By Bill Axtell of the DSBA
It would not surprise me if New England wins Super Bowl XLVI. The biggest crock in all of pro sports is how awful the Patriots’ defense is. Their record, counting play-off games, is 15-3. I don’t care how many points they allowed, nor how much yardage they gave up. Their defense was good enough to win all but three games.
The Patriots have a lot of good players. They are superbly coached by Bill Belichik, well-disciplined and have as good a field general in Tom Brady as anyone could ask for. (It does not help that tight end Rob Gronkowski will be less than 100%. He has been scary good — the highest praise I can muster for any athlete.)
Why I am taking the Giants, in spite of the aforementioned…
While the Patriots’ regular-season record was better than New York’s (with six games on the schedule vs. Buffalo, Miami and the New York Jets), the Giants have come on strong in recent weeks, and beat much better competition en route to the Super Bowl. They topped a good Atlanta team in the first round of the play-offs, 24-2. They drubbed the defending Super Bowl champs, the Green Bay Packers, handily on the frozen tundra. (Only a pair of questionable calls by officials made the final score look respectable.) In the NFC Championship game, they outdueled a spirited San Francisco 49ers team laden with defense stalwarts on the 49ers’ home turf.
The Giants had to win some big games just to qualify for the post-season.
Eli Manning is unflappable. He’s younger than his New England counterpart. Manning has a troika of dangerous wide receivers – Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz. (Cruz also qualifies as scary good.) The Giants have a punishing ground game good enough to help New York in terms of time of possession. While New England’s defense is under-rated, New York’s is championship-caliber, led by Jean-Pierre Paul and Osi Umenyiora.
Finally, I hearken back to a comment I heard a while back from former Giants coach — and former Patriots coach — Bill Parcells. According to Parcells, the most overrated factor in pro football is game plan. And the most underrrated factor is execution.
I am sure the Pats will have an excellent game plan (they thoroughly flummoxed the Denver Broncos in the post-season with ingenious offensive schemes) but they’re not going up against Tim Tebow or Joe Flacco this week. I think the Tom Coughlin-coached Giants will out-execute ‘em. New York 27-New England 20.
Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments
By George Eichorn
To quote former major league announcer Mel Allen: "How about that!" The Detroit Tigers signing of first baseman Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers (and his 230 career home runs) is as stunning as headlines come in the world of sports.
The slugger’s nine-year $214 million contract costs owner Mike Ilitch dearly yet the payoff could be a trip to the World Series and a home gate of more than 3 million at Comerica Park in 2012.
Crain’s Detroit Business reports the Tigers can afford the slugger. They stated the team is actually saving the $23 million Fielder will cost this season by not re-signing right-fielder Magglio Ordoneza and second-baseman/designated hitter Carlos Guillen. A boost in season-ticket sales, suite sales, new corporate sponsorships, merchandise and others revenue generators, Crain’s says, will also benefit Ilitch. Look for the Tigers to raise ticket prices in time for the 2013 season especially if they happen to win the Fall Classic.
Fans are giddy about the prospects of Fielder replacing the injured Victor Martinez in manager Jim Leyland’s lineup. A powerhouse 1-2 punch of Fielder and Miguel Cabrera has pitchers around the major leagues shuddering this winter. Add in the bats of catcher Alex Avila, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, right fielder Brennan Boesch and left fielder/DH Delmon Young, and you have Detroit’s version of the famed New York Yankees’ "Murderer’s Row."
Fielder is coming home. Most of us remember his father, Cecil Fielder, and his 1990-1996 run with the Tigers. His 245 home runs here included 51 in 1990, the most in one year for a Tiger since Hank Greenberg’s 58 home runs in 1938.
Cecil Fielder brought his robust son Prince to many games at old Tiger Stadium and the youngster even clubbed a home run at age 12 at Michigan and Trumbull. Ah, shades of Willie Horton hitting one out of that same park as a teenage hitting sensation for Detroit Northwestern High School in the early 1960′s.
The fact that Ilitch opened up his wallet and president/general manager Dave Dombrowski was able to sign a free agent of this magnitude demonstrates how hungry the two are for the taste of champagne in a world champion’s locker room. The Tigers got to the World Series in 2006 but lost in five games to the St. Louis Cardinals. This past season, it was a trip to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) only to lose in six games to the Texas Rangers.
