WoodyWoodriffe's Blog

Hey there----

I hear that Partiots wide reciever Randy Moss has bought half a stake in a nascar truck team......... Randy Moss Racing will debut in Kentucky on the 19th of this month with Willie Allen behind the wheel........... Moss' entry will be the #81 car, to match his jersey number , and eventually he wants to get the team to the Sprint Cup series........ The question is this---- why do athletes try to branch out like this????  and will it be successful for Moss???  Mabye he could go to Joe Gibbs for some pointers on how to run his new business........

---Woody

Hey NFL'ers......

What's this I hear about Brett Favre wanting to come back to the Packers????  Do you buy the idea that he's got to "scratch that itch"?  Favre has 2 years left on his old contract and could come back to Green Bay....... but what about Aaron Rodgers???  How does he fit in????  Will he be upset at his chance getting delayed again????  Or will Favre withdraw his request to play as the season gets closer????  Plenty of questions..... but if he does come back..... you better save a fantasy football spot for him!!!!

---Woody

What's this??!?!

  Tiger Woods out of action for the rest of the 2008 golf season-- because of his left knee???  Oh No!!!  Now the diagnosis is that Woods will have a 4th proceedure done on the knee for a double stress fracture of the left tibia (shin bone) and will be back in '09....... and let me say that for Tiger to go on and play a major(!) with this injury and not tell anyone about it speaks volumes about his mental toughness.......... but the question that I'm interested in having answered is this----  What does Tiger's injury do for the game of golf, especially after the final round drama from the U.S. Open???  Do all of those casual fans that flocked to their tv sets to see the playoff all of a sudden-- turn off???  What happens to the rest of the field???  Do players all of a sudden start licking their chops over their chances improving???  and perhaps most important-- are there enough stories that golf fans care about on the PGA Tour without Woods???  Of course, the gang in Grand Blanc and Oakland Hills are probably very sad today knowing that Woods won't make it to the Buick Open or the PGA Championship, but I guess the good news is that Woods will come back with little or no long term effects....... What do you think about the next 6 to 7 months of the Tour without Woods???  How about the U.S.'s chances at the Ryder Cup with no Tiger???  Let me know what you think!!!

---Woody

Hey Gang--

    The Red Wings have now won the 11th Stanley Cup in team history, and the team's return flight home was a great thing to be a part of..... so let me give you fans the chance to experience what I did after the squad landed at the hangar-- (and for those with allergies... this could be a bit flowery......) First off the plane?? Henrik Zetterberg carrying the Conn Smythe with pride--- the assembled crowd of lucky ones cheered thunderously...... only to be suddenly interrupted by the appearance of The CUP!!!!  35 pounds of teamwork returning to Hockeytown, and Nick Lidstrom was smiling wide as he held it over his head at the top of the jetway starcase. He came down the steps to join Hank and Detroit's version of the Dynamic Duo took the NHL's prized hardware into the spotlight-- and what a stage it was!!  Applause all over the place as we got sound with Mike and Marian Ilitch on the tarmac and then gained entry into the first CUP party of many...... and since I only had 30 minutes, Photog Todd and I had to work fast.  We spotted Lidstrom and immediately started the interview..... Nick was great-- revealing that being the first European born CUP winning captain wasn't really that big of a deal, and that he was happiest for Dallas Drake, who finally gets his name on the CUP. 

    Mike Babcock was next under the lights, and he said that the best thing about not having a schedule anymore was the huge sense of relief he felt, not having to go over anymore game film!! There was lots of picture taking, and sipping from the CUP as well as a very cool chat with Steve Yzerman.  Steve has always liked it low-key, and it was no different here--- mabye it's me, but the temperature always seems to drop a bit around him, like he has a superpower or something---- Yzerman told me how this team hasn't re-invented the Red Wings brand as much as re-defined what the organization is all about, and how the excellence is reflected in the personnel from top to bottom -- right after that I swear he melted into a shadow like Batman!!. Photog Todd got a chance to drink from the CUP...... Dan Cleary held it high and I smiled as my man gulped down whatever was coming out of the top bowl--- Nice job Todd!!!  There were also chats with Darren McCarty and his fat stogie..... hugs with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby in-between photos by fans....  and a fun time with Chris Osgood who set me straight when I asked him if he got more voicemails or text messages...... Ozzy said, "C'mon Woody--  it's 2008... text messages of course!!!" I felt really happy for Oz, after he played his way back into the starting role, and then hammered out 3 playoff shutouts on the way to the CUP.  Could you imagine the Hall of Fame in his future?? Many Wings fans can!!

     The merry making continued until the sun came up---  literally!!!  My 30 minutes was long over, but I was still there at 5:45am trying to find out where the CUP was going next.........  when I saw Nick Lidstrom taking the CUP out of the hangar!!!!  The 3 people around him felt like 50 as I pleaded Nick for the CUP's friday itinerary....... Nick slowed and said that he was going to sleep with it!!!  Man I love that guy!!  Look for the CUP to be front and center at the parade on friday--- an event that you can definetly be connected to right here on myfoxdetroit.com...... What a fun experience it was, but as I drove off, the thought of sleeping all day was just a bit better.....

