Another Sunday has passed, and yet there still is the feeling or in at least my opinion anyway that the Lions are getting pumped by everyone once again after another win. I will say it again, it was okay when the Lions were on the receiving end of what they are now dishing out to other teams. SO MAN UP AND TAKE IT FANS IN OTHER NFL CITIES. As DETROIT LIONS fans, we have had to take it from you since Barry Sanders ended his Hall of Fame Career. I also realize that like the Kansas City Chiefs it was only the Denver Broncos, a team rebuilding through a young quarterback in Tim Tebow. In my opinion, if the Denver Broncos are serious about winning football games they should start Kyle Orton. If they are just looking to improve next season in the draft, they continue playing Tebow. It was a shame to watch this happen to him, for which I cannot believe I am saying this. Tebow was overmatched by the young Lions defense, and pretty much looked like a high school quarterback that did not belong in the NFL. If they continue to play Tebow, they may be in the running for both Orton's and Tebow's replacement in Andrew Luck. Now to get back to this lack of respect issue concerning the Detroit Lions, why is it when we beat someone by 35 we are rubbing it in, but when other teams were doing it to them it was okay? I sense the ghost of Matt Millen still lives on in Detroit, that piece of crap set the Lions back 10 years with his poor management and draft choices. I thought you were supposed to build your team around defense, it only makes sense that the Lions were 0-16 and he got canned. He was the only team president that I can remember that tried to build his team around wide receivers in 3 consecutive drafts. What an idiot!!!! I am glad to see that Martin Mayhew has got it right, he realized and has listened to Jim Schwartz and built the team around an awesome defense that is now starting to turn heads in the NFL because of their play, clean or dirty, its all football in the end. I had a huge smile on my face when I seen Cliff Avril run that ball into the end zone for a touchdown. So now its a week off to prepare for the Bears in Chicago on the 13th, I still wonder to myself what team will show up that day from time to time, but this team is apparently ready to challenge for the playoffs this year, instead of next year like most experts thought prior to the beginning of the football season. I will make a no brainer choice for NFC first half honors: "Megatron" Calvin Johnson. He leads the NFC in touchdown receptions with 11 and is at the top or near the top of most every statistic by a wide receiver. I know most will say Aaron Rogers, and deservedly so, the Packers are 7-0 and could be undefeated by the time they meet on Thanksgiving Day.

Before I leave this for you to read, I thought I would wish Tony LaRussa a happy retirement. Way to Go Tony, and not a bad way to go out World Champions. You gave all the credit to your team when they won, but all said they would not have even made the playoffs without you........

Thanks for reading my post, and I promise you there will be more to come out of my mouth in the near future....

Well since my computer is acting stupid today, and will not let me upload any pictures I am going a solo as you see it. The NBA season is a complete wash this season due to the EGO MANIAC David Stern. I am sure that the owners are really proud of what they have accomplished by causing a lost season, after all they just write it off as a loss when they do their taxes anyway. As we all know the owners really won, because most of them own or share ownership of the building they play in, they will not have to pay the players, coaches and concession stand workers. SO THEY WIN ALL THE WAY AROUND, so don't let them fool you with their feel sorry for us speeches they are giving when we all know they are laughing on the inside. To bad they are so ignorant to the fact, that even though there is no wear and tear on their star players, they still lose a year because they get a year older, and the lockout shortens their careers........

I feel sorry for the family of Dan Wheldon, man what a crappy way to die. I remember watching Dale Sr. crash and die and it was absolutely awful. May he rest in peace, I know because of his success his family is well taken care of.

I also am manning up and taking my punishment, after a summer of bragging about how good the Tigers were, they ran out of gas in the playoffs and with the exception of a few players, they could not have hit a softball if it was being pitched during the playoffs. So on we go, with hopes once again for another run at the playoffs next season. They should be just as good next year, so they should be a contender next season as well, providing the Royals and Indians do not improve over the winter.

The Red Wings are the same old team, but with a different look. The last two seasons, they forgot what had gotten them to the finals. Defense and protecting your goalie, leads to offense, and it looks like they found that again over the summer.

Thanks for reading my post, see everyone in YGS land soon. Norm

If anyone is wondering I gave up the Lion's jersey for this as my image for a while, wanted to give everyone out here something better to wake up and look at on Saturday morning. Yes I did come on here to do one thing, give grief to those who thought the Tigers could not defeat the mighty Yankees. I TOLD YOU ALL, TIGER'S WIN!!!

Now it is off to Texas, probably heading towards another media bashing by the gang on MLB and ESPN, who will not give them a chance of beating the Rangers in the ALCS. So to all of the experts out there, HA see you all in whatever National League ballpark in a week, when they are playing in the World Series. It should be a great series, because unless there is a sweep by either team we will get to watch their aces at least twice during this series. Not to sound like a homer, but I like the Tiger's chances of winning if I get to watch two games started by Justin Verlander, the American League Cy Young winner for this year, or at least he should be anyway. If I sound cranky, it was because like all of you I stayed up late and watched this game with a 4am wake up for work on Friday. The only team in Detroit that gets really any respect from the media in general, are the Red Wings, and deservedly so. The media gives this team no respect, even though they made a lot of good changes over the past winter, and basically proved everyone in the media wrong Thursday when they had the Yankees already penciled into the ALCS against the Rangers. If everyone remembers, there are no "I's" in team, and when they caught the Indians and took over first place, they became a TEAM! I really like the Tiger's chances against everyone except the Phillies, their pitching is in a class in itself, and they should be the favorite against any team that they face if they make it to the World Series. Enough of this, I want to talk about something else....

