Michigan's Going to Make it Rain (Threes that is..)

Welcome to Ann Arbor John! Now get us to the NCAA's

According to reports from pretty much every media outlet, Michigan has found the man who will replace the void left by the departure of Tommy Amaker's mock turtlenecks. That man is West Virginia's John Beilein.

I personally like this hire, as Beilein has proven himself to be the Anti-Amaker in that he takes players with less talent and actually makes them good, instead of taking players with talent and making them worse. If you enjoy three pointers (and who doesn't?) get ready because Beilein coached teams go crazy from three. West Virginia was second in the NCAA this season averaging 10.3 three pointers a game (those are three pointers made, not shot). He also runs a wacky 1-3-1 defense that should change things up a bit, and has lead his teams consistently to the NCAA Tournament.

Hopefully all the top recruits stick around to play for Beilein, but all that remains to be seen. I can say that for the first time in a long time I'm excited to see some Michigan basketball, as I think this team will be a lot more fun to watch with a good coach.

So welcome to Ann Arbor Coach Beilein, and GO BLUE!

Live Blog Monday...Enjoy the Weekend!

You ready for baseball? I know I am!

Well that's it for me for this week, unless something strikes my fancy over the weekend. Big weekend with the Final Four, WrestleMania (yep, I watch wrestling), and the American Gladiators marathon on ESPN Classic. Busy, busy, busy.

It doesn't end there though. Monday is OPENING DAY! I will be returning Monday with a liveblog of the Tigers opening day game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Please feel free to come back and enjoy! Have a great weekend!

Michigan Tells Amaker to Hit the Bricks

I don't even know what to say. I'm so happy!

Today is one of those days you don't expect to come and then when it finally does you just don't have the right words to express your happiness. Michigan (finally) has ended the Tommy Amaker era that was marked with the word "mediocrity."

Apparently the final nail in the coffin for Amaker was the drubbing Michigan suffered at the hands of Florida State in the NIT. It was a typical Amaker lead Michigan performance where the Wolverines looked horrible on the road against a good opponent. It almost looked like they decided to quit in the second half and were just resigned to their fate. Michigan had a lead in the first half but after the 'Noles came back and took the lead going into halftime, they just decided to stop trying. If that's not an indictment of your head coach, I don't know what is.

What Amaker will be remembered for is taking over a Michigan team that was destroyed by NCAA sanctions (thanks Chris Webber) and turned it into a clean program that was on the cusp of making the NCAA tournament but was never good enough to get over the hump. Amaker's teams were always terrible on the road and also had a habit of playing well at the start of the season and then fading down the stretch (The last two years they've started 16-4 and failed to make the NCAA tournament after a late season swoon)

I also can't name a player who has come to Michigan the past six years who has gotten much better as a player under Amaker's guidance. Most guys come in as a freshman with the normal array of pluses and minues and leave with essentially the same skills they came in with. Nobody seems to get better at all. At times, actually, some look worse then when they were underclassman (Courtney Sims) Just shows that Amaker was not the one to lead Michigan back to being a program that actually matters on the national landscape.

Where do the Wolverines go from here? That's a topic or another day. Today we should just celebrate the fact that the athletic department has finally taken their heads out of the sand and decided that the basketball program should strive for better things, instead of settling for the mediocrity that the Amaker era represented. Goodbye Tommy! Don't let the door hit on you the ass on the way out!

Michigan Played Last Night? Really?

Nice to see Michigan fans are excited for the NIT

Apparently Michigan played last night in the NIT. Don't know if you could feel the excitement, but most Wolverine fans last night didn't come dressed in bags like the happy fellow above, they came dressed as empty seats. In front of the smallest crowd in 23 years, wait, let me say that again. In front of the smallest crowd in 23 YEARS, Michigan put on a heroic effort and beat Utah State to advance to the second round on the NIT. Let me be the first to say...

Um, great?

Apparently I'm not in the minority here when I say I could really care less about this year's NIT run. Are you kidding me with this crowd? The smallest in 23 years? You do realize that Michigan went 10-18 in 2001 and they still drew better then this. It actually makes me happy that the fans are pist off enough about not making the NCAA's that they aren't showing up for the NIT. Perhaps the sight of all those empty seats will make some of the power brokers see that a change is necessary.

Personally I can't say I watched much of this game. I flipped over as Michigan was blowing the lead (they were only up one in the later stages of the game) and figured they were going to blow it and the season would be over. Flipped back to see they actually played well down the stretch to get the victory. Hooray! Now it's on to Florida State Thursday....on ESPNU. If that doesn't tell you how "great" the NIT is I don't know what does. FEEL THE EXCITEMENT!

Just Shut Up

Someone needs to tell Lester to just shut up

I was looking over at mlive today and found this story on Michigan's trip to the NIT and was struck by the headline.

Abram on NIT: We have to play it

I decide to read a bit further to see what Lester had to say and found this quote....

"You're always happy to keep playing, but nobody wants to play in the NIT,'' senior Lester Abram said. "It's just something you have to do.''