---Woody

Hey there gang-----

   After being on the road with the Pistons thru the playoffs, I can tell you that the inmates were definetly running the asylum.... There was definete and genuine dis-interest in what was going on in the huddles, so a change had to be made......... now according to ESPN's Steven A. Smith, the rumor of the next coach is focused right now on Michael Curry....... and that might be a good thing...... hear me out---  Curry is a connection to the last title run, so he's got the ear of the players......... Curry is defensive nminded-- a quality that the Pistons have gone away from...... and 3rd, Curry can make the closest translation of Joe Dumars' vision on the court!!!  Plus, Curry will give the youth of the squad their proper playing time without prodding like Rick Carlisle and Flip needed..... right???

---Woody 

Hey Gang---

I made a point not to comment on the Tigers until they reached the "Sparky Anderson 40 game" mark..... but with a record of 15-21 after 36 games, I've got a feeling that I can let go of my opinion now--- and it's an opinion that's not good!!  This squad came in with a ton of promise, but perhaps the easy spring boosted some false confidence..... I believe that this squad coasted into the season and is now paying the price.......... I also think that there's something wrong with Justin Verlander....... there's no way that he should be 1-6 and the lack of speed on his fastball could be part of the issue......... Last year, Verlander could find 96-99 when he needed it-- but this season that extra is nowhere to be found!!!  Could it be physical?? I think that's the only possibility left--- Same thing with Jeremy Bonderman!!  He's still struggling to start games, and instant holes are not what the Tigers need......  This 40 game mark should also light a small fire under G.M. Dave Dombrowski--- he's got to get set to make a move.... and a bigger one than sending Jacque Jones out for assignment.  Dombrowski better be trying to put a major package together, because this squad is banking on the present--- and if there's no present, then the future will be bleak as well...... so let's all look towards Detroit doing something major to shake things up---- because the status quo will not get it done......

What do you think??

---Woody

Hey Gang--

What's this I hear about Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez not respecting the tradition of giving #1 out to the most deserving wide reciever??? I thought that Braylon Edwards protected the number by giving a big money scholarship connected to it???  Is Rodriguez slapping maize and blue faithful in the face with the re-assignment????  or does he really not know about the tradition????  I think it's a bigger issue if Rodriguez didn't know about the tradition and the history behind the number.......... He could have asked Anthony Carter....... or Braylon Edwards...... or Desmond Howard..... but since he didn't, the #1 is now being worn by a defensive back---- does this sit well with you??? or is Michigan Tradition being trampled on???  Let me know!!!!

--Woody

Hi there NFL'ers--

Well Lions fans, here we are again.... that sacred time of year where teams replenish their stock---  I'm talking NFL Draft, and that instantly brings to mind the Detroit Lions!!!  We all know what has happened in the past with picks and with the personnel making those decisions, so a re-hash here is not necessary...... but starting from this point in time, I feel that the Lions need to develop the offensive line and this time really commit to it--- I forsee a "Denver-type" of system where average running backs can become good ones because of the line play!!!!  That would instantly give the Lions an identity within the league, and isn't that what we all want???  Yes!!, but back to the draft.... having said all that, MY LIONS would select the best offensive lineman available with the first 3 picks and then go after some corners who are over 6-1....... because I'm sick of getting beat by tall recievers!!!  YOUR LIONS with the 15th pick in the draft will probably take Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois--- this guy set Fighting Illini rushing records for most yardage(1,681) and touchdowns (17) last year, and his low to the ground running style is probably something that Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli is drooling over.  Mendenhall could also attract the Lions attention with his north-south running..... many feel that he doesn't have enough to get to the corner..... but will survive inside thanks to his cut back ability.  He could also see action in the passing game because of his good "hands"-- stats tell us that moving from 12 receptions as a sophomore to 34 as a junior puts you in line for the screen pass--- something that the Lions use with regularity....... and finally in Mendenhall's favor is the fact that Tatum Bell is currently listed as the Lions starting running back-- so he could provide an immediate 1-2 run punch... which is also someting that Marinelli craves.  Again, this is just my guess for draft day, not my wish--- but where the Lions are concerned, I am hoping that guesses and wishes open the door to consistency and ultimately, winning football (how desperate is that!-- I'm so ashamed!)..... Another step will be taken on saturday, will Detroit stumble??  What do you think "Mock-drafters"?? I know you have an opinion!!!

--Woody

Hey Gang---

Pack your bags and adjust the travel itinerary....... because the Seattle SuperSonics are no more!!!!  Seems that the NBA board of governors has approved a move for the franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City?!?!!  The Oklahoma City Sonics???  I may be able to get used to that-- looks like it's another jersey for Kevin Durant to take off on that  commercial spot..... and speaking of jerseys, this is a great time for the Sonics to ditch that radioactive green and yellow motif--- but let's also think about what this means for NBA teams--- no more trips way into the western time zone, and the league gets the chance to muscle it's way into the Plains states...... What do you think about the move???  Cool with it?? or steamed like former Sonics guard "Slick" Watts' head after catching fire in the 4th quarter??

