Abandoned Pontiac Silverdome by Derek Farr

The Detroit News reports that the long-shuttered Pontiac Silverdome has been sold for a mere $583,000 as the home for a soccer league. However, with a cost over $55 million to construct:

"This was a giveaway," said David J. Leitch, a broker with an Auburn Hills based realty firm.

"The property alone, at $10,000 an acre, should have gone for more than that. And you have the Silverdome, its contents, and the infrastructure already in place. I had estimated it would probably go for between $1.2 million and $3 million. I can't believe it."

Such sentiments weren't uncommon Monday, after city officials unsealed bids showing the property that was home to the Detroit Lions was sold at auction to an unnamed Canadian company that plans to bring a soccer league to the stadium. The company's name will be released when the sale is finalized within 45 days, said Fred Leeb, the city's emergency financial manager. Leeb acknowledged the sale "is not a windfall," but said the Silverdome's $1.5 million upkeep drained the beleaguered city's finances.

Go to about 1:20 in the video to get past the auction promo. Much more about the Pontiac Silverdome on Michigan in Pictures!

Turkey by Vaughan

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Michiganians will soon be hitting the road to attend family get togethers and enjoying annual traditions. To help get ready for the upcoming holiday we have compiled a bunch of informative and entertaining Thanksgiving related links for you to enjoy.

Head over to Michigan.gov and learn all about Michigan's contribution to the traditional Thanksgiving meal. You can also find some great ideas for holiday food and wine pairings in 'Tis the Season to Taste the Bounty of Michigan, Thanksgiving Dinner Wines and Celebrate the holidays with Michigan Ice Wine and dry fruit brandies. For a healthy but flavorful take on your holiday meal check out this podcast from the University of Michigan's MFit Health Division titled 'Make Thanksgiving healthy without losing flavor'. 

Check out a ton of great Thanksgiving recipes and dinner ideas on the Food Network's website.

For more Turkey Day food ideas & articles check out Absolute Michigan keyword "turkey", a search for Thanksgiving and our Michigan Grown section in Food & Dining!

2009 marks the 83rd birthday of America's Thanksgiving Parade and this year's theme is 'Together We Shine'. The theme celebrates The Parade Company bringing a spark of magic and people together to enjoy one of Detroit’s largest and free events where for one special moment, families can be entertained, share a tradition and create a memory.. America's Thanksgiving Parade is one of the country’s oldest and most celebrated parades and will step off at 9:20 a.m. on Woodward Avenue and Mack and end at Woodward Avenue and Congress in downtown Detroit on Thursday, November 26, 2009. Hundreds of thousands of parade-goers will be watching as the Parade makes its way down Woodward Avenue.

If you Motown is off your radar on Thanksgiving, how about a nice set of parade photos from the our Flickr pool, a clickondetroit.com article - "Thousands Cheered As America's Thanksgiving Parade Rolled Down Woodward " (with video), a historical look at Detroit's Thanksgiving Day Parade and a TV tuned to WDIV-TV Local 4 at 9 AM (also on for an hour nationally). If you're the prudent type, you might consider building up a calorie credit balance at the Annual Detroit Turkey Trot.

Thanksgiving Day by Dave Hogg
Dave writes: As bad as the Lions get,
Thanksgiving is always special.

The Detroit Lions’ 70th Thanksgiving Day Classic will feature the Lions hosting long-time rival Green Bay Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 p.m. ET. The Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field will be aired live nationally on FOX.

Via the Detroit Lions Official web site:

Four generations of fans in Michigan share a special tradition. Every year since 1934 (with a break during World War II), Thanksgiving Day in America means a time for acknowledging our nation's forefathers and giving thanks to them for blazing the paths we travel today. For Michigan, the festive turkey dinner is also accompanied with a side of Detroit Lions football.

Amaze your family, friends with what you learn about the origins and history of Thanksgiving on Wikipedia.

In blue cats, orange cats, Detroit cats, oh my on Roar of the Tigers, Samara asks:

Wouldn't it be nice if the Tigers learned a little something from the Lions? Not the Lions of every other game of the recent past, but the Lions of this past Sunday. Our newly spikified blue cats stood up and roared after literally years of pathetic meeping noises. They looked alert and determined. Young players like Stafford performed more or less up to expectation; old players like Hanson delivered precisely what it was their job to deliver; none of the big guys had limbs collapse under them. If the Tigers could find it in themselves to make the same things happen, they would probably come out of this week OK.

In case you were wondering, Hitler was not amused by the Lions victory.

