Goody Rosenburg's Hunt

Arthur Miller would be proud.

The author of the classic novel/play The Crucible, Miller brought to light the indecency and unfairness of the 17^th century Salem Witch Trials.

Someday fifty years from now, an aspiring author will have a brand new witch hunt to make their name off of. Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenburg is trying to do that very thing with his recent string of articles attempting to string Rich Rodriguez up on the corner of Stadium and Main. It started with the Mr. Plow fiasco; with Rosenburg (along with Boren) being out in front decreeing that the program had lost its “family values.” This led to the atrocity that was the 2008 Michigan Football Season. Nobody is blaming Michael Rosenburg for that; this one is on Rich Rod, coaching staff, and players. However, it was very disconcerting to read negative article after negative article about the future of the program, all that rehashed the problems that Rodriguez had faced since coming to UM. After the season, Rosenburg tried to break his “academic scandal,” in which he claimed that *gasp* most football players only come to Michigan to play football! Huge shocker here. This story blew away faster than “The Professor” John Clayton inside Erin Andrews. This summer, there were more departures, which of course must mean that people still do not like Rich Rodriguez. Never mind the fact that transfers happen all across the college football landscape. That would be using logic and not having an agenda. With nothing to write about for a while, Rosenburg exploded at the chance to write about a “Win At All Costs” (ßthe actual headline) Rodriguez allowing part time cocaine dealer Justin Feagin on the team. Never mind the fact that Rodriguez booted him off the team and university once he found out about his indiscretions. Also, never mind the fact that right up the road in East Lansing, Mark Dantonio and Michigan State University let a kid back in school and on the team that had spent the summer IN JAIL!

Of course, this led to Rosenburg’s latest hurrah, the “practice time scandal.” Let me first preface this by saying I hold the integrity of the University of Michigan football program in the highest regard. I would in no way want them to break serious amounts of rules in order to gain a competitive advantage. That being said..

Find me an elite college football team that doesn’t have “voluntary” workouts, practice times, 7 on 7s, and film sessions that exceed the normal amount allotted by the NCAA and I will show you a college football team that is mediocre and is not serious about competition. To use Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins words (slightly modified to fit the situation), “IT’S BIG TEN FOOTBALL BROTHER! YOU DON’T LIKE IT, GO PLAY INTRAMURALS!”

The most disheartening part about this article is the way in which Rosenburg got his quotes. Freshman JaRon Stokes and Brandon Hawthorne are quoted in the article saying how tough the workouts were and how much time they spent on football. Of course, Rosenburg ignored the fact that both kids were completely happy with spending that amount of time on football and took their quotes about as far out of context as he could to stretch his agenda. Rosenburg picked on two true freshmen who have no idea about practice time rules and completely used them. Then there is the dreaded “anonymous source,” which is supposedly one player that is expected to start and a couple who are no longer with the program *coughTONEYCLEMONScough*. What kind of man are you if you are so bitter about something that you would do anything in your power to take down the university that gave you an opportunity, the integrity of a man and his family, and the opportunities for your fellow players who busted their ass right next to you, only failed to complain about it like a little bitch. Mark my words, there will be hell to pay for any names that come out as having spoken against the team and coaching staff. For the three or four disgruntled ex-players, there are hundreds more that will come out and ostracize those people from the Michigan Family. Player like Chad Henne, Rick Leach, Michael Taylor, and even *gasp* The Human Holding Machine Carson Butler have come to the defense of Rich Rodriguez and Mike Barwis. This is not to mention the current players who are defending Rich Rod to the media. Leaders like Mark Ortmann, Stevie Brown, and Obi Ezeh are public in their views that Michigan has done nothing wrong and that the players support Rodriguez and Barwis with all of their will and love for the University.

The notion is out there that Rodriguez and Barwis do not care about their players. Watch Monday’s press conference and tell me that Rich Rodriguez does not care for everyone that suits up in the maize and blue. That is genuine passion for a group of players that has worked harder and overcome more adversity in an offseason than any team in America.

