Blog Don't Lie

UFC Undisputed 2009 Release Date: May 19

2009-05-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

I don't play a ton of video games anymore but this could be different.

Actually I play NCAA Football 2009 fairly often but that's about it. UFC Undisputed 2009 has the potential to capture me the way that game did.

The release date is my on May 19 and fans are anticipating it quite a bit since they played the demo of the game on XBox Live and Playstation Network.

"Finally, a mixed martial arts game that has a fairly accurate representation of the jiu-jitsu/ground game," they said!

Create a fighter is there...the roster of UFC fighters for Undisputed is about 80 strong...and the graphics are excellent as the fighters really look like their real-life counterparts.

Again, I can't wait for this game and that's saying a lot considering I'm in my mid-20's now and I have other more important things on my mind.

2009-05-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

Pistons Off-Season Moves and Trades

2009-04-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Pistons flamed out in the first vs. Cleveland and the season is mercifully over.

What trades will the Pistons make in the off-season? Who will they sign?

The former is the question to keep an eye on because the 2009 free agent class is nothing special.

But many teams will be looking to unload good players signed to big contracts and the Pistons have a good mix of experienced and young players to trade who might do well in other situations.

The Pistons have to get rid of Rasheed Wallace, that's for sure. Zero points in an elimination game for a guy supposedly as competitive as him is unacceptable. He looked slow and old and uninterested.

The problem is that big guys in the NBA are so hard to find and Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell showed very little in 2008-2009. Maybe Tayshaun Prince is the one guy the Pistons will have to trade even though he is the most durable player in the NBA.

It will be an interesting off-season with $22 million of Allen Iverson's money coming off the books along with Wallace's contract.

Pistons-Cavs a Blowout?

2009-04-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

The only chance the Pistons might have in this series, starting on Saturday, is if LeBron James God forbid blows out his knee.

Or maybe if Jason Maxiell and Kwame Brown decide to go Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn and institute the "LeBron Rules" and somehow get under the King's skin enough to get him to throw a punch or two, causing him to get suspended for a minimum of five games.

Because I highly question whether or not this Michael Curry-led team could even beat the LeBron-less Cavs in a series right now. But they would have a shot.

What do we have to lose, anyway?

Bring back the Bad Boys, I say! Show some pride, Pistons!

Let's protest David Stern's continued sissification of the NBA!!!

Pistons are Done for 2008-2009

2009-04-14T16:01:00.000-07:00

First losing season since Ben Wallace's first with Detroit, when teal ruled the day at the Palace.

This season has been shockingly bad for Pistons fans everywhere and with the loss to the Bulls on Monday, a swift beating at the hands of LeBron James and the Cavs seems inevitable unless Philadelphia loses their final two and Detroit beats Miami.

Even then, only Orlando is really worried about the Pistons.

It's so hard to believe a team with this much talent can be this uninspired and flat-out bad in a weak Eastern Conference for this long.

Michael Curry is a good guy and a true Piston but he simply isn't a good coach.

Michigan Recruiting Talk

2008-12-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of articles on suite101 that I have written about Michigan recruiting. Check em out.

Also, Michigan got a big commitment from Taylor Lewan, AZ offensive lineman. Good stuff, this guy is a beast who also is athletic.

http://college-football.suite101.com/article.cfm/michigan_football_recruiting_qa

Week 13L NFL Power Rankings for 2008

2008-11-26T17:06:00.001-08:00

http://national-football-league-nfl.suite101.com/article.cfm/week_13_nfl_power_rankings_for_2008

Who takes the top spot, Titans or Giants?

College Football Picks for Week 14!

2008-11-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1248321/week_14_college_football_office_pool.html

I like OU...but I hope they don't make the BCS Title game.

Pistons trade, Tigers show some life

2008-06-13T05:10:00.001-07:00

Lots of people are on the Carmelo-to-the-Pistons bandwagon, but something tells me Joe Dumars hasn't ever really been a Carmelo fan due to his attitude and total lack of defense.