What struck me is how basically Abram sounds like he's just going through the motions since they are going to the NIT and not the NCAA tournament. Well here's a small tip for you Lester, shut up. You guys had ample opportunity to make the NCAA tournament and blew every chance you had. Maybe I'd feel sorry for you if you had a great season and were snubbed by the committee, but you weren't. This team didn't win a big game all season and continually failed to live up to expectations. Maybe if you guys had actually played harder and closed out some games (*cough*OHIO STATE*cough*) you would be planning a trip to the NCAA's instead of bitching about going to the NIT.

It's stuff like this that makes it frustrating as a fan. If you don't like playing in the NIT every year then maybe you should win some big games! Don't bitch about not making the NCAA tournament after blowing chance after chance at making it. No one feels sorry for you.

Life is full of small disappointments, Lester, going to the NIT is just one of them.

Also in the article Tommy Amaker calls making the NIT "an honor." I don't even have the words to adequately describe my feelings at that answer. Just another reason this guy needs to be shown the door.

This Is Getting Old

What if this was Lloyd Carr?

I can't say I'm surprised. Yesterday, for the ninth straight year, Michigan was left out of the NCAA Tournament. They are headed to the NIT for the third time in four years and host Utah State tomorrow night. Excuse me if I don't think that's good enough anymore. This was a senior rich team that was supposed to be ready to take the next step. This was THE year. The Big Ten was weak, the Wolverines had experience, this was it, but it ended the same way.

For the second year in a row, Michigan got off to a great start and faded when it counted the most. This team has had every chance to succeed and return to the NCAA Tournament, but instead they've let every opportunity slip through their fingers. Take a look at the Ohio State game. They had the number one team in the country down, at home, and they couldn't hold on when they needed that win WAY more than the Buckeyes did. When the chips are down and your backs are against the wall that's when you're supposed to step up and close teams out, Michigan could never do that. This has to fall on the coach.

I got up this morning and asked myself why there's even a discussion of Amaker getting another year. What has he done to deserve this except perpetuate a state of mediocrity. What the athletic department has to ask themselves is a very simple question. What if this was the football team?

Do you honestly think that if this were the football team we'd even be having a discussion about whether or not Lloyd Carr would be coming back? Lloyd takes heat for last season and the team went 11-2, with both losses coming basically on the road (the Rose Bowl is pretty much a home game for USC) against two top ten teams. I suppose the football equivalent of Amaker's run at Michigan would be six straight four or five loss seasons. If you even think Lloyd would last HALF that run you're crazy. He probably would have been fired after the third or fourth season.

Now I realize Amaker had to rebuild a program coming out of NCAA sanctions, but those sanctions ended a couple seasons ago so they shouldn't be used as a crutch anymore. He's brought in the same amount of players as everyone else and has failed time and again to get this team back to the tournament. It's frustrating to see schools like Ohio State get hit with NCAA sanctions (though decidedly not as bad as Michigan) rise up from them to prominence very quickly while Michigan continues to just be on the cusp. I'm just sick of it.

Amaker has had his chance. It's time for Michigan to go in a different direction. We need to treat this team like we would the football team. We should care just as much. If not we're always going to be a second tier basketball school in the Big Ten. Doomed to mediocrity, and from this Michigan fan's perspective that's just not good enough.

Big Ten Tournament Live Blog: Michigan vs. Ohio State 2nd Half

My hopes are officially up for an upset. I'm assuming I'll get kicked in the balls

1:05 PM - We're about to tip off the second half. Wolverines down five and I'm emotionally invested in an upset now. Odds are by the end of this blog though I'll be pulling out my hair.

1:07 PM - Smith just makes a great hustle play that gives Courtney Simms a dunk. Fantastic stuff!

1:08 PM - Simms just gets blocked twice by Oden right under the basket. Dear freaking God. Somebody needs to check Oden's birth certificate by the way. No way he's 19.

1:10 PM - Oden hits a pretty jump hook over Simms to put Ohio State up eight. Even though he seems like a nice guy, I'm going to hate him for the rest of his career.

1:11 PM - Harris just airballs a three from the corner and Ohio State immediately goes back down the court and gets a short jumper to go up ten. Petway then misses a dunk put back to send us to the ad break. This game is slipping away folks. Could be an eye gouging blow out in a matter of minutes.

1:17 PM - Cook nails a three from the corner after a great pass. Michigan is down 12 now as Steve Lavin talks about the Buckeyes's trademark "runs." Abram comes down and hits a three on the next possession though to stem the tide and keep them in this.

1:20 PM - Smith nails a wide open three (making him 1-10 from the field for the game) and we may have a game here as Michigan has cut the lead to six. Please don't get my hopes up just to screw this up again!

1:21 PM - Courtney Simms gets the ball inside and misses a point blank lay up inside. WHY CAN'T HE MAKE THESE DAMN SHOTS!!! He really drives me insane.

1:23 PM - We head to another ad break with Michigan down five. In a completely unrelated note to the game. The first ad is the Bud Light ones where the gorillas talk about robbing the Bud Light delivery man. Now I've already suspended my disbelief that the gorillas can actually talk (and speak English no less) but I'm also suppose to believe that they'd know what Bud Light is and want to steal it? I wish I could have sat in on the meeting where they came up with that...

• Suit #1 - "Let's do a commercial with talking gorillas who plan to rob a Bud Light guy."
• Suit #2 - "Wow, that's a GREAT idea...it would be SOOOO FUNNY! We're awesome!"