The bottom line is that this story will be blown over once the games on the field start being played. I will go on the record in saying that no sanctions or limits will be imposed on Michigan, because like I said earlier, there is really no wrongdoing. Every elite program in America runs in this fashion. The reality is that major college football has become a business. These are no longer student-athletes. Sure, there are some players that defy expectations and excel in an elite academic field. Those players are few and far between, however. There is just too much time and money invested in football for it to be any other way.

Word on the street was that Monday’s practice was the most emotionally charged practice that has ever taken place on a Michigan practice field. The team can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The day when they will not have to worry about some scumbag like Michael Rosenburg trying to make a name for himself off of their successes and failures. The day when the only thing that matters is the final score. Make no mistake; there will be ups and downs for this young Michigan team. One thing is for sure, though. This will be a team that is united like no other. The nightmare of 7-5 and 3-9 will be erased. The new era of Michigan football will take its next step to a national championship. And The Victors will play…

Never Run The Toss Sweep

Coach Deuce

Week 1

What a great start...

I don't know where to go with this...There are so many angles to look at this mess from. Outside the Lines is playing with the Block M in the background of a field reporter...This isn't the "Michigan Difference."

The Detroit Free Press has had a chubby for Rich Rodriguez since his plane landed in Ann Arbor. The Freep has always leaned pro MSU because of their readership and since Rich came to town they love to add to the "A Michigan Man should have gotten the job" fire to gain some more subscriptions. This agenda is really pops out to me here. Its a rare occasion that you hit the U-M link on the Freep page and there's a descent article written about our Wolverines. Why the hell do we take the word of "Anonymous" sources so seriously?

I've always hated the line "Everybody does it" but this isn't like Mo C's Escalade or No show construction jobs that tOSU went through a few years ago. But seriously 99% of players and fans know what voluntary means in the College and Professional ranks: "You can voluntarily show up at this or I'll voluntarily put your ass on the bench."

Who are these guys who have shit in the direction of Ann Arbor the last 18 months?

Justin Boren:

Your typical Lloyd Carr Offensive Lineman: Fat and Lazy. Worst of all these guys think they're the shit because they play in the BigTen; a conference known for top tier Offensive Lineman and the shitty ones who manage to keep offenses mediocre. Boren falls into the latter type of lineman. Boren made the statement about "Family Values" had deteriorated in the new regime. So since Rich doesn't tell you to pound an XL Meatlovers before practice he doesn't have the "family values" of Lloyd.

Tony Clemons:

Really?? Tony Clemons? One word comes to mind...Underwhelming. This guy was supposed to come in and be a go to receiver for the Wolverines. He sucked. He transferred. And now he's bitching that he had to practice on Sunday after playing like dogshit on Saturday. Its absolutely ridiculous.

These guys who wanna bitch and moan need to realize that every minute they get to wear that helmet and crack the pads is something you should live for. I'd sleep in my pads and helmet. These guys are pathetic. This is the type of player Lloyd recruited at the end, he looked at the stars not the men. They complained when Bo told them to shave, they complained when Bo yelled at them, they complained. AND THOSE WHO STAYED WERE CHAMPIONS!

If you don't wanna sack up and play some football get the fuck out and give somebody the pads that gives this program the respect it deserves. Nick Sheridan can't play worth a damn, but I think he'd practice 100 hours a week if he could, and I respect that. Donovan Warren, Brandon Graham, and Brandon Minor need to find these "Anonymous" sources...and make sure they're weeded out. If they're not "All In" then I don't want them touching my banner.

The jury is still out on this coaching staff. Some days it seems like they're up against more than they can handle and others it seems like its turning the corner. These distractions don't help anything and just make the program look ignorant. The good news is the chance to fix it all starts Saturday. Wins. Wins make this all go away. The Freep will still pick at the Wolverines, but the malcontents will shut up and deal with it. Winning makes everything feel better.