I want to tip my hat to one of the oldest teams in the National Hockey League, for putting on a first-class show before their hockey game against the Flyers last night. It was a real class-act to bring back former players like Ken Hodges and Bobby Orr to help raise their banner last night. I remember one year going to a Flint General's hockey game, and seeing Bobby Orr. I was wondering something though, I bet he could still lace up his skates even at his age, and play just like he did when I was growing up. Way to go Bruins owners, however, I hope to be watching a ceremony in Detroit next season instead of in Boston......

As I close my blog, I would like to thank Sully for allowing me to fill on Sunday's for Hotch who returns this week as the NHL season goes into full swing. It has been fun sharing my thoughts with all of you, but now it is time to take a little break myself and concentrate on my education. I will still be posting a blog or two or three a week, during the remainder of the baseball season, so I am not leaving for good. Have a great week everyone, until I blog again!!!!! Thanks for reading my blog everyone........

Happy Sunday everyone out there in Yougab land, I thought I would start by commending the bandwagon jumping Tampa Bay Ray fans who for 4 months could have gave a shit less about the Rays. But September 1st came along and the Rays started winning, and then came the fans supporting their ugly duckling franchise. Pretty sad, you can go watch a crappy football team, and support your hockey team year around, but you cannot support your baseball team who won the East last season and made the playoffs. Wake up residents of Tampa, this team needs you to attend games for more than a month if you want them to stay......... Geesh they could end up winning the Series, and you knuckle headed idiots probably still would not attend games next season. But then you wonder why your owners cannot keep a team together that won nearly 100 games last season? Think about it attendance and supporting your local team for 6 months does matter, if your ownership group is not making money, they cannot afford to sign your key players keeping your team in tact, just sayin.......

Now that I got that off my chest, off to another subject of interest the Suckeyes as Beeze likes to call them. My hats off to Michigan State's defense showing up today, and punching Ohio State right in the mouth 10-7.

Good by Ozzie, the A.L. Central will not be the same without you next season. If the rumors are true, Terry Francona is coming to Chicago, he does not have your style. I cannot believe I am saying this,  but good luck with the Marlins next season as they open their new stadium. I hope their bandwagon fans come out and support your team that you put out there next season. Who you gonna trade for first Adam Dunn and Jose Rios? I really do not want to offend anyone, but the White Soxs and Cubs need a major overhaul, maybe they should trade Kenny Williams to the Marlins also........

I know I promised a preview on the San Jose Sharks this week, but baseball became a focus once again with everything going on. How about the Cardinals blowing a pretty big lead tonight against the Phillies, and losing 11-6, or the Yankees hammering the Tigers? I never thought or seen either of this, I figured they would be one-run games......

Finally, I hope for the Cowboy's sake they find a way to keep Suh and the rest of the Lion's defensive front four away from Tony Romo. I wish him no harm, he is one of my quarterbacks in one of my fantasy leagues, but if they do not block them we will probably wind up seeing John Kitna before the game is over.

For the Red Sox and Braves, you kind of got what you deserved, if you would have finished .500 in September we would be tortured by your teams once again in the ALDS. Thank you Baltimore and Philadelphia for sparing us from listening to the announcers kissing the Red Sox ass during the ALDS, even though their pitching staff outside of Josh Beckett absolutely sucked the entire month of September. Also thank you to the Phillies for sparing us from watching an aging Lowe and Hudson get knocked around by your lineup, apparently the Cardinals are going to meet your same fate if they do not get their act together quickly.

Thanks for reading my post, see ya next week!!!!

When I was considering my blog for this week, I thought I would take a completely different route from my previous blogs. I know a lot of you are thinking huh, he is not bragging about his Tigers or Lions this week? Well, you are right in this instance, I am taking a complete right turn and taking a shot at talking hockey, NHL style.......

My initial thoughts were to start with the contenders for the Stanley Cup (or at least the teams) I thought should contend, and preview their teams. I also thought no better place then to start with this past seasons Champs the Boston Bruins.......

The Bruins' will be tested this season like no other, shot summer with the Cup touring the world, and even making a brief stop near my hometown when Tim Thomas returned home to Davison, Michigan to show off his various accomplishments from this past season.

Now that the franchises 39-year championship drought has ended, it's time for the Bruins to transition from celebrating their 2011 Stanley Cup title to seeking a repeat. Unlike the Bruins' last Cup-winning club, in 1972, the 2011 edition of the Bruins was able to retain nearly its entire roster heading into the defense of its crown, so familiarity and chemistry shouldn't be a problem.

With Pouliot, Corvo, and a more-experienced Tyler Sequin, the Bruins should be more than equipped to make up for the loss of Mark Recchi to retirement and Tomas Kaberle and Michael Ryder to free agency......

That no team has repeated as Cup champs since the 1998 Detroit Red Wings is proof the "Stanley Cup hangover" is real. Coach Claude Julien already is prepared for the pitfalls his team will need to avoid as it starts from scratch in the NHL Standings. In my opinion, even with all of the pieces in place to defend the cup, it is going to be rather difficult for the Bruins to repeat this season as Champs.  The short summer break, and playing over 100 games last season, are going to be the major obstacles for them to overcome......

I remember a stretch where the Red Wings played around 300 games over a 3-year period, which included back-to-back trips to the Cup-finals against the Penguins. The third season, the Red Wings were eliminated by the Sharks, and have not even been close to the finals since........

If you want to learn more about the history of one of the NHL's Original Six teams, go to the Bruins official team page at http://www.bostonbruins.com. Thanks for Reading my post, up next I will be previewing the San Jose Sharks..........