1:27 PM - So we come back from the commercial and after an OSU tip in we get a WAY too rushed 3 which puts the Buckeyes on the break for an easy lay up, and just like that it's a 9 point game again. Amaker needs a timeout to calmly discuss how they are blowing this game. I'm sorry but Michigan is not a good enough shooting team to be taking three's that early in a possession. Probably comes down to coaching, but that probably doesn't even need to be said at this point.

1:31 PM - Harris misses a three off the front of the rim and is now 1 of 11 from the field. Way to show up in the big games Dion. Michigan gets bailed out on the break as Conley gets called for a charge on what would have been an easy lay up. Smith then comes down and hits another big three. 50-44 Bucks with 9:15 left....

1:35 PM - Abram misses the front end of a one and one that could have cut the lead to two. Moments like this are the reason we're probably going to the NIT. Simms then gets called for his fourth foul while defending Oden. Bear in mind that there's still over 8 minutes left in this game and Michigan's best interior defender is now on the bench with four fouls. I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

1:36 PM - After a couple of close misses by OSU, Michigan comes down the court and Abram hits an open three off a nice pass from Harris. Michigan down three with 7:47 to go.

1:41 PM - Smith with a nice baseline drive, and then he decides just to jump in the air inside of a pack of Buckeyes. Amazingly he loses the ball out of bounds. Just fucking great. OSU hits another short jumper to put the lead back to eight.

1:44 PM - Harris drives down the lane and draws the foul. Down ten with 5:47 to go Harris hits both free throws to keep hope alive.

1:45 PM - OSU comes down and Conley hits a wide open three from the corner. Those are the big shots that good teams make when they need to. OSU back up 11.

1:46 PM - After Petway hits a couple of free throws to cut the lead to nine, the Buckeyes come right back with an alley-oop slam from Hunter. For some reason, even after Conley was double teamed Simms felt the need to come off Hunter and triple team him which lead to the slam. UGH!!!

1:48 PM - Down 13 with 4:13 to go, Simms hits an inside double clutch jumper and gets the free throw to cut the lead to ten. Then they get a steal on the other end an they run on the break to cut it to eight but what happens? Harris loses the ball out of bounds as he goes for the lay up. And that, folks, is why we're going to the NIT! FEEL THE EXCITEMENT!

1:52 PM - Oden hits another jump hook which puts the Bucks up 12 with less then four minutes to play. I'm ready to call this game over. You think we can get a one seed in the NIT? or maybe a two?

1:54 PM - After some nice hustle by Smith to get an offensive board, they get it inside to Petway for the slam which cuts the lead to eight with 2:22 to play. I'm still not getting my hopes back up.

1:57 PM - ESPN shows a cutaway of Amaker who is sitting on the bench and "shouting." Thad Matta, on the otherhand, is standing and yelling like a crazed lunatic. Hmmm, which team has the ten point lead?

1:58 PM - Michigan misses a couple of shots, including another from Harris who is playing like absolute shit today. Simms fouls out after Oden gets the rebound. It's over baby. Oden hits one and OSU is up 11 with 1:21 left.

1:59 PM - Last ditch effort from the Wolverines has Smith driving baseline and just throwing the ball at the rim like he was trying to hit that instead of trying to score. Why do I watch this?

2:02 PM - And that's it. Michigan's NCAA tournament hopes are officially dead as they fall to Ohio State 72-62. It's another trip to the NIT and excuse me if I'm not too thrilled. This was supposed to be the year the Wolverines broke through to make the NCAA's. They had a team filled with seniors in a Big Ten that was down. Instead they never stepped up and won a big game and, as usual, lost some games to horrible teams (MINNESOTA!!!) and played their way out of the tournament. Normally I'd say the bright spot is that Amaker would be fired so maybe things would change, but since that's not going to happen (due to his "stud" recruits and his wife having the University President in her back pocket) I really have nothing to be happy about at all. He is just not a good coach. I have yet to see a Michigan player who has improved his game under Amaker's guidance. Look at Dion Harris. He is the same streaky shooter, and shaky ballhandler that he was when he stepped on campus four years ago. His 1-13 performance from the field today in his last meaningful game at Michigan pretty much shows it all. Just another disappointing basketball season to go with the last eight. Well I guess on the brightside, Tigers baseball season is starting up soon....

Big Ten Tournament Live Blog: Michigan vs. Ohio State 1st Half

This picture does not inspire much confidence in Michigan's chances

12:36 PM - Okay so I've been watching the game but not by a computer. Michigan is currently playing their normal sloppy basketball but amazingly are only down 2 with 5 minutes to go in the half.

12:37 PM - Why is it that watching Michigan play offense just makes me cringe? Everyone else seems to be able to run offenses with crisp passing and nice picks, but the Wolverines seem completely out of sorts all the time on offense. Throwing the ball across the court like crazy. Turning the ball over all the time. Looks like they don't practice at all....26-22 Buckeyes

12:39 PM - Dion Harris nails a pretty 3 off a nice pick. Michigan's only down 1...I'm amazed right now.

12:40 PM - Lewis nails a three...Michigan back down 4. Pretty much expected that.