Now, the table is set for the Tigers to make it back to the Series and to finish the job and bring home a championship flag.
My question entering spring training will be the Tigers defense. By moving Cabrera to third base and plunking Fielder at first base, the Tigers have two less-than-desirable gloves out there. Add in the short-range of Peralta at short and middle-of-the-road defense of Ryan Raburn at second and you have the making of a potential shaky infield defense.
In the outfield, you have a so-so fielder in Young (left) and getting-better Boesch in right. Only Austin Jackson has Gold Glove potential in center field. Avila is above average behind the plate. Tiger pitchers like Rick Porcello and Doug Fister, who rely on ground outs, had better be ready to expect a few more base-runners in 2012 as the result of Cabrera at third and the other fielders we mentioned.
One solution would be rotating Fielder and Cabrera between first base and DH, leaving Young in left full-time (instead of DH) and platooning Brandon Inge and Don Kelly at third base. Leyland has plenty of options even though Cabrera says he is ready to go at it full time at third base.
Prince’s wife Chanel, at the introductory press conference last week at Comerica Park, summed up her husband this way: "He’s a big teddy bear. You want that fire on the field."
And fiery is what Prince Fielder is – and will be – as a Detroit Tiger. It’s a move with plenty of risks for Ilitch and Dombrowski yet it’s a wildly aggressive move that stoked the flames of the Winter Stove League in baseball. Detroit, as a team and a city, should be better off because of this special homecoming. Prince is back home – where he belongs.
Buy George Eichorn’s book, "Detroit Sports Broadcasters On the Air" at amazon.com and reach him at geichorn@yahoo.com.
Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments
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 Associated Newspapers 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.
DENNIS VS. THE TOUCHDOWN
Can someone please tell me what a touchdown is anymore? The NFL says that they are using replays to get it right and then they put in rules, evidently to keep the game going, like if it’s a ruled a touchdown on the field then replay will verify it or not. If it’s not ruled a TD on the field, even though TV replays show that it is, then the only way it’s reviewed is if the coach throws the red flag. The coach gets two of these a game whether he’s right or wrong, the Titus Young catch is a good example of what happens when the coach is out of challenges. Then, of course, there’s the Calvin Johnson TD in Chicago a year ago when he didn’t complete the play, whatever that meant. Even Chicago fans were left scratching their heads on that one. And now the NCAA comes along with their rules, the Sugar Bowl U of M Virginia Tech game is a good example. VT’s Danny Coale catches the ball in the end zone, has possession and when he hits the ground the nose of the ball is sticking out below his arm and touches the ground but does not move in his grasp. The “get it right” people in the replay booth said no because the nose of the ball touched the ground. If that’s the college rule then it’s a bad one. I don’t know if Coale , a Senior, is good enough to turn Pro, if not then the NCAA took away a special moment in this young man’s career.
PREDICTION
By the time the All Star break comes along Prince Fielder, who isn’t much of a fielder, will be the DH and Miggy will be back at first. It might even happen before the Opener. Play-by-play people keep saying that with Brandon Inge’s range at third Jhonny Peralta can shade more toward second therefore tighting up the left side of the infield, Cabrerra doesn’t have that range. I don’t think for a minute that Leyland and Dombrowski feel that the two of them in the field at the same time will work. What do you think Verlander and the rest of the crew are going to say when the bunts and bleeders become singles and eventually runs. And why they haven’t said who the DH is going to be, Young? Well then, who’s in left? A long time ago a friend and I used to have an argument and what type of team you would like nine Harmon Killebrews or nine Eddie Brinkman’s. He always took the Killebrews because offense wins games and I always said that defense saves games and even Eddie could get a hit now and then.
NHL
This is being written at All Star break. If the Western Conference ends up the way it is now, four teams out of the Central Division will get in the play-offs, which are Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago and Nashville, and even though all have as many points or more than Vancouver and San Jose who are tops in their division. All but the leader which are the Wings, will be seeded below the Sharks and Canucks. The Bettman Hockey League figures that what would be the use of finishing first in your division and end up being a fifth seed? And that is the only reason and is why some are calling for a reseed after the first round. If it ends like it is today, Detroit would play Colorado which is the way it should be. But for the other three it’s a little bit different. Vancouver who is first in the Northeast but is fourth overall will play seventh LA. San Jose who is first in the Pacific and is fifth overall will play fourth place Chicago or Nashville but they get home ice advantage. St. Louis who is 2nd overall and should get to play the 7th seed gets either Chicago or Nashville. Sound fair? If you know any Blues fans ask them.