Thoughts That Went Through Matthew Stafford's Mind on Draft Day:

10. You don't often hear, "Congratulations, you're going to Detroit."

9. Why am I the only one who came to Radio City Music Hall dressed as a Rockette?

8. If the Lions win one game this year, I'm a hero.

7. Anybody dumps Gatorade on me and I'll deck 'em.

6. Holy crap, I think I just pulled a hamstring.

5. I didn't think anything could top the excitement of Heidi and Spencer getting married.

4. Is it me or does NFL Commissioner Goodell look like a young Larry Hagman?

3. Why am I here when I could be at that movie where Beyonce and that babe fight?

2. Why does Jessica Simpson keep calling me?

1. I'd gladly go No. 2 if it means not having to appear on Letterman.

In addition to watching the draft on stadium video boards and wondering if the Lions will screw up by picking another wide receiver #1, select another bust QB or find some completely new way to disappoint us, fans can enjoy autograph sessions, clinics and photo ops with former Detroit Lions players, tours of the Lions locker room, face painting & photos with Lion mascot Roary for kids (and probably Sam) and competition & giveways including their Draft Day Sweepstakes:

To enter, fans can visit any one of the Metro Detroit Ford Dealers through Friday, April 24 by 5 p.m. to pick up an entry form. Each dealership has a limited number, approximately 500, entry forms to distribute. There is no purchase necessary...

There will be twenty (20) premium prizes given away to people who have registered to win. Those prizes include: 10 Detroit Lions laptop bags, five Detroit Lions glass decanter sets, five Detroit Lions golf merchandise packages.

Fan can also print off entry forms on Detroitlions.com and mail to 2009 Lions Draft Day Sweepstakes presented by the Metro Detroit Ford Dealers, Ford Field, 2000 Brush St., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48226, but all forms must be received by Friday, April 24 at 5 p.m.

Of course, there's always the chance that the curse of Bobby Layne has run its course and the Lion's will select a gamechanger like Barry Sanders...

The Detroit Lions Perfect Season
(yes, we used this before but it's perfect!!!)

Welcome to Absolute Michigan's post commemorating the Detroit Lions' perfect 2008 season - an NFL record worst 0-16 record. Wikipedia's Detroit Lions entry has already note the milestone. They also remember the glory days of the 1950s when quarterback Bobby Layne led them to the league championship in 1952, 1953, and 1957.

In 1958 ... the Lions traded Bobby Layne. Bobby was injured during the last championship season, and the Lions thought he was through and wanted to get what they could for him. According to legend, as he was leaving for Pittsburgh, Bobby said that Detroit "would not win for 50 years." Since this time, the Lions have not won another championship and have only a single playoff game win. Some have attributed the Lions' subsequent 49 years of futility to the "Curse of Bobby Layne."

Nothing left to do but clip a few items for our scrapbook and hope that Bobby Layne's curse has been fulfilled.

Anatomy of a Disaster (Detroit News) - a loss-by-loss tour de farce of "the Season."

Woetown: Worst-ever Lions perfectly awful in going 0-16 (Freep) - The defense was horrible, becoming the first in NFL history to allow two 100-yard rushers and two 100-yard receivers in a game.

Perfectly awful: The truth is sad-sack squad simply stunk (Detroit News) - Veteran tackle Jeff Backus, Matt Millen's first draft pick in 2001, has endured every bit of the NFL's worst eight-year stretch -- a 31-97 record -- since World War II. Sunday, he couldn't help but note, ironically, "It was one of those years where it just all kind of came together."

The 16 worst teams of all time: Lions now No. 1 (mLive) - In all, the Lions used five different quarterbacks, had the NFL's bottom-ranked defense for the second consecutive year and allowed the second-highest point total in league history (517), finishing just 16 points behind the 1981 Baltimore Colts.

0-16: Milestone the Lions Would Rather Forget (New York Times) - “It opened my eyes to this is a business,” said (Lion RB Kevin) Smith, who has not experienced the thrill of victory since Central Florida beat Tulsa on Dec. 1, 2007. “This is not the football you played as a kid where there’s a team mom and everybody’s happy.”

Lions Lose to Packers 31-21, Finish Season 0-16 (Pride of Detroit) - It took the Packers only one play to crush any hope of a comeback. On the first and only play of the Packers' next drive, Aaron Rodgers threw a pass to a wide open Donald Driver for a 71-yard touchdown. The coverage was downright pathetic, and it really summed up how bad the defense has played all season long.

Lions first NFL team to finish 0-16 - "It's just kind of numb," veteran kicker Jason Hanson said. "It's here. It's been coming, though, a train rolling down the tracks for a while. We tried to stop it. We couldn't." (includes video for the pain junkies)

Well, They Done Did It (Side Lion) - As a true Lion, I will simply say that “it is what it is”.

If you have some links to add, please share them in the comments!!

The North Pole by luna.nik

Dear Santa,

I realize that we in Michigan seem to be asking for a lot of stuff lately: auto bailouts, people to listen to Tim Allen and come visit us, a football team that can win a game, etc.

However, I thought it might be worth writing a little list out in case you were wondering what to get us.