12:44 PM - Deshawn Sims hits a nice long jumper from the top of the circle, I totally didn't expect that to go in. 31-27 Bucks

12:46 PM - Harris misses a three (in and out) but the Wolverines fight and get the offensive board. They get it back to Harris and he drives and draws the foul from Oden. Nice to see Michigan hustle to the ball like that. Dion hits both and the lead's down to 3.

12:47 PM - They just showed a split screen of Amaker and Matta coaching showing their different styles. Matta actually coached while Amaker just stood there with his arms folded. Just shows how Amaker is terrible.

12:49 PM - So we head to halftime with Ohio State up 34-29. Erin Andrews just said Michigan is winning the rebounding battle by 14. And we're losing why? See you in the second half. Hopefully for a big upset!

Live Blog Coming....

COME ON! JUST ONE WIN!

So I've decided (against some of my better judgement) that I will be liveblogging the Michigan/Ohio State Big Ten Tourney tilt this afternoon. Probably won't be around for the very start of the game, but at least the backend of the first half and all of the second half will be chronicled in all its glory. Judging from past Michigan performance I'm guessing this will be an exercise is masochism but if you enjoy that kind of thing please feel free to come back and check it out. GO BLUE!

Michigan's NCAA Tournament Zombie Still Alive

Remember kids, a zombie isn't dead until you see it's head rolling on the ground

In a pretty ugly game (and for Michigan that's saying something) the Wolverines shot a blistering 28% from the field to take down Minnesota 49-40 to keep their slim NCAA tournament hopes alive. It was probably the worst shooting game overall I've seen in a long time but against a 9-22 team like Minnesota it was enough to take them down. Thank God Michigan knows how to shoot free throws well. That was the team's saving grace.

So Michigan's zombie, while riddled with bullets, is still slowly moving forward towards tomorrow's matchup with Ohio State, who is standing with the shotgun loaded to finish them off. Michigan has shown that they match up well with the Buckeyes, but after last Saturday's last minute collapse I'm not optimistic on the chances for the upset. Especially given the fact that they blew that game at home and this is on a neutral floor. IF (and that's a big if) they were able to pull off the upset against Ohio State then their NCAA chances would improve greatly and they would also have a favorable matchup in the Big Ten semi's against either Iowa or Indiana. Tomorrow is the make or break game for this season. Either step up and finally get a big win, or it's time to head back to Crisler to host some games in the NIT.

Well That Was Just Freaking Great

A happier moment from Saturday's kick to the groin

Well that's what I get for having hope. Michigan had a chance Saturday to make a statement and possibly make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since I graduated from high school (which is becoming an increasingly long time ago), and what did they do? They choked it away.

The Wolverines had the number one ranked Buckeyes on the ropes and they let them off the hook. The momentum was on their side with a six point lead heading into the final TV time out (approx. 3:54 left in the game) and then apparently they forgot how to play down the stretch and blew it. Courtney Simms misses a freaking dunk that would have tied it up, and Dion Harris (86% from the line) misses the front end of a one-and-one that could have tied it as well. Michigan didn't score again after that last TV timeout. Sad.

I'm starting to forget how it feels to follow a college basketball team that doesn't constantly kick me in the groin and force me to bash my head against the wall repeatedly. I was to the point where I was almost expecting the collapse. Unfortunately when Michigan took that late lead and the momentum was all in their favor I let down some of the pessimism and really thought they were going to win. I suppose that teaches me for believing in this team.

Now the only way Michigan is getting a whiff of the Big Dance is to beat Minnesota, Ohio State and maybe even ANOTHER opponent in the Big Ten tournament. Maybe Michigan can put together a run and make us all believers, and I'm sure if they beat Minnesota I'll get roped into thinking they could take it to Ohio State and maybe this time come out on top, but in the end until they show they can put a great team away I'll always be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Rising From the Grave

Michigan's NCAA Tourney hopes attempt to rise from the grave

Just when I think I'm out they suck me back in. In my last post I put Michigan's NCAA Tournament hopes in the grave. Then the go and blow out Minnesota on the road and beat a hot Michigan State team, and somehow a slight ray of hope has come into the bleak world that is Wolverine hoops.

Granted this optimism could be crushed with a loss Saturday to Ohio State and an early exit from the Big Ten tournament, but last night's win over Michigan State achieved two things. First it kept Sparty from getting that season sweep, which always brings a smile to my face, and it gave hope to a fanbase that had pretty much lost it. Whether we're going to be rewarded with an improbable NCAA tourney bid or a swift kick to the groin remains to be seen.

Can Michigan pull off the miracle Saturday against Ohio State? Sure they could. They are playing at home where they've only lost twice all season. Ohio State hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire either, and following that emotion of last weekend's game with Wisconsin, they could be looking past Michigan and towards the Big Ten tournament. If everything falls into place (which is very iffy with an Amaker coached Michigan team) the Maize and Blue could finally get a signature win that could help propel them back into the NCAA tourney for the first time since 1998.

Personally I feel like this team is rearing back the leg to give me a nice swift kick to groin on Saturday, but then again I've watched this team for the past few years and they usually don't put on their best effort until they are in the NIT. Hopefully I'm pleasantly surprised and celebrating a HUGE victory Saturday night. We shall see....