Just to show how polarized our country has become, Boston net minder Tim Thomas, a Davison, MI native, skipped the annual Stanley Cup winner’s visit to the White House because he doesn’t care for the current occupant. I agree with Free Press columnist Drew Sharp who says that even though Thomas has the right to disrespect his President but isn’t he also disrespecting the Office Of The President which no American should disrespect. I wonder if the Wing’s should win this year what would Jimmy Howard do? I think we all know the answer to that one.
ANOTHER OLD TIMER LEAVES US
I was a bit saddened by the passing of former Pro Bowling legend Don Carter. He was on TV a lot during the old 3 channel days. We used to turn the channel selector and hang on to the “rabbit ears” in order to tune in sports, and any sport would do. Carter was very different in his style, instead of throwing with a straight arm he would bend his elbow and sort of push the ball. He also used to curl his little finger in, he said it cushioned his delivery. It never worked for me or anyone else I know of except for one.
We had the pleasure of sitting with Eddie Lubanski and his wife at the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame banquet in June of 2010. What a please it was to talk to him, especially about those old TV days. He had 11 sanctioned 300 games including two back-to-back on live TV. Remember in those days the alleys were made of wood and 300 games, especially in recreation leagues, were rare. The house that I bowl in didn’t have a 300 game for over 40 years until they switched to synthetic. Eddie left us this past year.
They only Pro Bowler I ever knew was Bob Strampe who was the PBA “Rookie of the Year” in the early sixties and was the only other bowler who tucked his little finger in. Bob used to run a bar in Mt. Clemens on Cass Ave. called the York Bar. Don’t ask me how I knew that.
Another demise was that of former Red Wing Johnny Wilson. His legend is chronicled in former DSBA President Rich Kincaide’s fine book “The Gods of Olympia Stadium”. He played for the “Winged Wheelers” twice 1950-55 and 57-59. He coached the Wings from 71 thru 73. He was the “Iron Man” of the day playing in 560 straight games. His record came to a halt while playing for Toronto, not due to injury but to a training camp contract dispute with the Leafs Punch Imlach. I remember sitting with Johnny a couple of times hanging on to his vivid stories about the NHL in the 50’s. The last time was at Ginopolis’ after a DSBA Christmas party. Especially interesting were stories about those train rides back to Detroit from Montreal. In those days hockey couldn’t be played on Sunday’s in Canada and there were a lot of back-to-back games against Montreal and Toronto. There was a lot of bad blood between the Wings and the Canadiens and players didn’t fraternize back then even during the off season. They would travel on the same train and depending on how the cars were hooked up, one team would have to walk through the other teams’ car to get to the Club Car. They would wait until the train made a stop and then walk on the platform to the Club Car and then wait for another stop to walk back. I thought it was odd when they wrote about Johnny’s death in the Toronto papers, saying he was the uncle of the Leafs coach Ron Wilson but didn’t mention that Ron was the son of Larry Wilson who also played for and coached the Wings.
I can be contacted at dennisd227@comcast.net. If you’re wondering what the 227 means, it’s my birthday in case you want to send me something.
Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments
BY SCOTT MORGANROTH
On Saturday Night, I was channel surfing and stumbled onto FOX’s presentation of the UFC.
There was a familiar voice from the past as former Detroit Red Wings Play-By-Play Announcer Mike Goldberg was calling the action. Up to this point, my only familiarity with the UFC was meeting legendary fighter Chuck Liddell at the Super Bowl in Miami a few years ago. Otherwise, I knew nothing about this sport.
After watching three matches Saturday Night, I probably still know very little but came away totally impressed with these athletes. To get kicked in the head, choked, head butted and punched in the face, I can understand why the fights were limited from 3-5 rounds and last five minutes.
