betterREDthandead

I don't like to see Kelly going to Notre Dame - the man's been absurdly successful everywhere. But it's better than what would have happened had he stayed at Cincy - which is, he'd just wait around two or three more years and head to Columbus once Tressel finishes up.

I don't mind trading Edwin Jackson - I think it's most likely that his excellent 2009 season was a one-shot deal and we traded him at the height of his value. Granderson, on the other hand......never been so upset to see a Tiger leave. Seems silly to have a "Who's Your Tiger?" advertising campaign (which was wildly successful, IMO) and then trade the guy who everyone picks. It sucks even worse that he's going to the Yankees. And we get back from the Yankees a guy who might be as good as Granderson eventually. Or might not. One thing's for sure, it doesn't make us better for 2010.

I've never liked this argument and here's why. Following that logic to its natural conclusion, what a BCS team ought to do in order to be considered a better national champion contender is to jump ship to the Sun Belt, beat hell out of the crap teams in that conference, schedule four pansy cupcakes out-of-conference, beat the crap out of them too, and then whine that they "did all they could" and "took care of business." In other words, Iowa this year is not a national title contender, but Iowa on a WAC schedule would be? Nope, not buying it.

Who are these mysterious "BCS suits" you speak of? That's the problem here - you think there is some dastardly corporate boardroom. The BCS is a coalition of self-interested people, not an evil Skynet organization bent on keeping the little man down. These "suits" are largely a figment of your imagination. In a way, your attitude is proof enough of what you fear. You think beating a two-loss Iowa team, simply because they have the "BCS" label, is more prestigious than beating an undefeated one. If you can't let go of the distinction, why should anyone else?

Dude. It's the Fiesta Bowl officials who pick the matchup. Do you really think they care about the reputations of Oklahoma or Florida? The BCS isn't some monolithic black-helicopter organization. The Fiesta Bowl does what's best for the Fiesta Bowl. Besides, who do you think is in the BCS this year that you could get any major props out of beating? Florida, OK. Do you honestly think you'd get more recognition for beating Iowa than Boise?

Wetzel is a condescending jerk when it comes to this issue. And his playoff plan is impossible. NCAA bylaws require half the field to be at-large bids, and the NCAA considers that such an ironclad rule that they expanded the basketball field to 65 rather than bend the rule even slightly and remove one at-large bid. Also I don't buy for a minute that TCU/Boise is a BCS conspiracy. That's just black helicopter stuff. How come when Boise beat Oklahoma it was a big mid-major validation lovefest, but when Hawaii got completely creamed by Georgia everyone brushed that aside?

I don't mind if we trade Jackson but Granderson is not the kind of guy you trade for prospects. He might strike out a bit much but I hope he's a Tiger for life.

Friday: Minnesota @ Washington NY Islanders @ Carolina Anaheim @ Columbus Calgary @ Buffalo Los Angeles @ Atlanta Toronto @ Chicagp Saturday: NY Rangers @ Ottawa Calgary @ Toronto Washington @ New Jersey Buffalo @ Philadelphia NY Islanders @ Florida Anaheim @ Detroit Boston @ Pittsburgh Los Angeles @ Tampa Bay San Jose @ St Louis Montreal @ Nashville Dallas @ Phoenix Vancouver @ Colorado Sunday: Minnesota @ Carolina Edmonton @ Atlanta San Jose @ Chicago

Buffalo @ Boston Detroit @ Toronto Tampa Bay @ Montreal New Jersey @ Ottawa Atlanta @ NY Islanders St Louis @ Philadelphia Florida @ Washington Carolina @ Columbus Dallas @ Minnesota NY Rangers @ Calgary Phoenix @ Anaheim Pittsburgh @ San Jose Sunday: St Louis @ Atlanta Edmonton @ Colorado

I have been awful at remembering this stuff anymore. Saturday: Edmonton @ Boston Carolina @ Philadelphia Atlanta @ Ottawa New Jersey @ Tampa Bay Toronto @ Montreal Buffalo @ NY Islanders Minnesota @ Pittsburgh Florida @ St Louis Dallas @ Nashville Anaheim @ Phoenix Detroit @ Calgary Sunday: Boston @ NY Rangers San Jose @ Carolina Columbus @ Washington Colorado @ Vancouver

Well, besides that and also besides that we got a win. But yeah, we could just as easily have gotten that win against a team that at least sort of looks like they belong on the same field. I get why the game was scheduled, but I don't like it much. Iowa's gonna grind MSU into the ground. That's a good-looking team. Ricky Stanzi makes some nutty decisions every so often but more often, he really knows how to put the ball exactly where it needs to be. I don't think they're good enough to run the table but it's hard to see any game where they're a clear-cut underdog. OSU will be their big test.