R.I.P. Michigan's NCAA Tournament Hopes

Courtney Sims trying to stop a return trip to the NIT...but fails

Well at least that's something off my mind. After FINALLY beating Indiana and bringing a pulse to the corpse that is the Michigan NCAA Tournament hopes, the Wolverines did what they do best on Wednesday and that's play shitty on the road. Last night's 54-42 loss to the Illini sent Michigan's tournament hopes up to heaven to party with Barbaro. Are you excited for the NIT Wolverine fans? No?

I think the worst part of all this is that Tommy Amaker will probably end up keeping his job. How is this possible? This team isn't mentally tough at all and has never shown any mental toughness in Amaker's years at the helm. To be honest the only time this team plays consistently well is in the NIT where they've won a title and made it to the championship game under Amaker. The reason for that is probably because Michigan can play at home in the first few rounds before having to go to New York for the Final Four. The Wolverines have been a good home team under Amaker but they have been HORRIBLE on the road. You know when the last road win for Michigan was this year? January 6th against Northwestern. Does this sound like a senior lead team that was supposed to be ready to turn the corner?

Generally speaking I'm not a big reactionary fan who calls for coach's heads after every loss (I still stand behind Lloyd Carr even though he makes me want to bash my head up against a table at least twice a year) but this is getting a bit ridiculous. If this were the football team they'd be burning Amaker in effigy and riding him out on a rail. Instead it looks like Tommy will stick around for another year so that his "stud" recruiting class can come in and hopefully turn things around. Personally I'm skeptical Amaker is the man to lead Michigan back to national prominence, but hopefully he proves me wrong.

For now, though, barring an improbable run through the Big Ten tournament, it looks like Michigan fans can look forward to another run in that "other" tournament in March. Has spring football practice started yet?

That Went Pretty Much Like I Thought it Would

They really TRIED to stop Greg Oden

I think the best way I can sum up last night's Michigan game is by comparing it to a trip to the dentist. It's something you dread and it's usually a bit painful, but in the end it wasn't as bad as you thought it would be. Michigan didn't get blown off the floor, UCLA style, against the Buckeyes, but they did manage to lose by double digits.

The Wolverines played well early and went into halftime only down by four points. Unfortunately this got my hopes up that perhaps they were going to do the unthinkable and pull an upset here, and then, like clockwork, they came out in the second half and kicked my optimism square in the groin. Michigan had the ball, down four, with 8:52 left in the game. This was the big moment to keep themselves in the game and possibly put the Buckeyes on their heels. What followed?

• Lester Abram misses from three (I swear loudly)
• DeShawn Sims gets the offensive rebound (I'm happy)
• Sims misses the put back, but Michigan gets the rebound again (Still optimistic)
• Dion Harris misses a jumper (Time to start drinking....)

After this sequence Michigan was outscored 20-11 and never had another chance. It's moments like these that separate NIT teams from NCAA teams. Michigan had three shots to cut the lead to one or two, on the road against a top five opponent, and blew the opportunity. Ohio State then took the opportunity and ran with it and secured a double digit win on their home floor. The Wolverines played well, but didn't capitalize on the chances they had (which seems to be a common theme during the Amaker Era) and left empty handed once again.

I don't know if I can blame this on coaching, but it seems like none of these players have gotten much better since coming to Ann Arbor. Courtney Sims still disappears when facing elite competition. Dion Harris and Lester Abrams are still streak shooters who have difficulty handling the ball, and the team still has difficulty competing down the stretch when you need to match the opposition shot for shot.

In the end this game was ultimately disappointing. Michigan put themselves in a position to pull an upset on the road, but faded down the stretch...again. Makes you wonder if Amaker is the coach to take Michigan to the next level.

Michigan Fans....Avert Your Gaze!

This "19 year old" is on a path of destruction...next up...Michigan...

For the past nine years Michigan basketball season has been a trying time for yours truly. Following the NCAA sanctions, Michigan's once good basketball program was left in ruin and has yet to really come out of it. Every time the Wolverines seem to be turning a corner they slide back. They haven't made the NCAA tournament since 1998 and this year doesn't look to be the one where they break through, and tonight will probably seal the deal.

Tonight the Wolverines head down to Columbus for a meeting with the Buckeyes and "19 year old" phenom Greg Oden. First off there is no way that kid is 19. Did you look at that picture? He has wrinkles! The man looks like he could be LeBron James' uncle. I really need timestamped pictures and a notarized birth certificate here. Beyond the fact that he's obviously older, he's going to eat Michigan alive tonight. Courtney Simms never plays well against a dominate center and Oden is just that. Add this to the fact that the Wolverines can't play on the road (2-5 this season with the wins coming at Northwestern and Miami (OH), neither is a "powerhouse") but they also tend to get blown out when facing good competition as their 38 point loss to UCLA demonstrated. Actually Michigan just tends to lose big period. Of their seven losses this season, five have come by double digits. The sad part is Michigan is starting a team full of Seniors that supposedly had learned from its past of wilting down the stretch. This is a group that has gone to two NIT Finals and was supposed to be ready to take the next step with trip to the NCAA tournament. Apparently that's not the case.