The punishment these fighters take is amazing. After what I saw Saturday Night, if a boxer were to enter the octagon, I wouldn’t give them much of a chance because of the quicker pace and additional skill level of mixed martial arts, boxing and wrestling all rolled into one.
But as impressed as I am about the sport, which is here to stay, the only thing the UFC does lack is the History Of Boxing.
The UFC realizes that as it lacks the tradition and name recognition that boxing has.
Fighters like Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Robinson, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Sonny Liston, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, etc… gave the ring plenty of proud moments. I remember when boxing matches lasted 15 rounds before they changed to 12 because of the brain injuries.
I’m amazed how the UFC generates large audiences for their pay-per-view events. Boxing can thank Tyson for his pay-per-view revenues. After watching the excitement Saturday Night in front of a packed United Center in Chicago, I can see how they generate the revenue through pay-per-view.
I would never order a pay-per-view UFC event because I would rather use the $50 for gas to take a trip to Clearwater Beach, Key West, Sarasota, Orlando and Daytona, Florida.
But this weekend, the UFC did earn my respect as a fan and thanks to their relationship with FOX, a free event gave them much needed exposure.
Boxing built it’s audience this way for years with ABC, NBC and CBS broadcasting weekly fights on the weekend.
The reason for boxing’s demise is there are too many champions in too many weight divisions. Fighters are not as hungry as they used to be because of the large payouts and rarely fight. There aren’t many good American fighters for the public to follow. There are not enough major fights to keep the sport in the news plus, the public is looking for the next heavyweight which it would recognize and dominate.
The UFC expects its best fighters to perform regularly and is taking advantage of boxing’s decline. More power to the UFC.
Boxing’s promoter’s let politics and money get in the way of creating the mega fights the public wants to see. That’s why the UFC is knocking out boxing and will continue to in the future unless things drastically change.
However, my heart still belongs to boxing since that’s what I grew up following my whole life.
My photo portfolio includes Ali, Leonard, James Toney and legendary trainer Angelo Dundee. There are a lot of championships with this group.
Scott Morganroth can be reached at scottsports33@aol.com and his blog can be seen at www.scottsports33.com.
Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments
By Ron Angel
Humor me; I’ve got one LARGE problem and some thoughts about the state of favorites in the world of sports, in my humble opinion. Let’s take on the subject that does not impact me or the economic input of Detroit directly.
We’ve just come off a two-week blitz of NFL post-season games with some interesting outcomes. Granted, the Lions made their first trip to the playoffs since 1999 and as was projected, the Saints had home field and used that and an array of weapons to send Detroit home after round one. That was hardly a surprise.
Three high octane offenses took to the grass or turf and one emerged victorious in a 14 day span that left more than one fan bewildered. The Saints, winner of 13 games with their record setting offense went into the bay (well not literally) and left with wounded egos and watched the 49ers move on to the NFC title game.
Ditto the Packers, out to defend their Super Bowl tile, ran into the G-men and looked, well, pedestrian for a team that went 15-1 in the regular season. Meanwhile Team Brady steamrolled Tebowmania and waits for the Ravens to come to chowder country. At this point, New England vs. NYG or SF will be okay…As long as the Patriots get there! But hey, that’s just me!
Now, on to this mind numbing plan unfolding in HOCKEYTOWN! Here’s the deal…The NHL is planning yet another winter classic, in Detroit or so we thought. The most recent “news” is that the original six match-up between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings MAY be held at the Big House in Ann Arbor with its 100,000 plus seating capacity. My thought, so what! Fans in stands does not mean more viewers. In fact it’s a given that those watching would do so in greater numbers if you used the local teams stadium other than a college venue, otherwise, why have all the previous outdoor classics been in the home venues of the baseball or football teams facility?
Here are the real issues; the closeness of our Canadian neighbors in Windsor and the surrounding area, the need for financial help in the “D” and the opportunity to turn a game into a weekend of activity exists in Detroit! Not 50 miles away in Ann Arbor!! Mr. Illitch, it is your team and you have done so much for this city, please, do not let the NHL or TV networks dictate where this classic game should be played…You know…I know…The answer is Comerica Park. There I’ve said it and several local media members agree.
Thanks, as always
Ron Angel
UDetroit.com
586-491-7857-MOBILE
Posted in Uncategorized -- No Comments