Five? Columbus fans are in Ohio, nobody's gonna drive all the damn way around Lake Erie for a hockey game. Especially not a weeknight game. Hamilton poaches from about 2 and a half teams: the Wings take a hit, but it's right in the Leafs' market and the Sabres would probably be hit even harder.

Friday: Atlanta @ New Jersey NY Islanders @ Buffalo Philadelphia @ Florida Boston @ Dallas Vancouver @ Calgary Minnesota @ Edmonton Saturday: Atlanta @ Buffalo NY Rangers @ Toronto Ottawa @ Montreal Carolina @ New Jersey San Jose @ NY Islanders Nashville @ Washington Colorado @ Detroit Los Angeles @ Columbus Tampa Bay @ Pittsburgh Dallas @ Chicago Boston @ Phoenix Minnesota @ Vancouver St Louis @ Anaheim

No, Denard gets part of the blame, but it was definitely one of those freshman mistakes, nothing out of the ordinary really. He got greedy. As for RR, I was expecting Tate back out there myself because that's what I'd have done, but the move is defensible, especially if Tate did in fact have a slight concussion like they're saying.

Huntsville's probably pissed they didn't get into the CCHA, so they're going to take it out on all the teams therein.

Gah, I forgot to do Friday. Oh well, only two games. Saturday: NY Islanders @ Boston Pittsburgh @ Toronto Atlanta @ Ottawa Anaheim @ Philadelphia New Jersey @ Florida Washington @ Detroit Carolina @ Tampa Bay Los Angeles @ St Louis Buffalo @ Nashville Colorado @ Chicago Columbus @ Phoenix Montreal @ Edmonton Minnesota @ San Jose Sunday: Anaheim @ NY Rangers Dallas @ Vancouver

Hi. Congrats on your 30th win over Michigan in 102 tries. I suppose the disadvantage to calling the other team a fraud is, how much joy can you take in beating a fraud?

Man I'm nervous for tonight. But if Porcello pitches well and gets the win he should be an absolute lock for ROY.

Sakic has always been the one Av that I (and I think almost all Wings fans, really) always had the utmost respect for. He and Yzerman always kept above the fray during the rivalry. Class act all around - congrats to him on the jersey retirement, that one has always been a given, as it should be.

Friday Florida vs Chicago St. Louis vs Detroit Philadelphia vs Carolina NY Rangers vs Pittsburgh Saturday Chicago vs Florida Vancouver vs Colorado Detroit vs St. Louis Carolina vs Boston Montreal vs Buffalo Philadelphia vs New Jersey Pittsburgh vs NY Islanders Ottawa vs NY Rangers Toronto vs Washington Tampa Bay vs Atlanta Minnesota vs Columbus Nashville vs Dallas Calgary vs Edmonton San Jose vs Anaheim Phoenix vs Los Angeles

Man, Pavano just kills us all year and when it counts, the Tigers jump all over him. Awesome! Come on Tigs! Let's finish up the division TONIGHT!!

I'm as big a Tigers homer as you'll ever see and I don't give a s*** if you think so. Guess what: Fans are homers. So what? I'm not a broadcaster, I'm not an umpire, I'm not an analyst. I'm a Tigers fan. You, clearly, are not. You know what Tiger fans don't say? "f*** the Tigers." You disgust me.

Go be a Red Sox fan. Actually, while you're at it, go be a Blackhawks fan too. I don't want you rooting for my teams.

It must be Michigan-Michigan State week, cause Sparty's already whining and crying about getting no respect. Donovan Warren: "It's not a 1-3 team, it's Michigan State." Trevor "Crybaby" Anderson: "The lack of respect they have is sickening." Yeah, Warren's a real disrespectful *******, yup.

I would be happy with a split. That would drop the magic number to two with three games to go. And the Twinkies get one more dose of Zack Grienke, plus we're throwing Verlander at them tomorrow. This is the most meaningful series left this season anywhere in either league. I CAN'T WAIT!!