Having lost their last three games and without a "signature" win, the Wolverines are probably playing for their NCAA bid tonight against the Buckeyes. Pulling off a road victory against the #4 team in the country would go a long way to catapulting Michigan towards that coveted NCAA invite, but forgive me if I don't have much confidence in that happening. What I'm expecting is another lopsided road loss that has become a trademark of the Tommy Amaker Era, followed closely by the columnists in Detroit NOT calling for his head. I understand that Amaker is a good guy and he cleaned up the program, but he's had a lot of time and the results just haven't been there. Another nationally televised (ESPN, 7 PM) road blow out should be the final nail in Amaker's coffin, unless Michigan pulls the upset.

Will Michigan pull it off? Probably not. I see Oden going off and Simms disappearing like he normally does. In the end though I'll be sitting and watching and hoping. Hoping that something will click in the Wolverines and they'll finally do something remarkable to get me excited again.

If they don't though at least tomorrow's signing day. That's something right?

Welcome Home Asshole

At least this time he's getting paid legally

Well it looks like, if you are to believe the report on Yahoo Sports, Chris Webber is finally coming home to come off the bench for the Detroit Pistons. Forgive me if I'm not really excited at the prospect of having to cheer for that douchebag again.

As I'm sure you're aware, throughout his time at Michigan Webber took money from a booster named Ed Martin. It didn't come out while he was in school, but eventually after a car accident involving a few players in the late 90's everything came out. Webber continually lied about taking money from Martin to the point where he was going to stand trial for lying to a Grand Jury...that is until Martin had a heart attack and died. The charges were then dropped since Martin was really the only eye-witness and Webber went on his merry way.

The NCAA wasn't so forgiving to Michigan though. All the records from Webber's time at Michigan have been erased. Final Four banners have been taken down, and the team was left in a hole so deep that they are still climbing out today. Chris Webber helped ruin Michigan basketball. Now I'm sure there are some who are saying, "But didn't he make Michigan basketball in the first place?" and to that I call you an idiot. Michigan basketball was a good program before Chris Webber showed up. They won the NCAA Title in 1989 behind Glenn Rice and a couple of Rumeal Robinson free throws. Then Webber showed up and took money and the whole thing came crashing down.

So now a broken down and somewhat gimpy Chris Webber is coming home to try and help the Pistons win a championship. Great...just fucking great. I'm sure that now you'll read a bunch of local stories about the Detroit kid coming home to redeem himself (in fact...Mitch Albom has already written one. Way to be on the ball Mitch! Can't wait to hear your Webber monologue on the Sports Reporters Sunday! I'm sure it will be somewhat folksy and not funny!) and perhaps there will be some who will call on the fans to give Webber a break. I will not be one of those fans.

I love college basketball. I may not love it as much as college football but I love the sport. Chris Webber has robbed me of watching a quality team at my school for the past 9 freaking years. He destroyed Michigan's program and the worst part is he never owned up to it. And now he's coming to the Pistons and probably expecting all to be forgiven for his glorious homecoming. Well this is one fan who's never going to forgive. I may give him a small clap if he helps bring Detroit an NBA title...but that's about it.

Chris Webber is a lying asshole who couldn't wait the two years to get out of college to make his money and in turn destroyed a program. Let me be the first to say this though...

Welcome home Chris....and fuck you.

Holiday Weekend Rewind

Fuck Northwest...they are TERRIBLE!!!

So now that I'm back after the weekend back home in Michigan, I figure it's time to a quick recap of what went down over the long holiday weekend. First though a small diatribe about my journey home.

Fuck Northwest. I would recommend you avoid this airline at all cost. I do a good bit of traveling and I've NEVER sat in a plane with the door shut and ready to go for so damn long. Last night, for example, I got on the plane at 10:25 (for a flight that was already delayed for an hour mind you) and the door was shut at 10:35, which was on-time for our new departure time. Do you want to know what time we actually started to taxi to the runway? 11:25....that's right....50 minutes sitting in the plane. Why? Because they were still loading baggage. Um, what? Why is it that every other airline on the planet can run an efficient business but Northwest has their heads up their ass? On the way in I waited 30 minutes before we taxied.....brutal. I'm never flying this shitty airline again and I would advise anyone else to avoid it at all costs as well.

Sorry about going all "Peter King" on you by going through my travel exploits, but I really don't want anybody to fly Northwest. It's my new personal mission....

With that out of the way let's move to the weekend's happenings....

Saturday

UCLA might have a future in this whole basketball thing....

#1 UCLA 92, Michigan 55

Don't know how many of you actually watched this, but it was actually worse then the score shows if that is even possible. Basically this game proved two things to me...UCLA is really good...and Michigan can't hold on to the basketball. Oh and they might be terrible. I can't accurately describe how awful this beating was. I think viewing this again would lead to tragedy not seen since Raiders of the Lost Ark...

"UCLA with ANOTHER steal..."

Sunday

A HAPPY Lions fan? Matt Millen says, "Merry Fucking Christmas, Douchebag!"