People on freep.com roasted me when I suggested Allen Iverson is a better fit. Read the blog here:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880611023

Chad Ford says Iverson will be tough for the Nuggets to trade but I think Billups and some other parts could get it done. Billups is a hometown guy Denver would want.

A.I. had some incredible averages at age 33: 26+ points, 45+ field goal %, almost 2 steals, and 7 assists. He still has a lot left in the tank.

But there might be better deals on the table. If we can get Tracy McGrady without giving up Sheed I'd do it. I think Sheed is too valuable to this team to get rid of without getting another tall/long interior defender back. McDyess/Johnson/Maxiell isn't a big enough front-line.

Tiger Revival?

Nope, can't say that yet, but at least I don't dread going down to the games anymore. Zumaya and Rodney will at least make them fun to watch again. People care about baseball again for the time being and that's the most important step.

Sheed's Last Stand

2008-05-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

As all zero of my loyal readers (possibly) know, the title of this blog is taken from the catch phrase of Rasheed Wallace, one of my favorite Pistons of all-time.

Before he came to Detroit, I hated the guy because I bought into the media hype that he was a bad guy and a bad teammate, as well as a bad role model for all the young players in the league.

But most of that turned out to be overblown and I began to find out that 'Sheed was one of the most respected teammates and humanitarians in the game as well as a thoughtful, smart, creative guy who was misunderstood and distrusted the media (justifiably so).

Now, 'Sheed and the Pistons are on the verge of another heart-wrenching playoff flameout and in much the same way as their last two losses.

I think 'Sheed was onto something when he badmouthed the refs but the tirade wasn't a good idea at this stage of the playoffs. When Rasheed says the refs are calling a bad game and something fishy is up, people just chalk it up to 'Sheed being 'Sheed.

Perhaps Flip Saunders should have taken his pulse and then said something in his press conference to the same effect, that would have gotten the refs' attention. Using the media to air frustrations about the refs works for coaches like Phil Jackson so maybe Flip Saunders should have done it instead of letting 'Sheed take the brunt of the criticism yet again.

Maybe it was too hard for Saunders to realize what 'Sheed was going to say and in that case I don't blame him but still, Saunders needs to do a better job of working the refs both in the game and outside the game because they clearly haven't done their jobs in this series with all the missed calls. On both sides, sure, you can say that if you want, too.

It just seems like the Pistons are always running uphill in these later-round series. Tonight should be a win but the Pistons are hard to figure.

If they don't get it done this time, a trade is in order. More creators are needed on offense.

And Saunders will have a lot of questions to answer if Detroit loses, too.

First things first, though, time to get loud at the Palace and cheer these guys on yet again. You can't ever count them out even though they've let us down a few too many times in the past as well.

Assorted Thoughts

2008-05-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

Spurs-Hornets...can you feel the anticipation! Good, now hold onto that feeling until MONDAY FREAKING NIGHT!!

Just when we thought the NBA had fixed their ridiculous playoff schedules they go and spring this doozy of a wait on us. Come on. I'm dying to watch the end of the most annoying era in the history of organized basketball.

Go Hornets. Win this one for Muggsy, and Grandmama, and...well, not Alonzo Mourning. I never was too fond of that guy. Win it for Dell Curry for helping out the expansion Hornets and producing one of the most entertaining b-ball sons ever, Stephen Curry of Davidson.

Win it for the sake of good, honest basketball players everywhere, i.e. players who don't flop like a damned trout every time they drive the lane.

I used to be a big Ginobili fan and then I realized I in fact despise him and his style of play.

Finish the Spurs off please, for the good of mankind. If CP3 can't do it, no one can.

Top Ten UM QB's in the Past 30 Years

2008-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

As told to you by me.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=C4&Dato=20080513&Kategori=SPORTS06&Lopenr=513001&Ref=PH

Agree?

Disagree?

Lemme know. I'll be right here.

Fantasy Baseball? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Fantasy Baseball!

2008-05-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

So I'm currently a combined 45 games out of first place in my two fantasy baseball leagues and I just picked up Joel Zumaya for some reason.

