidson is a 34 year member of the DSBA.  He has covered the Detroit area sports scene for over forty years as a radio announcer and stringer.  His reports have been used by AP, UPI, CBS, WJR, WLLZ and Sports Net.  He was a part of the Red Wings Game Night Staff for 26 seasons and served as the press box announcer.

The views expressed in this blog are Mr. Davidson’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the DSBA.

MY FIRST BOWL GAME

Over the years I’ve had the privilege to attend many sporting events in this city, including of course, during my time with the Wings, a few Stanley Cups and the 1980 NHL All Star Game when PA Announcer John Bell said “And now representing all of Hockey Number 9,” and that started that long Standing “O” for Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe.  What a moment. 

One event that I have never attended was the Motor City Bowl now known as the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl, in fact I have not even witnessed an event at Ford Field.  Not that I’m complaining, but the press parking was at the west end of the stadium and the press entrance was I think was somewhere on the east end at gate G which I never found but went in an entrance that other people wearing credentials were going in.  I was directed to the elevator which dropped me of on the 7^th floor.  Once I found my seat I looked out on the field and immediately wished I had brought binoculars.  As I was to discover later that the 7^th floor was 7 stories above street level, the field is 2 stories below that.

The press box it’s self is three tiered with a spacious area behind for dining or just sitting before and after the game.  I found it very comparable to the press facilities of the Silver Dome which was very comfortable.  Comerica Park also has an excellent press facility, while Joe Louis Area has an afterthought that came after the arena was built and they had to take out the last three rows in order to

make up a very cramped space.  I have personal knowledge of how that came about and remind me to relate that story at a later date.

PURDUE VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY 

It was a very pleasant start as a group of young singers from the Detroit Public Schools performed the National Anthem.

WMU got on the board first when Jordan White took in a Alex Carder pass for a 49 yd. TD, they went for two and got it.  Purdue dominated the rest of the 1^st everywhere but on the scoreboard, scoring at the end of the quarter and had a time of procession of 12:47 to WMU’s 2:13 but trailed 8-7.

The big play and as far as I was concerned, and probably was the play of the game, was Raheem Mostert of the Boilermakers returning a kickoff 99 yards, a bowl record.  The replays showed that maybe only two fingers touched him all of the way.  It resulted in Purdue’s first lead of the game 17-15.  They scored 10 more unanswered points before the end of the half to lead 27-15.

In the 2^nd half both teams racked up points with Western scoring with 4:28 remaining to bring it to within 5 but couldn’t pull it off in the end losing 37-32.  The MVP was Junior running back from Purdue, Akeem Shavers, who racked up 106 yards on 13 carries for a pretty decent 8.2 average.  My vote went for Westerns Jordan white who broke the bowl receiving record.  The Senior out of Cleveland caught 8 passes for 161 yards and a TD.

The game drew a good crowd of 46,117 which I’m sure was mostly alumni from both schools, considering the driving distances; it was the fifth largest in the bowls history.

Kudos to Ken Hoffman who has stuck this event out ever since it was the Cherry Bowl at the Silver Dome, he looked the most relaxed I’ve seen him in years.  And to Tim Moore, thank you for the opportunity to write this.

IMPRESSIONS OF FORD FIELD

Thank you Mr. Ford, for bringing the stadium downtown.

Although I’ve been to the stadium many times, this was, as I said my first sporting event there.  The 65,000 seats seemed to have good sight lines and compared to the 80,000 seat Silver Dome.  It is easier to sell out under the NFL’s dumb black out rules.  If you are going to have a league sell out rule shouldn’t it be a league average stadium size instead of the Lions having 80,000 in Pontiac, Pittsburgh only had to sell 64,000.  I guess we shouldn’t feel bad Dallas has to do over 90,000, poor Jerry Jones.

The inner sanctum of the stadium is scary; there is a labyrinth of hallways and tunnels.  The press conference was held in the visitors interview room and then I almost had to guess my way to the field, I should have brought breadcrumbs because getting back to the elevator no mean feat.

I don’t know how far it is from the locker rooms to the field but it’s quite a trek.  Both teams come out of the same tunnel, even though the walk way is big, you get over a hundred players, coaches and staff in there it could lead to a big donnybrook.  We all saw Dominic Raiola go after an Oakland Raider before  the start of their game.