This was more of a rant than news, but watching OTL and College Football Live pissed me off. Michigan fans, players, and everyone around the program need to get their heads out of their ass and look at how stupid we look right now.

As Always
Go Blue & Remember to Let the Gate Swing Freely.

Week in Review

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Nothing much happened in the week that was (well, between the last post). That said, it is important to establish a routine here at NRTTS, so I am back with another week in review thread. A quick caveat about the schedule of posting; the posting will be much more regular when actual football season starts. This means games that mean something in college and the NFL. I wouldn't expect daily posts, but there will definitely be some sort of review of the college football day (Sunday), a preview of the week that comes (Wednesday or so..), and some general observations sometime in between.

The lead story that piqued my interest, as evidenced by the picture above, was the Rick Pitino Abortion Rally. News came out that the extortion attempt that became public last year during the NCAA basketball season actually involved a woman that Pitino had an affair with (which, like, duh), then forced to get an abortion (allegedly). The kicker in all of this is the woman ended up marrying another assistant coach. There are sloppy seconds, and then there are "take this crazy girl off my hands who's abortion I just paid for." At that point, I think I would be looking for another job.

It's not that I had that much respect for Pitino in the first place. I always thought that he was a slimy character, one of many in the world of college sports. And this is where my real issue is. There are two prime examples of coaches that have the respect of everyone in the sport, yet would sell their first-born for a prized recruit. Pitino and John Calipari.

They both rose to prominence around the same time. Pitino with his loaded Kentucky squads in the mid 90's, and Calipari with his Marcus Camby-led UMass squad with their "Refuse to Lose" moniker. While Pitino had a hiccup with the Celtics, he was quickly ushered back into college basketball by a school desperate to get back to relevance. Louisville forced long time coach and well-respected do-gooder Denny Crum out so that Pitino could come in and use his name to lure recruits to the school. Almost overnight, Louisville rose back to prominence and the boosters were patting Pitino on the back like he was the second coming of Christ. Even with these latest allegations, Louisville is standing by it's man. After all, there is nothing more important than filling up the arena and keeping the Athletic Department coffers lined with money.

Calipari followed pretty much the same path as Pitino. Once the well went dry at UMass, he bolted for the big money gig with the New Jersey Nets. When he failed there, he came back to the "coaching worship haven" that is college sports. This time, it was the Memphis Tigers who were looking to make the big splash, and again almost instantly, they became a national powerhouse. However, when he felt he had exhausted his resources at Memphis, the latest desperate school came calling. This time, it is the University of Kentucky. There is only one problem with Calipari. He really has never won anything. The UMass squad's record that brought him to fame has been wiped off the record books due to illegal benefits given to Marcus Camby. The Memphis squad that set the NCAA record for victories is no longer on the books, as the SAT scores for star recruit Derrick Rose were found to be illegitimate. Along with this, improper benefits were given to families of the players who were allowed to fly on the team plane. Of course, Calipari "knew nothing" of this and denied any wrong doing. How convenient for him that he left right before the house of cards came crashing down. This is the most irritating thing to me. Calipari sets all these acts in motion, and then the new coach gets punished while Coach Cal builds Kentucky into a national powerhouse again. It is a hypocrisy that needs to be addressed by the NCAA. They had it right when they banned Kelvin Sampson for repeatedly breaking the rules. If they can't see the writing on the wall for Calipari, than they are blinder than John Navarre to an oncoming rush.

As a Michigan college basketball fan, I could not be happier with our choice for a coach when Tommy Amaker was fired. John Beilein has proven to be a class act who wins with players that work hard and develop, rather than players who are looking for a quick stopover between high school and the NBA. Until the NBA changes it's rules to either force 2-3 years in college, or abolish the present rule that mandates at least one year, than guys like Calipari and Pitino will continue to exploit the system while their pockets are lined and backs are patted by boosters who have no interest other than winning.

