Ron English New EMU Head Coach

Former University of Michigan Defensive Coordinator and now most recently Former Louisville Defensive Coordinator, Ron English was named Head Coach at Eastern Michigan University. The eagles have struggled mightily in recent years with their football program, but should now have a good coach to help turning things around.

Rob Parker, Not the Sharpest Tool in the Shed

We all know the Detroit Lions are aweful as evidenced by their 0-15 season thus far with loss number 16 likely coming next week against the Green Bay Packers. We also know the Head Coach and most likely soon to be ex-Head Coach is Rod Marinelli who is well known locally for saying a whole lot of nothing in his post game press conferences. After all, what can you really say about a team that will go down in history as the worst of all-time?

However, things got personal after the Lions latest defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. In Marinelli's post game conference, Detroit sports reporter Rob Parker was asking a series of questions relating to why Joe Barry (Lions Defensive Coordinator & Marinelli Son in Law) still has a job after creating the league's worst defense this year. Marinelli kept focusing on himself in his answers and taking all the blame, which isn't the answer Rob Parker wanted. After becoming frustrated that Rod kept talking about himself and not Joe Barry, Parker asked Marinelli "Do you ever wish your daughter married a better Defensive Coordinator?"

Wow, way to be a class act Rob Parker. All these years as a sports beat writer and that is best question you could come up with to take a dig at Marinelli? I'm all for having Marinelli fired as a Head Coach, but there was no need to get personal.

Another Great Decision by William Clay Ford

In another shockingly bad decision from Detroit Lions headquarters, Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford said Sunday he will hire another person to upgrade the team's football operations, but it might not be a general manager and that he would like to keep current GM Martin Mayhew and team Chief Operating Officer Tom Lewand around.

Sooooo let me get this straight Mr. Ford. You may or may not hire another GM in addition to the two GM's you've already got AND if you do hire a third, you don't know what his responsibilities would be. Hmmmm, yea I'm not sure how this franchise got to be so bad???

I wonder if Ford, Mayhew and Lewand are going to draw straws to see who gets to make the draft selections? or maybe they'll just do paper, rocks, scissors?

Ford was also quoted as saying he has "talked to some people'' and still is putting together a list of GM candidates to be interviewed for the position. Umm what position is that Mr. Ford? You just said you don't even know what this new hire's responsibilities would be? It has to be pretty tough to put together a list of candidates for a position that you may or may not hire and have no clue as to what they would even do!!!

And for Ford's final ridiculous statement he said that he doesn't believe there is one "football genius'' that is available that can come in to fix the Lions franchise.

Well Mr. Ford, you are actually right about that one! I believe the "football genius" that you are refering to is Bill Parcells and no, he is not available because you chose not to interview him a year ago before he took the Miami Dolphins job. I mean Parcells only took a lousy one win team and now has them in a position to win their conference. Let's just put that on your ever growing list of bad decisions Mr. Ford.

Wolverines Down Grizzlies at the Palace

The first three minutes of this game looked like a 3 point contest between the two teams as Michigan's first four baskets of the game all were 3-pointers, including the first three by freshman Stu Douglass, and the Grizzlies countered with two in those opening minutes to make the teams a combined 6-of-6 from beyond the arc.

At the half, the Wolverines shot an outstanding 10-of-18 on 3-pointers (55.6 percent) in the first half, and although U of M couldn't keep up that pace in the second half, they did manage to take Oakland's best punch in the second half and beat Oakland 89-76.

After the game OU coach Greg Kampe was quoted as saying "I've coached 31 years, and I haven't seen too many things like that. I told the team, 'If they go 10-for-18 in the second half, we're going to pat them on the back and tell that that's the damndest thing we've ever seen.

DeShawn Sims led the Wolverines with 20 points. Manny Harris had 15 points and 13 assists, and in his first game as a wolverine, Arizona transferLaval Lucas-Perry scored 14.

The Golden Grizzlies were led by forward Keith Benson's 23 points and 11 rebounds. Sharp shooter Erik Kangas scored 15 and Johnathon Jones added 13.

The Wolverines took a 16 point lead in the second half, but a scrappy Grizzlies team wouldn't go away. They countered with a 17-7 run to cut the lead to 65-59 with 8:34 left when the Wolverines took a timeout. Two minutes later, Oakland had cut its deficit to four points.

"We got it down to four, and they made a backdoor layup and they hit two 3's in a row that opened it up," Kampe said. "They're a good team, and that's what good teams do. They didn't beat UCLA and Duke for no reason."

Oakland was still with out their leading scorer from last year, Derrick Nelson. Nelson has been out the entire season thus far with a broken foot. Oakland's next game will also be at the Palace on Saturday against Michigan State.

Tigers Ink Veteran Back Up Catcher Treanor

Dave Dombrowski's newest signing in the free agency period is veteran back up catcher Matt Treanor, a free agent after the Florida Marlins released him last week. Matt has signed a one year deal for $750,000 with the Tigers. He will back up recently-acquired catcher Gerald Laird

Treanor told the media he is "real happy to be a Tiger" and that "This is a great opportunity to play on a playoff contender. We sat around our clubhouse late last year and talked about how the season did not go the way they wanted. But look at their roster, and they look unbeatable."

Shafer out as Defensive Coordinator at UofM

Scott Shafer, the now former Michigan defensive coordinator was blamed for the majority of Michigan's defensive woes this year and I'd say it was deserved. Given the amount of talent they possessed on that side of the ball it was remarkable how inadequate the defense looked at times.

Before coming to Michigan, Shafer had credentials. He worked his way through a variety of Big Ten and Mid-American Conference programs on the usual career path a Midwestern coordinator might follow. He became known for aggressive defenses that scored high in sacks and turnovers. His Northern Illinois defense led the nation in interceptions during a 10-win season in 2003.

Once arriving in Ann Arbor though, he turned this defense into a complete and utter disaster.The defensive failures were well-documented. It was absolutely unbelievable how a team like Michigan who always prided itself on defense, suddenly couldn't stop a low ranking MAC team like Toledo.

The question now is was this a case of JUST a bad coordinator or is there a larger problem at hand with this team? Coach Rodriguez will get another chance to make this hire, but if he doesn't get this hire right, his days will be numbered.

Like Father Like Son

Barry Sanders Jr, a high school freshman and son of legendary running back Barry Sanders, made an amazing run for TD in the Oklahoma high school state playoffs.