TSDMike | May 27, 2009

Congratulations are in order.

The Orlando Magic have done the unthinkable. They’ve pushed LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink of elimination.

Watching this series unfold, I couldn’t tell if the current 3-1 stranglehold that the Magic enjoys is the result of a talented underdog believing that it can persevere, or a collosal collapse on the part of an overwhelming favorite.

I give all the credit in the world to Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy and the rest of the Magic personnel. They stood up to King James and his perceived destiny and didn’t blink.

Category: NBA | Comments Off
Tags: barry sanders, cleveland cavaliers, commentary, Lebron james, NBA, orlando magic, Playoffs, upsets

TSDMike | April 30, 2009

Yesterday a reader, ‘Dick Butkiss’, wrote in a comment:

“One thing that not many people discuss is exactly what the Lions measurement of success is. To the fans, it’s winning, and failing that, at least provide an exciting product (as in the Barry Sander’s days). To the ownership, it’s got to be the bottom line. They are making money, so maybe to them, they are a successful franchise.”

I think the Detroit Lions are one of only a very select few NFL franchises whose on field performance and win-loss record has very little effect on the bottom line. Other than the Cleveland Browns, The Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets, I don’t think there are many teams whose fans are content to support a perpetual loser. This is a byproduct of the NFL business model.

Category: NFL | Comments Off
Tags: barry sanders, detroit lions, detroit pistons, detroit tigers, football, matt millen, nfl franchise, william clay ford

TSDMike | April 27, 2009

I’ve been a pretty loyal fan of the Detroit Lions for about the past 18 years or so. I grew up watching them achieve mediocrity year after year, with the exception of 1991 – when they were clearly the second best team in the NFL behind the Washington Redskins. I’ve seen them squander the amazing opportunities that having Barry Sanders in the backfield afforded them until he got fed up and retired. I don’t know that any team in professional sports has failed to capitalize on such a commodity as the Lions did by their inability to build a team around the greatest running back to ever play the game.

Since Sanders’ retirement, we’ve watched the Lions go from an average performing franchise to the absolute worst decade of futility in the history of the league, or any other league for that matter.

And yet I’ve had faith. I’ve had faith that the organization would be able to build a winner through the draft and through free agency over the years. But now I am done.

Category: NFL | 9 Comments »
Tags: barry sanders, detroit lions, draft picks, head coach, Martin Mayhew, matt millen, matthew stafford, mike martz, nfl draft, nfl franchise, scott lineham, tennessee titans