Bears 26, Lions 21

Was anybody really surprised when Mike Williams dropped the winning touchdown in the end zone? It was pretty much the perfect storm for Lions fans. You come in all pist off because the team is shitty and plan on booing them till your voice is sore, but they put up a fight against the "Best Team in the NFC" so you start to cheer because they are "scrappy" and showing some life, and then...just when you get your hopes up.....BAM! Swift kick right to the nuts. That's right folks these are still the Lions! Not only did the game suck but there wasn't even a half wit fan protest to laugh at. Nobody did anything. Just sad all around, but at least the Lions have the inside track on the number one draft pick. Should make for a great offseason of "Matt Millen is on the clock...think he's going receiver?" jokes, and in a way I think we are all winners for that.

So that pretty much covers the two big weekend games. A great weekend to be a Detroit sports fan.....if only the Red Wings still played.....what? They do? Really?

Things to Watch Over the Holiday Weekend...

Using your own hands to eat is for fucking chumps!

Since I'm about to head off to enjoy a weekend back in Michigan celebrating Jesus' birthday I figure I'd leave you a nice little Holiday viewing guide as I probably won't be around to post anything till after Xmas....unless I feel motivated after the Michigan/UCLA game. You never know...but since it is a holiday weekend there is a lot going on in the sports world. So program your robot spoon to "shovel" before it decides to get smart and start killing you, it's time for Holiday Sports Viewing!

Tonight

• CFB: Las Vegas Bowl: BYU vs. Oregon ESPN, 8 PM

Now normally I wouldn't recommend watching a bowl game where a team with five losses tries to avoid that scarring sixth against a team from Utah...but have you seen what helmets Oregon is actually going to wear in this game?

Airbrush flames are so freaking cool baby, I also have a dragon painted on my van

And if that's not enough for you they are sporting the yellow jerseys with this bad boy (and probably the yellow paints too)...though I probably wouldn't recommend watching this in HD

because it may cause you to go blind....

UPDATE: Apparently Oregon didn't have the guts to pull off the full yellow uniform, instead opting for green uni's.....and here's what happened....

UGLY HELMETS MAKE BYU ANGRY!!! BYU SMASH!

The lesson here? If you're going to wear hideous helmets at least wear the ugliest uniform to match...or the Mormons are going to run roughshod over your ass....

• NBA: Detroit @ Cleveland TNT, 8:15 PM

What's sad is even though I'm listing this and even with me being a Pistons fan I can't really get that excited for an NBA game in freaking December. I think they should just start the NBA after the All Star break and have a sprint to the finish and the playoffs, these midseason games are just killers.....

• Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer CBS, 8 PM

Santa giving the customary Christmas Nazi Salute...fucking racist

I know this isn't sports but I could probably write an entire post on this Christmas "classic." This could be the most hate filled cartoon ever. Nevermind the fact that you can't watch this cartoon and come off thinking Santa is nothing but an ignorant racist jackass, but what's worse is the elves actually commit a MURDER during the credits!!! They kill the misfit bird that can't fly, he swims. I think they do this to teach us all a lesson that even though normal people except the losers of society, they are just waiting for the right moment to pick your asses off. Don't believe that they'd actually kill a poor toy in a children's classic? Here's your proof. Remember, once you watch this you may be scarred for life.....just warning you....

That poor bird probably landed on the windshield of an NYC Taxi Cab...

Friday

• NBA: Sacramento @ Denver 9 PM (Blizzard Permitting)

What could be Allen Iverson's first game for the Denver Nuggets (if God's anger with Denver permits him to get in...that blizzard is revenge for this Iverson trade), AND if that's not enough Ron Artest is playing so you never know what the hell could happen. Although I really don't see Nuggets fans being the kind to start stuff like this....

Punch him will he not bleed? Throw a cup at him and will he not go crazy?

The only thing that would make this game better was if Carmelo was around to jack Artest in the face then immediately run for his life. Somehow the sight of Carmelo running away from Jared Jeffries makes me less afraid of what he does to "snitches"

Saturday

• CBB: Michigan @ UCLA CBS, 2 PM

I've covered this rather extensively and I figure with the tip being at 2:00 it will be about 2:15 before UCLA is up 20-4, so you can at least get 15 minutes of good basketball Michigan fans....right? Right?

• NFL: Kansas City @ Oakland NFL Network, 8 PM

Douchebag....

I really don't know if I should even recommend watching this as the NFL Network has put together one of the worst announce crews in the history of man. It's to the point now where I actually look forward to Chris Collinsworth shutting Bryant Gumbel up. Has there been a worse play-by-play announcer then Gumbel? I mean he called the clock a "shot clock" last week! That and his whiny ass voice actually makes me long for Pam Ward....maybe if you watched this game on mute and just laughed at Art Shell standing on the sidelines trying to figure out how to coach it would make it worth something....

• CFB: Armed Forces Bowl: Tulsa vs. Utah ESPN, 8 PM

How can you not watch the Armed Forces Bowl? Do you not support our troops or something? If you don't watch this game then the terrorists have won and you hate America. You don't hate America do you?

Sunday (Christmas Eve)

• NFL: Chicago @ Detroit Ninth Circle of Hell, 1 PM

This picture pretty much says it all....

I'm a masochist so I'm actually going to this debacle. I fully expect the score to be 28-3 by the half. I really think the Lions are the team they make you root for in Hell. There's really no other way I can really describe what it is to be a Lions fan. I think the only people that can even begin to know how it feels are Cardinals and Browns fans. What a sad fraternity....

