Dos 5/27/09

Detroit running back Kevin Smith promised the Lions will make the playoffs in 2009: 'I won't make a prediction about how many games we're going to win, but I will say this-we will definitely make the playoffs this season.'
Smith might be on to something because there really is a very fine line between playoff contention and 0-16. Detroit can't be more than 3-4 dozen players away from being a viable Super Bowl caliber team.

Its gotten nearly inevitable to feel sympathy for NBA officials (no, really). When a ref makes a call and the league comes in later and changes his on-court ruling from a Hard Foul 2 to a Flagrant Foul 1 or a Rocky lll or a Leonard Part 6 wouldn't it seem logical for the officials to begin second-guessing themselves at the worst possible moment-during real time game action? Simplifying things would seem simple enough. The old-time refs didn't have to perform an immediate psychological evaluation of the player to decide whether the punch thrown was caused by too much or too little parental attention as a child. Back when dirty was dirty there was an ejection-period. Even the rocket scientists playing and coaching pro basketball would figure that out eventually and discipline the play accordingly. The NBA product, as always, is crap-tastic.

As much as I hate to say the Kronwall hit on Havlat looked borderline enough to question the ejection, with Kronwalls' rep for leaving his feet to make a hit the call tossing him had to be expected. It being a Euro on Euro shot the penalty should have been a double minor for littering at worst though.
Sidenote: Its painful watching Steve Yzerman closing his eyes and looking concerned for the injured player laying prone while Mike Babcock is playing confused and innocent. Betcha can't guess which one has been laid out glassy-eyes on the ice before. You're a disgrace Babcock.
Fact is, if Bettman and the owners had any integrity they'd go about allowing some integrity to work its way back into the on-ice product. Dropping the instigator rule would be a great start. If dirty players like Kronwall knew they'd have to answer the bell for their cheapshots they'd either clean it up or find themselves playing back in Europe-where that style of play is not only tolerated but expected.


Brett Favre is scheduled for an upcoming surgery. Hopefully the lobotomy will take this time.

Thanks for reading.

My apologies to some of you who commented Tuesday. There were computer issues preventing me from responding to your replies. Basically the rodent running the wheel in the back is on his last breath.
The comments were great and very worthy of keeping the dialogue going. I'd be surprised if the steroids/HGH issue doesn't arise again so we'll return to the subject at that time. Thanks again.