DENNIS VS. THE “GATOR”

Between the Holidays I was listening to what I call “Negative Talk Radio” because that’s the attitude the personalities and especially the callers seem to have.  Does “Verlander is over rated” seem familiar?  As Doug Karsch on 97.1 once said “if everyone was doing good we wouldn’t have anything to talk about.” 

His partner Scott “The Gator” Anderson was hosting the show and started in about how he knows the caller is over 55 because he says his age within 20 seconds.  Excuse me?  If the caller says his age and it’s over 55 then you know he’s over 55, DUH!!!

Because I don’t know how to do the ticket text and don’t care to learn I decided to email the good Gator.  He doesn’t have an email on their web site but his producer or screener or whatever Evan Jankins does so here it is.

From: Dennis Davidson [mailto:dennisd227@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 11:55 AM
To: ‘evan.jankens@cbsradio.com’
Subject: OLD FARTS

Hi Evan, I guess you’re the one to talk to because I couldn’t find Gator’s email and I won’t waste time nor money trying to text.  Pass this along to Gator if you would please.

Dear Gator,

I was totally appalled at the way you and Doug totally disrespected the 61 year old caller on your show yesterday.  I know it was a clip from earlier this year but I didn’t hear it then.  You said that the over 55 age callers usually say their age within 20 seconds, this guy took longer and only when he mentioned “Mean Joe Green” and you and Doug yelled “how old is Joe Green?  71?”  And then made fun of the caller when he said he was 61.  I’m 69, there I said it, 69.  You point was anyone over 55 will tell you their age immediately.  How many times have we heard someone call and say something like “I’m 25 and I remember Barry Sanders growing up.”

Now because I’m over 55 you will probably upon reading this hit delete.  I know that the older listener is not in your stations demographics.  Madison Ave. has ignored older American’s because all we buy is Viagra and Depends.  I will admit that even with my full head of hair, all though be it white, I will not have it cut by someone who yells “WICKED AWESOME”.  Just so you know and probably don’t care, I fortunately do not have a need of Viagra or Depends.  I have in my carport a new ‘11’ Ford Escape for which I purchase gas.  I shop at Meijer and my 67 year old significant other goes Krogering with her 92 year old mother.

I was in the Press Box for the Little Caesar’s Bowl and I noticed photo’s past Lions and got a kick out of seeing my boyhood hero #22 Bobby Layne and other former Lions.  I’m sure you see these pictures you probably wonder why they are there, who under 55 would want to see them.  Tell the Lions to take them down, or maybe tell it to Charlie Sanders face.  Nooo, I don’t think you’re thirty some young testicles can do it.

You and your listeners don’t want to hear about the exploits “Mean” Joe Green, Bobby Layne, or hear about Tigers named Harvey or Al.   How about Wings with names of Gordie, Alex, Terry and Ted.  Did you even mention the passing of Johnny Wilson?

Here is a sad fact of life, if you’re lucky you will advance to the age of 55 and older, and if they still have sports talk radio then, someone will call in and talk about remembering players of the past named Suh or Matt or Justin.  Will your hands be clenched in fists of rage when the hosts start dissing the old guy. 

Maybe, if you ever have grandchildren, you’ll be able to tell them about all the famous athletes you have interviewed.

I was in your profession once upon a time and can tell my grandchildren about interviewing The Beatles, The Kinks and others even though they sometimes say “who?”

I covered Detroit sports in the early 70’s and was part of the Wings PR Department’s press box staff for 26 seasons.  I stood on the ice alongside that Gordie guy I mentioned in 1997 while a few feet away Stevie Y handed The cup to Mr. I.  Oh by the way I was 55 then.  I worked with guys named Emanuel and Tommy.

Your station gets some sort of great delight of “here we go again some old dude calling in” even though Terry is closing in on 55 and Pat may already be there.

Your show is they only one I listened to before because I thought you and Doug were fair and didn’t think we were all “idiots” like Mike thinks we are, but you lost me the other day.  Sorry.

Dennis Davidson

Still waiting for Scotty to “beam me up”, if he even knows what that means.  I’ll keep you posted.  See you in a couple weeks with the latest adventures of “Old Fart”

You can contact me at dennisd227@comcast.net

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