Well folks, we've got two in the books, two to go for the Mt.Rushmore of Detroit sports teams series. This week, I'll go with the Pistons of the NBA, and give you my four most influential members of the Pistons organization from Ft.Wayne all the way up to Detroit. So, without any further adieu;

Giant head #1- Isiah Thomas

  Before he was a fat girl harassing joke of an NBA coach and executive, Zeke was one hell of a basketball player, leading the Detroit Pistons to two championships in 1988-89 and 1989-90. Those Pistons teams also provided the final obstacle for Michael Jordan's Bulls, who eventually would break through and own a pair of three-peats. Over his Hall of Fame playing career, Thomas averaged 19 points, 9 assists and nearly two steals per game. He was so in the head of Michael Jordan that it is refuted that Jordan threatened to quit the Dream Team if Thomas was included. He was the unquestionable leader of the Bad Boys, and one of the most feared defenders in the game during his era.

Giant head #2- Joe Dumars

  Dumars has been a major part of each of the Pistons three world championships; as a player during the Bad Boy era and as the GM for the 2004 championship team. He averaged 16 points and 4.5 assists per game over his career, and was well known as a defensive stopper against the likes of Jordan, Wilkins, and even Magic Johnson during the golden age of the NBA from the mid 80's to the late 90's. Dumars was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2006.

Giant head #3- Dave Bing

    Bing may have played during a bad era of Pistons basketball, but there is no question he is one of the greatest players ever to don the red, white and blue Piston uni. Averaged 22 points per game over his Pistons career. Inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame in 1990, Bing went on to own a successful business or two after his NBA career. Oh yeah, and he's the current Mayor of the city of Detroit! Dave Bing... keeping it low key.

Giant head #4- Bob Lanier

    "Big Bob" Lanier was the #1 overall pick in the 1970 NBA draft by the Pistons. Over his nine seasons as a Piston, he showed fans exactly why he was the top overall pick averaging a Pistons franchise best 22.7 points per game and ten rebounds per game over his career here. Lanier was a 1992 Hall of Fame inductee.

  Aside from these four, there are others that deserve mention. First and foremost, owner Bill Davidson who over 30 years as Pistons owner was one of the most innovative and generous owners in professional sports. Other Bad Boys era Pistons that deserve mention; of course coach Chuck Daily, Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn, as well as Rodman and Vinnie Johnson. From the 2004 NBA Champs, Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, and Rip Hamilton deserve mention. Grant Hill brought an NBA buzz to Detroit during his six years here, and was a big part of the 2004 title because his trade to Orlando brought Ben Wallace to Detroit. Other guys from less bountiful eras that deserve mention include Dave DeBusschere (better known as a Knick), a native Detroiter who played six years of his Hall of Fame career here, and George Yardley, the first player in NBA history to record a 2,000 point season.

  Before I wrap things up this week, I'd like to say Happy Father's Day to all the proud papas here at YouGabSports. From reading what you all post here and being friends with some of you on facebook and other forms of social media, I know how great of parents you all are. Hope it's a great day for you all.

  There's my monument for the week folks. Thanks as always for reading, and be sure to list the greatest players in the history of your favorite NBA franchise on your way out. Have a great weekend, Gabbers.

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  This week I'm going to continue with my Mt.Rushmore of Detroit sports teams series; this week moving on to the Detroit Lions. Believe it or not, the Lions were once a proud franchise with a lot of great players; then the Fords came aboard! Here are my four giant heads for this week's monuments; sorry it's so short, but it's the wife and I's Anniversary and the last thing I need is to find my way into the doghouse for spending too much time on the computer!

  Giant head #1....

Barry Sanders

  Not a man of great stature, but a man of great quickness, elusiveness, and a solid guy off the field as well. A lot of people were pretty assed out about the way he left, but there is still no doubt that when you think about Detroit Lions, you think two things; losing, and Barry Sanders brilliance. Hall of Fame player that I was privileged enough to watch for each of his ten NFL seasons.

Giant head #2....