Other happenings in the week of sports

• Heads exploded and eyes rolled when U of M's Rich Rodriguez announced that 3 quarterbacks will play in the September 5th opener against Western Michigan. To the panickers I say this; it will not last. Rodriguez preaches "open competition" at all spots, and what better way to keep the kids competing than to announce that all three will play in the opener. We all know what Nick Sheridan can do on the field (not much), but his experience in the system will prove to be valuable as these two true freshman make their march through the Big Ten.
• The Plaxico Burress sentencing has caused a ton of uproar. The whole "Stallworth killed somebody and got 24 days" argument is definitely valid, but the bottom line is that Plax is still an idiot. The law is the law and if he broke it than he should be punished accordingly. Quit whining, Plax. I just suggest to him that he stay away from any re-runs of Oz or he may resort to shooting himself somewhere other than the leg. I really have no sympathy for him, but maybe that is just the angry fan in me after he ruined the G-Men's Super Bowl aspirations last year.
• Is there any more obvious "Overrated Team Destined To Fail", or as it should be known the "Michigan Football 2007 Award," than Ole' Miss in 2009? Sure, they beat Florida last year, but in the SEC it is bound to happen that a team will be overlooked. They will be on everyone's radar and there is no way that they will escape the SEC will less than 3 losses. The talk of national championship is just outrageous. After all, this is Ole Miss, and their coach is still Houston Nutt, who hasn't won anything since "Most Likely To Become A Porn Star" in his high school yearbook.
• Speaking of one game being overrated, are experts really pointing to Notre Dame's bowl win over Hawaii as a reason they will be better in 09'? Talk about reaaaaaaaaaaaching so that Notre Dame can be put on their "greatest program ever" pedestal. And that leads me to Lou Holtz. It is time for you to go away. For good. Seriously, never ever talk again. What brings about these feelings? Only Lou's prediction for Notre Dame's upcoming 09' football campaign. National championship and Notre Dame should not even be in the same paragraph, let alone sentence, when talking about Notre Dame. If Lou was just trying to generate a buzz about the upcoming season, than I guess I can see where he is coming from. If he is making a legitimate case for Notre Dame to be in the BCS National Title game than he needs to take his old, senile ass off of my television. On second thought, that really needs to happen no matter what.

NRTTS

Coach Deuce

The Week In Review

It was actually a very eventful week in the sporting world, most notable is the start of college football practice. We here at NRTTS make no bones about our where our affiliations lie. This is not to say we will not give fair coverage to the opposition. So here is your coverage...

• OSU LB Tyler Moeller is likely to miss the entire year after sustaining an injury. Moeller was a likely starter at LB, where OSU will have to replace Marcus Freeman and Road Warrior James. While Moeller's loss will hurt, but OSU has recruited very well at LB, and should be able to replace Moeller. This may force super LB recruit Dorian Bell onto the field a little earlier than they would have liked, however.
• MSU RB and Thug Glenn Winston was re-instated to the football team and university after a 3 month stint in jail. Winston was jailed for assaulting fellow students and hockey players at a campus residence last year. Winston, allegedly, sucker punched a hockey player in the side of the head and proceeded to beat him like Michigan beat on Bobby Williams and John L. Smith. Was there much fuss about this? Nah, not so much. More on this later.

So there you have your unbiased coverage of the enemy. Nothing of note out of Fat Charlie's Camp, other than their usual Return To Glory...Again.

