WoodyWoodriffe's Blog

Hey Hockeytown---

What is NHL commissioner Gary Bettman thinking...... He's come down with a decree that states..... any player voted into the all star game must show up, and if a player is hurt, he still has to appear in the off ice festivities or else catch a 1 game suspension........ which is why an injured Sidney Crosby is winging his way to Montreal right now!!!!...... This is something that will effect both Nick Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk...... but the thing that gets me is, if you're hurt--- you're hurt!!!  Why not use the time off to heal???  To penalize a player for 1 game seems flat out wrong............  perhaps they should cancel the whole thing, because as it is, the NHL all star game isn't must see tv!!!!  Now I understand that fans vote these players in, and sponsors want to see the stars shine.... but if this type of rules fudging continues, then look for the stars of the game to shy away from the whole weekend......... or perhaps just leave the game as a young stars kind of thing....... those players come based on who wants to play--- it's not mandatory.......... I just hope that Lidstrom and Datsyuk aren't out of the game that you've waited the whole season to go to........

--W.

Ok Gang---

Scott Linehan could be a good guy for the Lions, and here's why....... He was solid as a coordinator for the Vikings and that was with Daunte Culpepper running the on the field attack....... so with Culpepper here, can't the same things happen again???? l know that many will point to the fact that both he and Detroit defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham had offenses and defenses at the bottom of the league, but I also believe that it was a player issue....... both the Rams and Chiefs had a lack of talent this season so isn't it unfair to think that he's just a poor coach????  I think that it is, and I'm also willing to give these guys a shot....... because let's be honest, anything's better than Barry and Colletto----- right???

--W.

Hey Gang---

     Follow me on this one for a minute..... Many of the elite teams in any sport have one guy-- whether it be a player, a coach, or a front office guy that is at a "genius" level.... He's the guy who vaults the team onto the top level...... Some examples of this are, Bill Parcells..... Ken Holland.... Joe Montana... Ray Lewis... Joe Dumars..... Bill Belichick..... Brett Favre.... even Magglio Ordonez to an extent...... but when Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said in his introductory press conference that he will be willing to mold the Lions style of football to fit the that of the players he has, I thought that Schwartz was taking his first step towards "genius"--- granted, it's a baby step and there will be plenty more staircases along the way........ but flexibility is something that has been absent in Detroit over the Marinelli regime and perhaps we can begin to see the signs of an identity for the team with a heavy dose of it splashed in this year..... That willingness to adapt should also serve well with whoever the Mayhew/Lewand/(insert: player personnel guy) select in the draft.  After checking out his Top 10 defense 3 times resume, you have to ask yourself--- Could Schwartz be the "prized fruit" from the Belichick tree of coaching?? Man I sure hops so because covering a continually bad team is no fun at all....... What do you think????

--W.

P.S.-- For the record, there has only been 1 "Super-Genius", and I believe his name is Wile E. Coyote.......

Hey Lions Fans---

   How does a Head Coach go 0-16 for the season and then get picked up for another job???  Well, the answer is a simple one--- The Old Boys Network!!!!  Seems that Rod's pal and Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith has swooped in and hired Marinelli as the assistant Head Coach and the Defensive Line Coach..... C'MON Lovie!!!!  This is why there's no new blood coming into the league's coaching ranks--- because the league is full of retreads!!!!  How does 0-16 get you to Chicago???  I will say good luck to the Bears because if you want to stiffen the defensive line, you couldn't get anyone stiffer!!!!  Perhaps son -in -law Joe Barry can latch on as an assistant too........ I can't believe it......

--W.

Hey Hockeytown--

I know we get caught up in the Red Wings goings on..... but has anyone checked the standings in the far west????? San Jose has quietly put together a gaudy 52 points thanks to a  25 - 3 - 2 record!!!  Wow-- These guys aren't messing around and the Wings better be ready on Thursday night........ Some of you may think that Detroit can dominate at home, but the Sharks come in with a 9-0-0 record when the OTHER TEAM outshoots them!!!!  Everyone on the squad is bringing it.... Yvgeny Nabakov, Patrick Marleau..... even young guys like Devin Setoguchi, Lukas Kaspar and Jamie McGinn are finding the net, and I guess that the best thing for Head Coach Todd MacLellan is that all of this is happening with guys out of the lineup due to injury...... Jeremy Roenick with a shoulder..... Jonathan Cheechoo-- upper body..... Joe Pavelski-- lower body...... better look out for the Sharks.... thursday night and again in the playoffs.....

--W.  

Hi there---

   The question today is a simple one....... What would YOU do if you saw a 17 point spread in the NFL???  That's the number on the Lions this week against the Colts, and perhaps a better question is whether or not we'll ever see a number that high again.  Wow!!!!  17-- can the Lions keep it close???  will Indy go up big early and let the Lions tack on some garbage points??? Man!!! 17..... why not just take the game "off the board"??  Has that ever happened in the NFL before??? I better do some research..... 17--hoo boy....