Bobby Layne

  Bobby Layne led the Detroit Lions for eight NFL seasons between 1950-58. During that span, the Lions won three championships, though Layne was injured for the 1957 title game (broken leg) and unable to play in the game. Despite the time period he played in, Layne still holds a few of the Lions all-time passing records, including career touchdowns with 148. When Layne was traded to Pittsburgh following the 1958 season, he said famously that the Lions would not win another championship for fifty years. He was right, as the Lions have not won anything of significance in the 55 years since! Despite the "Curse of Bobby Layne", he makes this monument.

Giant head #3...

Yale Lary

  The Lions of the 1950s had a lot of great defensive backs... but none of them were as versatile as Lary was. Dick "Night Train" Lane, Lem Barney, and even Dick LeBeau all deserve mention as well, but my choice is Lary. He lost two full NFL seasons due to an Army tour of duty (1954-55), but returned to be a part of the Lions last championship team in 1957. On top of being a Hall of Fame safety, Lary also was an excellent kick and punt returner, and even the team's punter during his career. He still holds the Lions single season record for gross yards average on punts. See Chris Kluwe, there IS a punter in the Hall of Fame, and he's been there since 1979! Quit crying already. Lary also added fifty career interceptions and 9 All-Pro selections during his NFL career. Great and often overlooked player.

Giant head #4...

Joe Schmidt

   Schmidt came in late in the Lions 1950's decade of dominance (although the Browns were pretty damned good then, too), but still won two championships with the team in 1953 and 1957. A 10-time Pro Bowler and 8 time first team All-Pro, Schmidt has been both a player and coach for the organization, going 43-35-7 between 1967-1972, and making him the most recent coach in Lions history to post a winning record. (yeah, it's been THAT bad)

  So there's my Lions Mt. Rushmore folks. Thanks for reading, and be sure to give me your four giant heads for the NFL franchise of your choice on your way out. Have a great weekend everybody.

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  Well folks, it's Saturday once again, and we know what that means. Another weekly visit from your old pal IHM. This week, I honestly don't have much of anything sports wise. Don't give a damn about hockey... definitely not about the NBA... and baseball has hit a bit of a lull lately getting close to mid-season, and football is still nearly 100 days away. So, this week, I'm going to a cheap trick that a local radio station uses to fill air space... I'm going to present to you my Mt. Rushmore for each of Detroit's four sports teams over the next couple of weeks. Let me know what you think, and if you want, give me your Mt. Rushmore for your favorite baseball team. So, without further adieu, here is the Mt. Rushmore for the Detroit Tigers to kick off this series...

Giant head #1.... Ty Cobb.

   Ty Cobb is one of only a handful of Tigers players to spend over twenty years with the franchise. He is also widely considered the greatest pure hitter in the history of baseball. .369 career batting average, 3,902 hits, 1,805 RBI, 2,087 runs scored, 865 steals, and even for you new-school stat lovers, a .951 career OPS. He may not have been the greatest of guys off the field, but on the field... well, he wasn't the greatest of guys on the field, either... just look at the picture. Hell, the guy was known to sharpen his spikes before games to intimidate and maybe even skewer a third baseman as he slid in.

Giant head #2... Al Kaline

  The nickname "Mr. Tiger" says it all. Al Kaline spent over twenty years patrolling the OF in Detroit, making 18 all-star teams, hitting .297 with 399 HRs and 1,583 RBI over that period. Great outfielder as well with a cannon for an arm. Once played 242 consecutive games without an error. After his playing career, Kaline has remained involved with the Tigers organization, holding several positions including announcer.

  Giant Head #3.... Hank Greenberg

  "Hammerin' Hank" is my third choice here, one of the greatest first basemen in the history of the game who lost a couple of years to his enlistment in the army for World War 2 (1941-1945). In what essentially amounted to a ten full-season career, considering seasons that were cut short due to injury or military service, Greenberg hit .313 with 331 homers and 1,276 RBI with a career OPS of 1.017.

Giant Head #4... Charlie Gehringer

    Dubbed "The Mechanical Man" for his flawless mechanics in the field and at the plate, Gehringer spent parts of 18 seasons playing second base for the Detroit Tigers. He finished his career just 161 hits shy of 3,000, unfortunately for Charlie the DH didn't exist back in his day and he couldn't stick around for an extra year or two to reach the milestone. For his career, he hit .320 with 184 homers, 1,427 RBI and 1,775 runs scored. He helped the Tigers win a World Series in 1935 and was the AL MVP in 1937.

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