I knew it was a bad idea to drop so much cash on these leagues, but I'm a compulsive sports gambler. Not in regards to going to Vegas or even the lovely Casino Windsor to throw down cash on games but just in the sense that if someone has a pool, fantasy league, Madden tournament for money, high-stakes wiffle-ball game, or what have you, I am in. Every time.

I used to win all the time but I'm on a big-time losing streak. Maybe it's because I'm not facing the bums from my dad's work who probably still think Cecil Fielder is on the Tigers.

Ah well.

-New Gladiators tonight. Have they put Mr. "You Can Do Whatever You Want If You Put Your Mind to It!" on roids yet to make him an actual gladiator? What about that chick who's equally peppy and annoying? I'm dying to find out. Kind of.

-Red Wings-Stars. I haven't watched as much playoff hockey as I usually do but now I believe in the Wings again and I'll be watching for sure. Hell, I even watched Penguins-Flyers last night and was thoroughly entertained. The NHL is back, baby! Thanks Gary Bettman! I knew you had it in you.

Nate Robertson vs. the Space Yankees

2008-05-11T17:22:00.001-07:00

Well, we drove all the way down to the CoPa on a whim and sure enough, no baseball.

Maybe now the Tigs can somehow re-group over the next couple of days and remember how to play baseball again. We can only hope.

Zumaya and Rodney are supposed to be on the way but who knows how effective either of them will be. I really, really hope we don't lose the upcoming series to the Royals again. There's nothing more depressing than that.

Live Blog of the Pistons' Win

2008-05-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080510/SPORTS03/80510046/1048

I got the call at about 6 o'clock and I began blogging like a man possessed. Read all my thoughts on the game and Tayshaun's game winner here.

Even though those frustrating Tigers lost again, this was still a good day with Pistons and Red Wings wins.

That gives us time to take our moms out tomorrow, or in my case, time to go to the Tigers game. I still need to give away a ticket though...and my mom doesn't want to go.

We'll see what we can do here...

Big Sports Day

2008-05-10T09:54:00.001-07:00

Pistons and Red Wings. And Tigers if you're into that kind of thing.

Thus far I've gone to about 8 games as part of my 27-game package and I've seen one, maybe two wins, and a whole lot of innings where the other team is leading and we're pitching and our pitchers are pitching akin to how an old man with one bad eye and one gouged-out eye would pitch.

Nothing worse in sports than that, especially when it's about 40 degrees outside and you're in the upper deck with the wind howling.

-I like the 'Stones by a touchdown tonight. We just match up too well with the Magi. Yes, I meant to leave out the c at the end. Is anyone really scared of Rashard Lewis? Does anyone doubt he will disappear again tonight after his big Game 3?

-The Red Wings also matchup well with the Stars. I like them easily in this series and tonight's game. Matchups are huge in sports and that's why I was rooting hard for Dallas against San Jose.

-My first post got deleted and this one is short, but look for better things in the future.

The Worldwide Hype Leader

2006-05-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

(This is a first in an undetermined amount of posts that will be conveniently categorized into blog form for your conoisseuring pleasure).

I used to love ESPN. And there are still some things about them I still like, such as College Gameday Final and Baseball Tonight, the latter of which almost singlehandledly revived my interest in baseball for me during the Tiger Dark Ages.

But check out their coverage of the Pistons' big Game Six win over the Cavaliers:

A massive LeBron pic on Page One. Flip to the NBA page- Another LeBron pic! Someone give that web designer a raise! Utterly brilliant!

Just to confirm my crackpot theory on this matter, I checked out all the other major sports websites: si.com, thesportingnews.com, nba.com, and cbssportsline.com. Well, that's all I could think of.

All of them had a picture of the Pistons as their lead story.

I know you're all sick of Pistons fans playing the no respect card. Even I am and I'm a Pistons fan.

And I'm not saying LeBron isn't ridiculously good. He's better than advertised. I saw one of his high school games on ESPN and told everyone I know he was the real deal from day one.

But come on, ESPN. Give it up already. The dream is over. Stop shoving LeBron down our throats.

I've also said it's pretty much inevitable that LeBron will beat Detroit in a playoff series in his career.

Thankfully, it's not like like this is the year.