--W.

Wow---

What a game by the Maize and Blue over Duke...  This kind of performance will go a long way, because now all Michigan has to do is go .500  in the Big 10....... Do that and make pollsters look at the non conference wins over then #4 UCLA and again against #4 Duke and the Wolverines are a lock for tournament action....... Congrats to Head Coach John Beilein and his players at taking a GIANT step in a positive direction.

--W.

Hello all---

The NHL handed Avery a 6 game suspension with no pay for the "sloppy seconds" comment made to the media about former girlfrield Elisha Cuthbert and her new boyfriend, Flames forward Dion Phaneuf....... I can see a game on the shelf..... but 6???  and NO PAY?!?!  Isn't that too harsh?????  or is the league taking into account his past antics and dropping the hammer extra hard????  Do you agree???  or did the punishment fit the crime??? I think that the biggest problem with the whole thing is that this didn't happen in the middle of a press session with the media...... Avery sought out the reporters in the room to drop this bombshell....... and that's just boneheaded-- tell me what you think.....

--W.  

Hey Gang--

I was having a discussion here in the office about Iverson missing the thanksgiving day practice, and it was brought up that instead of jumping all over Allen Iverson, the scheduling of a practice on thanksgiving was a "rookie" move by Michael Curry...... was it???  what do you think???  

Hey Gang--

Has anyone been paying attention to some of the moves that NBA teams are making lately????  The Knicks just cleared a ton of salary cap space by trading Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph........ The Pistons have cleared space by dealing Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson..... and other teams are probably planning moves too, all in the hopes of getting into the LeBron James lottery when he becomes a free agent in 2010......... The question to you is,  Where do you think "King" James will end up??? In the Big Apple with the Knicks?????  Still with Cleveland??? In New jersey with rap mogul Jay Z and the Nets??? Miami with D-Wade??? Motown??? What do you think????

--W.

Hi there----

I rarely do this, but I feel that the Lions are so bad that EVERY Carolina Panthers player is a must start this week in Fantasy Football......... No Exceptions!!!!  Steve Smith--- IN!!! Jake DelHomme--- IN!!! DeAngelo Williams---IN!!! even the injured Jonathan Stewart--IN!!!!  Look for monster numbers as Carolina rolls to a 41-14 win........ you might even get a good tight end selection there too!!!!

--W

Hi Gang--

The answer man is here again and he's got the answer to Lions head coach Rod Marinelli's monday metaphor........ You don't need a light to get out of a buried alive situation..... according to survivalists, all you need is SPIT!!  That's right, saliva...... all you have to do is spit on one of the walls of your underground prison and let gravity show you which way to dig..... DIG!!?  Even with no light, this method works.... put your hands an estimated distance apart and spit in between..... when the saliva hits your hand, you'll know which way is up!!!!  Instead of digging blindly like the head coach--- can you see how a game plan points you in the right direction!!!  Seems to work in this case doesn't it??....... We'll see if Detroit has any saliva on sunday.....

-- W.

Hi Kids!!!

Speaking of children, the Lions must think that we're all in pre-school..... I heard the comments from the head coach on monday and was shocked silly!!!  What kind of double-talk was that anyhow??? Shovels and pick-axes??  Give me a break!!!  The comments from Tom Lewand to Drew Sharp after sunday's game were just plain insulting...... Don't stand there and play like you don't understand the questions "Mr. 'Acting' G.M."..... Step up and own up that Marinelli isn't the answer!!!  At 0-9 does it matter that no-one else on the staff has head coaching experience????  NO! So blow him out!!! Put Kippy Brown in charge---- it can't get any worse....... 

Or CAN IT???  If this squad goes to 0-16 with no changes, perhaps the current coaching staff will wear that mark like a scarlet letter..... forever banning them from any meaningful football relationship--- I'd go for that too.......

And finally, I have the answer to Marinelli's "buried in a dark hole with no light" metaphor..... but I'll give you fans the chance at it before I reveal my answer....... Good Luck!!!!  

Hey Gang--

I'll say this right off the bat..... I like the trade for A.I.-- The move clears a ton of salary cap space and it also gives the Pistons something they've needed for a long time, a guard that will drive to the basket!!!  The move also speaks volumes about the development of Rodney Stuckey.  Might he be the one to start??  Iverson has said that he would come off the bench (like Ginobli in San Antonio), so perhaps Coach Michael Curry would take a look at that........  Now, the hope is that Denver will buy out Antonio McDyess' deal and allow him to come back to the Pistons..... and if that happens, then I'm loving it!!!

--W.

Hey Hey---

I just watched Calvin Johnson haul in a td pass for the Lions, and I was finally pleased!!!  This fade play should be run at least 7 times a game for him......Did anyone see the height advantage that Johnson enjoys against those Bears corners??!!?? Talk about a go-to play inside the red zone!!! Where has this been??? Gotta go, the game's back on!!!

--W.