Now onto the Leaders and Best (minus 2008)

• The quarterback derby is going about as expected. Each QB (Forcier, Robinson, Sheridan), is taking their snaps with each unit. There is no starter named yet, but there is an implicit wink wink, nudge nudge that the job will go to Forcier. Early reports are much the same as the spring. He shows good accuracy both in the pocket and on the run. Along with this, he has great moxie that leads him to use his scrambling and play making abilities at opportune times. The time he spent over the summer working with the receivers has really paid off, as his timing is ahead of Denard's. His time with Strength Guru Mike Barwis has also really paid off as now he looks like a Senior in high school going to prom, rather than a freshman in high school that gets asked to the prom by some desperate senior girl.
• Former Wolverine PG Kelvin Grady has impressed early with his performance at slot receiver. While he took two years off of football, he was still in a college strength and conditioning program, so he is ahead of most in that regard. He can be a dark horse to contribute not only this year, but in the years ahead.
• The offensive line is still in competition, as that will likely not be settled until the pads are strapped on for a couple of days and the hitting really starts. Schilling is penned in at LG, Ortmann penned in at LT, and Molk is probably penciled in at C. Moosman is the returning RG, but he will be battled by RS-F Ricky Barnum. Patrick Omameh (YoMama, to me), and Mark Huyge will battle it out at RT, and I wouldn't be surprised if Barnum gets a look there. Bottom line, this has to be a strength of the team and all signs point to it being exactly that.
• The defensive line is an area of concern past the first unit. With Brandon Graham, Mike Martin, and Ryan Van Bergen returning, that gives Michigan a solid nucleus to build on. Unfortunately, there is just not much depth there. DT Will Campbell will probably be forced into a greater role than needed as a freshman. The same goes for DE Craig Roh, who could definitely use a year to get his weight up to D-1 playing level.
• Freshman Teric Jones has made the move to CB from RB, where he has received some positive reviews in his initial practices. Given the depth at CB and the logjam at RB, the move is definitely a smart one. No sense in wasting a redshirt year in a position that he will never play.
• The other freshman more likely to make an impact is JT Turner, who had a brief scare with admissions. Turner was held out of the first few days of practice after there was some issues with his transcript. Alas, it all cleared up and he saw the field, albeit a few days late. At 6'2, Turner has ideal height to go along with great hips and attitude to be a shut down corner. He will definitely see the field this year, and could be the next great corner since Morgan Trent has left...
• Four words: Dont't mess with Zoltan.

So, as practice continues to get hotter and more physical, I will have more reports for you. Kickoff is getting closer day-by-day, hour-by-hour, second-by-second, and all it takes is an hour of Big Ten Network Michigan programming to get the blood boiling and adrenaline flowing for the season to start.

The other issue that arose this past week regarding the Michigan football team was the dismissal of Sophmore WR Justin Feagin. Feagin was dismissed after he brokered a cocaine deal sometime in the past year. Once the staff learned of this, he was immediately dismissed from not only the team, but the school. Kick him to the curb' and move on, right? Wrong! The greater Ann Arbor-area media has taken this opportunity to once again bash on the new regime and Rich Rodriguez' alleged lack of family values. Never mind the fact that Lloyd Carr had just as many transgressors as Rich Rod has had in his first full year on the sidelines. Names like Carson Butler, Johnny Sears, Kelly Baraka, Eugene Germany, and Mario Manningham all were black eyes on the program off the field, and with the exception of Manningham, on the field. This list is just off the top of my head, as I'm sure there are many more that I am forgetting. Needless to say, every college football program is going to get its fair share of knuckleheads. The difference is in the media market. Nowhere else in college football will you find a home market that is so hell bent on destroying a program like you will find in Ann Arbor and Rich Rodriguez. Hell, in Columbus they can do ANYTHING and the media will spin it so that Jimmy Two Timer comes out like Saint Tressel. All that it took was for Michigan to go outside of the "Michigan Men" to hire their latest coach, and then for a Fat Traitorous Lineman Without A Name to transfer to OSU, and suddenly Rich Rodriguez is the head of Hezbollah. There is one simple solution that will change the sentiment around Ann Arbor and Detroit. Win. Just win. Win and all of these negative stories will be erased. Win and the Rich Rod-era will crawl out of the shadows of the ancient and elitist "Michigan Men". There are still Michigan Men in this world, but they are not the ones that are submarining this program from the inside out. They are the ones that support every Saturday, every time a rival fan calls us out, every time someone questions whether or not we are an elite program. Michigan Men, we will have our day. It is drawing nearer.