Log on and let me know!!!

--Woody 

Yawn!!

Did anyone else stay up late to see the Rockies and the Padres slug it out thru 22 innings last night in San Diego???  The game lasted 6 hours and 16 minutes!!!  Willie Tavares with 10 at bats in the game---WOW!!!  It finally ended at 4:15 am Eastern Time....... which had me wondering, what's the longest game you've ever gone to?? Anything close to 6 hours and 16 minutes or 22 innings??  I'd like to hear about that--- Log on and tell your story!

--Woody

Ha Ha Ha!!!

What a laugher down in the Council chambers......... this is exactly the kind of nonsense that people can't stand......... instead of taking care of city business, Conyers is concerned about a "percieved" slight??!?!  Give me a break--- the conduct shown by Conyers was poor by any standard........ and it begs the question-- How does that benefit the people she represents????  It also shows a lack of respect to the office of the President of the Council.  If Mr. Cockrell has the floor, then SHUT UP!!!  The "SHRECK" comment was out of line, and so was the "up in here"rant!!!  To top it off was Ms. Conyers comment that the people outside of Detroit shouldn't comment on what happens inside the city--- GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!  Dosen't she understand that the suburbs and the city NEED each other and that what happens to one, affects the other??? it's times like this that I wished I lived in the city so that I could go down to her office and voice my displeasure..... mabye I still will-- but what do some of you residents think about this latest "laugher" coming from the city of Detroit???  Remember, the world IS watching!!!!

--Woody

What is going on here!?!!?

   This story of suspended NASCAR driver Aaron Fike is too much!!  Using heroin on raceday?? and then the ugly arrest by security guards last summer at Kings Island when he and his fiancee(!)-- were caught in the parking lot... USING!!! C'mon!!! Obviously the testing needs to be stricter on all levels of the Series..... Truck, Nationwide, Sprint.... heck-- I'd even test the little racing nephew on those tee-vee insurance commercials now!!  Can you imagine the added danger on the track with someone who was under the influence?? What if you were a driver who suspected-- but had no proof.... and the whole race you were more concerned about where Fike was instead of the checkered flag?? I'm more surprised that no one turned him in down there on the Truck Series--- his crew had to know something!!!  Talk to the Crew Chief-- or the Owner-- or someone because this thing is crazy!!!

Comments anyone??

 --Woody

Hey Tiger Fans---

My man Ryan Ermanni told me about some Tiger statistics that made me sit up and take notice........ Detroit's record is a head scratching 0-5 at this point....... but let's look into past Tigers futility....... Seems that Detroit has started the season 0-5 on 8 different occasions, and only once did the squad finish that year at .500 or better....... that year was 1922!!!  The question is whether or not you put any stock in numbers and stats like that????  Do you feel that the Tigers will be a sub .500 ballclub in '08???  or, is this a case of how numbers can lie???  I don't know what to feel, but I'd like to hear your opinion........ log on and let me know what you think!!!!!

---Woody

Hey Gang---

   Did anyone see the qualifying crash at the Texas Motor Speedway with Michael McDowell?? The 26 year old rookie driver is lucky to be alive tonight after taking a 195 mile per hour trip into the retaining wall!!!!  This crash instantly took me back to the incident at Daytona when Dale Earnhardt lost his life--- and while the angle of the car into the wall was similar for McDowell, the real hero in all of this was the SAFER wall system...... SAFER stands for "steel and foam energy reduction", and the wall performed above and beyond expectations....... For McDowell to walk away from that crash unhurt is amazing and a credit to NASCAR's safety measures........... When you see things like that, it's obvious that the cash spent on track improvements is money well spent.  What do you think??!?!

---Woody 

Hey there----

Today the Lions released running back Kevin Jones and defensive end Kalimba Edwards....... Edwards I can understand, he was underachieving, for a guy who came in the 2nd round of the draft.......... but Jones was supposed to be a big part of the Lions attack!!!!  Ok, Jones was hurt....... Ok, Jones had a big salary number--- but a release??!?!  Wow!!!  I know that Detroit re-signed Tatum Bell, but what does the Jones release do to the 2008 squad????  One thing the moves do is cement the belief that G.M. Matt Millen can't hack it in the draft........ who do the Lions have left on the squad from past drafts??? Shaun Rogers??? gone!!!  Joey Harrington, Edwards, and  Andre Goodman from 2002??...... gone!!!! Charles Rogers, Boss Bailey, Artose Pinner, Terrence Holt, James Davis, David Kircus from 2003's draft????  All gone!!!! Now K.J., and Teddy Lehman from '04.... plus Mike Williams the Top pick from 2005..... all of these players are now gone!!!!  So for those who ask what's happened to Detroit---- there's your answer!!!!  The question now, is---  what's the future hold?????  Will this now be a running team?????  Obviously there's not much pass talk now that Mike Martz is gone....... what do you guys think about all of this?????? Can anyone make sense of this situation-- because I'm having trouble!!!!  Help!!!!

---Woody