• CFB: Hawaii Bowl: Arizona State @ Hawaii ESPN, 8 PM

How is it really fair that Hawaii gets to play at home in a bowl game? Aren't these supposed to be neutral fields? Pity poor Arizona State whose secondary will probably be shredded to bits by Colt Brennan. Don't worry Sun Devils. Dennis Erickson and his pack of "questionable character" Juco transfers are on the way to raise your fortunes while tainting your program forever next season! Good times!

Monday (Christmas)

• NFL: Philadelphia @ Dallas NBC, 5 PM

I tell you what...I really don't think it's Christmas until I get to see Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens hook up on the field. Let me break down the commentary by Madden that you're going to get on this game.....

"T.O.T.O.T.O.T.O.T.O."

"T.O. and Jeff Garcia used to play....and T.O. called Jeff Garcia gay (I know...shocker)"

"Tony Romo is the second coming of Jesus (also known as "Brett Favre" to John Madden)

And I think that's about it. I'm sure there's a bunch of other crap on but you can figure that out yourself. Enjoy the holiday everyone!

This Probably isn't going to End Well.....

This game won't be for the weak of heart. Hide your grandparents....

So the holiday weekend is coming up and it brings to early Christmas gifts for yours truely...or lumps of coal to be more accurate. First this Saturday Michigan goes to Los Angeles for their execution game against #1 UCLA and then on Sunday I get to celebrate with my favorite team as I will attend the Lions game against the Bears. Since I will be covering the goings on with the Lions in fantastic detail next week, I figure maybe it's time to write a post looking ahead to the Wolverines' goings on this weekend....

Let me start by saying this, Michigan is going to get slaughtered. There's really no two ways about it. They may be 11-1 but they haven't beaten anybody and Tommy Amaker's sterling 17-37 record on the road doesn't really elicit a lot of confidence in the Wolverines being able to pull the huge upset.

But fear not, in the spirit of Christmas I've decided to at least look at the ways Michigan could pull off the unthinkable this Saturday and upset the undefeated Bruins....

• UCLA loses directions to Pauley Pavilion

I'm really doubting this happens since they've played there for 36 years, but this is LA and they could hit some wicked traffic and miss the game, and isn't Michigan due for a Christmas Miracle since they got screwed over by the BCS?

• UCLA decides to skip game and go see We Are Marshall

I don't know about you but how could you not want to see this movie? I mean it's got Matthew McConaughey which means there could be a scene somewhere where's he's hopped up on some doob and playing the bongos. This one could totally happen...the allure of McC is just that strong.

• Lester Abrams goes into "Teen Wolf" mode and drops 60

Even if this did happen he'd probably injure his leg and be out for the season as he runs to find Boof in the stands to kiss. That and UCLA would probably score 61 for the win....

So there you go....three very likely scenarios for a Michigan victory Saturday. I would recommend watching the game with a fifth of scotch and possibly some eye protection as the beating UCLA is probably going to give Michigan could cause you to go blind. But hey at least we have better looking cheerleaders....

Um....okay so they own us....but we are SO better in football. TAKE THAT UCLA!!!!

Time to get Excited about Michigan Basketball! Anyone?

That's right....we OWN Delaware State...Scoreboard Bitches!

With college football being basically finished, the Lions making their usual push for the number one overall pick, and the NBA and NHL not even close to halfway through their regular season exhibitions before deciding a champion by giving it to the first team to win 16 games (ugh), it's time to turn an eye over to the college hardwood and what do I see....

Michigan's 10-1?!?!

Granted most of those wins come against schools with the name "Delaware State" and "Harvard" but they have all (for the most part) been convincing victories for the Maize and Blue instead of the random one point wins against the dregs of college basketball. I would love to muster some optimism for the Wolverines to make their first trip back to the Dance since I graduated from High School (and that is becoming an increasingly long time) I will wait to reserve judgment until at least the Big Ten schedule rolls around with a December 30th tilt at home against Illinois.

That being said though I definitely think Michigan can compete for third in what is increasingly looking like a two team Big Ten (sound familiar football fans?) with Ohio State and Wisconsin getting ready to bludgeon the rest of the Big Ten. Especially the Buckeyes with their 40 er...19 year old Freshman Center Gregg Oden.

Now I reserve the ability to change my cautious optimism to maniacal uber-excitement if Michigan were able to give me an early Christmas present and somehow take out #1 UCLA...on the road....on December 23rd. I'm not holding out hope but I think karma may be coming back to get UCLA after they beat USC in football....and how can you deprive this lovely child at Christmas? HOW CAN YOU DO THAT UCLA?!?!

All this kid wants for Xmas is for Michigan to beat UCLA....and a new hat....

I don't know how you can tell this kid Santa Claus doesn't exist and Michigan can't beat UCLA. If you want to do that and take away the last bit of innocence left in his poor life then so be it UCLA. Soon he'll be playing Grand Theft Auto and shooting up the cops...and it will all be your fault you selfish Bruins! Do the kid a favor....let Michigan get one over on you guys on the 23rd....you can still lose late in the tournament like you always do! We just ask for one little thing! DO IT FOR THE KID! The Wolverines and our little fans await your response...