Other sports news from the week

• Mike Vick has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. The jury will be out on this one until we can see Vick on an actual football field and not in a new remake of The Longest Yard. As a Giant fan, the threat of Vick in the same division is a little bit scary. At the same time, the thought of PETA protestors going trying to get Philly fans behind them is pretty amusing. These are the same fans that booed Santa Claus, cheered when Michael Irvin broke his neck, and have a jail in the basement of their old stadium. They could really go either way. If the Vick experiment works out, their could be some battered animal lovers outside of the stadium. Actually, I hope it works out just so we can see that first PETA Protester vs. Eagle Fan fight video on YouTube.
• The Cavs signed Leon Powe. I yawned. Powe will likely be out until at least February, and he is not all that great when he is healthy. For $3 million a year, its a good fill of a roster spot, but I would not expect this to be something that puts Cleveland over the top.
• Early reviews for Madden 10' are in, and the reviews sound fantastic. I have heard that it eclipses the legendary NFL 2K5 in both game play and presentation. This could lead to a trade in of NCAA 10' for the superior Madden franchise. Potential online dynasty members can chime in their opinions.

More Than

I was going to just add another team preview; but realized that's just not what we're about...I don't care about IU, Purdue, and Wisconsin until they're on the schedule for Saturday...So we'll preview them when we get to them. I was also thinking about the same thing as Coach...then got on the blackberry and found he beat me too it...but the hell with it. Playing on Youtube for Michigan stuff, listening to UFER, and buying my new "All in For Michigan" Shirt has me jacked up. I threw in a lot of links to some of the best Michigan content on the Tube so make sure you get a look to get your fix. If you didn't click the Ufer tag go back and do it...if Dan Patrick ran a "Greatest Homer Call of All-Time" this would've won.

Unlike the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament, college football is more than just One Shining Moment. It's a long drawn out series of events that will lead us back to the same spot next year, waiting for more. And for 130 years they've been doing it in Ann Arbor. They say Michigan Football is a relic...and it is, it should be sought after by all who love our game. We've been through a shitty nights sleep but a new day is dawning on Michigan Football, changes are all around and the old stadium millions fell in love with is a different girl these days. One thing will never change: A college football saturday at the Big House is unparralleled, I remember my first trip, a homecoming loss to Wisconsin, as a 9 year old and still get the same goosebumps every week.

Until dad finally decides to win the MegaMillions and park at Crisler there's always the first moment you see the scoreboard on the walk up to the game. That moment when you get your first glimpse of the Big House. I can still remember looking for it, "Where the hell is this place?" then I saw the back of the old scoreboards (the first electronic scoreboards in the country). "No Jumbo-tron?" I remember thinking. Just reading "Michigan" on the back let me know it was really happening. And if I could've told myself to cherish that first moment any more I would. Nothing was more simple than that first season I started to recognize what Michigan Football is to me. After the renovation you'll see the stadium from all directions, and that moment of just seeing those big scoreboards will be a distant memory of simpler days.

Walking in you see the expanse that is the 3rd largest city in Michigan on a football Saturday Rudy's Dad said it best "This is the most beautiful site these eyes have ever seen." Then from the Press Box like the voice of God comes "Band take the field!" and out of the Eastern tunnel pours The Real Best Damn Band In The Land. But one moment you can never prepare yourself for comes after the band, and before the game. When you see those helmets moving around by the tunnel. I remember standing on the bleacher asking my Uncle, "Where do they come out?" as they were raising the banner. He pointed, "There." and that was it. As the Wolverines run out and touch the MCLUB banner the rush of emotion is incredible. Tears well up in your eyes and you don't care...its time.

Its time for the moments that matter. The moments 18-23 year old boys will base the rest of their lives on. Deuce is correct. We're jealous. And every moment that that young man is not honored to wear the uniform is a moment wasted. John Navarre nearly did tear the Kardos household down, Andy and I still disagree on the summary of Braylon Edwards career. The Cleveland Brown fans around here are now getting a tast of that mess....But thats what its all about. Its about these young men making the moments that we remember them by. I remember Tyrone Wheatley streaking down the left side of the field for a go ahead score in that first game. He got caught. And Fumbled. And the Badgers Recovered. And we lost. That's it, that's what mattered about that gray BigTen day. I hate those memories and some players are just destined to make them for us. We can only hope that we have more Charles Woodson interceptions and Mario Catches than we have Tyler Ecker not pizzying the bizzy for a skizzy or Stewart to Westbrook.

But all of them are the moments we wait 8 months for. I know I'll barely sleep two nights this year, Sept. 4 and Nov. 20, because i'll lie there thinking about all these moments or on YouTube reliving them. These moments are coming and I can't wait. I'll let it go with this speech. Its always a good arguing point at the Kardos household. But it rings true today and every season after. We root for THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM, but its the moments by individuals that will make THE TEAM.

R.L. Stine

Goosebumps.

Say that word to any 10 year old boy in the late 90's, and they would rattle off a series of books by "acclaimed" children's horror novelist R.L. Stine. Don't Go To Sleep, It Came From Beneath The Sink, Say Cheese and Die, and of course who could forget the greatest sequel ever...Say Cheese and Die, Again. So what is my point? My point is that if you play the "word association" game with goosebumps, you will get different answer after different answer as you go from person to person. Ask a 35 year old mother, and they will tell you how they feel when their kids make them proud. Ask a 24 year old comic book nerd, and they will tell you about the new trailer for the next great Marvel or DC movie. Ask a 72 year old man, and he will tell you about the early bird special at the Moose Lodge.....or the 3AM Girls Gone Wild Infomercial Marathon on Comedy Central.

Ask me? Only one thing comes to mind. College football.

The thrill and anticipation of opening week is unparalleled. On Monday, there are visions of winged helmets emerging from the Big House tunnel to touch the banner while the greatest fight song in all of college football is played. By Thursday, I hear Temptation playing after every big third down stop (Sidenote: I really did get goosebumps watching that video. Am I weird? Yes, yes I am). By the time Saturday rolls around, I have worked myself into a near frenzy as I await the opening kickoff to the shortest 3 months of the year. Every week brings new opponents, fresh challenges, and opportunities for players to make their names or redeem themselves. Every year has it's scapegoats. For Michigan fans, the Todd Howard's, Steven Threet/Nick Sheridan's, and Pat Massey's of the world will live in our minds as forever being a thorn in the side of the Wolverines. Hell, John Navarre nearly single handedly brought down the Kardos household. This year, Stevie Brown gets a chance to erase all the bad memories he has caused over his 4 year playing career.

The fantastic thing about college football is that each team has it's own Todd Howard. The Bucks will always have Stanley Jackson. Notre Dame will always have Carlisle Holliday (who is STILL featured on NCAA 10'). Michigan State will always have Jeff Smoker. Every year, we get 20-25 new faces that have the potential to be either the next campus legend or the next campus pariah. The roller coaster that is recruiting is like a bad crack habit. You are better off just staying away from it all together. Once you start to peek into the world, a weird fascination starts with 18 year old's deciding for or against attending the school of your choice. With every commitment, there are visions of game winning touchdowns and bone crushing hits. The bottom line is that we are all jealous of these people that are gifted with the chance to put on that uniform, that helmet, those colors, and to run out on that field. There is nothing like the pageantry of the band playing, the crowd doing it's signature chants, and the traditions that every team possess. Combine it all, and you get the image that pops into my head when someone mentions goosebumps.

The time is near, and with every day the anticipation grows greater. This fan cannot wait to wash the taste of hooker spit and taint sweat that was last year out of his mouth. Michigan may have gone 3-9, but it still returns the same traditions, same values, and same expectations that come with every year. And when two teams get ready to square off on the cold third Saturday in November, the adrenaline will be pumping at an all time high...and there will be goosebumps.

As always, NRTTS.

Coach Deuce

Return of the Mack

I knew this day would come. Actually, there have been a couple of those "days" lately. The day when I got tired of letting this blog go to waste. The day when I returned to giving my views on the goings-on in sports to the five readers of this site. The day when I would return to the virtual world of college football in NCAA 10' and lead Michigan to it's rightful place atop the college football world. (Sidenote: In my first dynasty year, I went undefeated. However, it was not enough to get me in the BCS Title game, as Texas and Florida also go undefeated. Talk about a kick in the nuts. It was like the Missouri/Nebraska Kick Play TD all over again) The day when the Indians would truly become a AAA team. The day Phil Hughes finally turned himself into a legitimate MLB pitcher. The day when The Gate would get married, only to have it on a FOOTBALL SATURDAY!@#!@! Make no mistake about it, I am shocked and a bit disappointed that such a "die-hard" Michigan fan would choose a date in which our beloved Maize and Blue are on the gridiron. Granted, it is against Eastern Michigan; but if 2008 taught us anything it is that horrible MAC schools are ripe for upsetting Michigan if our quarterback acts like he is playing with two broken arms and legs.

So all of these things have happened since I have lasted posted on this here blog. I really did not have a good excuse to stop posting. I have been working a fair amount and my Texas Rangers franchise on MLB 09' The Show is in full swing. It really boils down to the fact that there is nothing interesting enough to write about on a daily basis in July. Sure, I follow baseball day to day to keep up with the Yankees and my fantasy team, but nobody wants to read about how Chien Ming Wang imploded my ERA and WHIP categories with his first half performance.

So we are finally to August 1st, and this is when the real sports season begins. Football training camps are starting up, college football is nearing the start of fall camp, high school football is beginning practice, and the MLB is finally relevant after the trade deadline. It is finally time to start really paying attention to your team.

Uhh...unless you are an Indians fan. In that case, just go watch the Toledo Mud Hens or Columbus Clippers and you will save yourself $15 a piece on tickets and still get the same product. To see Garko, Lee, Martinez, Francisco, and Derosa go to different teams for the return they got has me disappointed for Cleveland fans. And if you follow this blog, you know how much I dislike Cleveland fans.

To analyze this, let's focus on the big three; Derosa, Lee, and Martinez. In Derosa's case, many have already forgotten this trade since it took place so far before the deadline. The Tribe weren't going to get the Cards top prospect for DeRosa, but they settled for RP Chris Perez, who has not looked anything like a future closer. The Lee trade came next, and this is where the wheels really fell off. Consider that the guys Toronto wanted for Roy Halladay were Dominic Brown, Kyle Drabek, and Michael Taylor. And then consider that Cleveland got NONE of them for the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner who is locked up at a reasonable rate for 2010. The deal may work out if the 4 prospects they did receive pan out, but when you trade a Cy Young winner you need to get one of the organizations top prospects. They got none. With Lee gone, Victor Martinez had to go. Teams knew this, and used that leverage to bend the Tribe over like Tobias Beecher in the first season of Oz. The Red Sox came calling, and they possess a number of top tier prospects. Lars Anderson, Clay Bucholz, and Daniel Bard are probably considered the top three in their organization. Once again, the Indians settle for less by taking Justin Masterson, who has looked shaky in relief this year, and two more prospects. Masterson is still young, but will he ever be anything more than a solid set-up guy? For now, the Indians get an Incomplete grade. But the perception from these trades matters almost as much as the value they got in return. The perception out there right now is that other teams took the Indians out back and took their lunch money. Fans need to be disappointed, and GM Mark Shapiro (and manager Eric Wedge, for that matter) need to go.

Feels good to be back, and NRTTS, even in NCAA 10'.

Coach Deuce