• A little patience to go with that auto bailout. We understand that the Big Three have been anything but proactive in turning their companies around but it does look that with cars like the GM Volt and the Ford Fusion hybrid, they are headed down the right path.
• Some discussion about just what's wrong with providing health care for people. The car companies are being bashed for providing health care and benefits to their employees. At one time, this was the highest expression of the American dream, but somewhere along the line it became something stupid or outright evil. Why is this? ...and why isn't it wrong when the providee is a US Representative or Senator?
• An owner who cares enough to hire a GM who gets it. Granted, this isn't a weighty concern in the broader scheme of things, so think of it as a stocking stuffer. If it's not too much trouble, could you bring Mr. Ford just a glimmer of judgment that would allow him to hire a GM of the caliber of Dumars or Dombrowski?
• The wisdom and courage to protect our water. The Great Lakes and Michigan's water are facing an army of threats: pollution, sulfide mining, diversion and invasive species. It will be tempting to sell our water out to buy our way out of our current problems. When we have sold and ruined it, however, we will have less than nothing.
• A little realization for all of us on what we do have here in Michigan. I think we all have a tendency to get so down about what's going wrong for us here in Michigan that we forget the amazing bounty we have been blessed with. If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you - these are not empty words, and even in these dark times, we have a lot to be thankful for.

Please add anything you're hoping for below and we at Absolute Michigan hope that you and yours receive a bounty of blessings this holiday season.

When you're down this far, almost every direction is up, right?

The photo is The Detroit Lions Perfect Season by heypat and I must say that the Lions looked like they would let nothing stand in their way of 0-16 yesterday...

A2 City Reflections by Behind
My Blue Eyes ~~ Stevie Exxxx

Before we go into some positive economic stories from Michigan, here's The Big Fat Auto Bailout Collapse from The Daily Beast and Mitch Albom saying Hey, you senators: Thanks for nothing:

There ought to be a law — against the hypocrisy our government has demonstrated. The speed with which wheelbarrows of money were dumped on Wall Street versus the slow noose hung on the auto companies’ necks is reprehensible. Some of those same banks we bailed out are now saying they won’t extend credit to auto dealers. Wasn’t that why we gave them the money? To loosen credit?

Where’s your tight grip on those funds, senators? Where’s your micromanaging of the wages in banking? Or do you just enjoy having your hands around blue-collared throats?

The carmakers did get a modicum of hope on Saturday, and the Wall Street Journal looks at considerations facing the White House in what appears to the likely granting of funds to the carmakers from the financial bailout package. You can also check out Gov. Granholm, former governor Mitt Romney, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Wal-Mart president Lee Scott and Google CEO Eric Schmidt discussing the auto bailout and the wider economy on Meet the Press (if you want to skip the Rod Blagojevich-fest that leads off, scroll to 20:30).

One of the items lost in the general shroud of gloom hanging over Michigan last week was the news that MSU was awarded $550-million nuclear physics project by US Energy Department. Michigan State University will be the site for a new $550-million research Facility for Rare Isotope Beams that will employ at least 300 people. The equipment:

...would be at least 1,000 times more powerful than the machines now running at MSU's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. In some cases, 100,000 times more. It will be used to provide intense beams of rare isotopes for researchers which will lay the groundwork for study in a number of fields, including treating cancer and providing technology for border security.

Last week also saw the launch of the Keep Michigan Working program, a partnership of state, local and community officials designed to assist workers and businesses with challenges posed by the economic downturn. Head over to mLive to read more about the program that will focus on attracting businesses through financial incentives and developing a workforce to support emerging industries like alternative energy, life sciences and information technology. Be sure to also check out the info on the Keeping Michigan Working site including a list of high-demand jobs & job facilitators in your area of Michigan.

I had hopes yesterday that I'd be able to include the Lions triumphantly fighting off NFL history in this feature. I think we all could have guessed how that turned out. However, even though they moved to 0-15 and a heartbeat from "worst team ever", Lions kicker Jason Hanson set an NFL record for most career field goals over 50 yards. Congratulations to a real class act! Here's Jason Hanson's Wikipedia page and also his player bio from the Detroit Lions.

unable to watch by Boston Wolverine

I was holding my breath when the Detroit Lions appeared precariously close to fumbling away their perfect season yesterday before eking out a narrow 20-16 defeat at the hands of the Vikings.

Don't get me wrong - I've been a Lions fan since Charlie Sanders was hauling in TDs, even through the soul-testing "Another One Bites the Dust" era. Landry, Danielson, Mitchell: the names of our QBs have been anything but legendary but I still loved 'em.

The current team, however, has been an abomination, a mockery of what a football team can and should be. In my mind, this team must forever set itself apart as the worst team ever so that everything that brought us here can be laid bare and forever after owners, fans and franchises will look upon the 2008 Detroit Lions and say: No team was ever as screwed up as this one.

Besides, there's nowhere to go but up from 0-16!

Wild Turkey October by incaseofme

The Freep reports that many stores like Southfield-based Hiller's Markets are cutting prices on turkey and the fixings.  CEO Jim Hiller: Yes, we are going to make less money, a lot less. At the end of the day, I hope it will permit people to shop at Hiller's and still enjoy the things that we have to offer.

One of the delectables that Michigan has to offer is the chestnut. Taste the Local Difference says that chestnuts are Ready to Pick and that they have been called the "rice that grows on trees" as they have the same nutritional value as brown rice and are lower in calorie and fat than other nuts. Further:

...to eat a chestnut is quite an unusual thing. Far from a typical nut, chestnuts sort of melt in your mouth with a texture more grainy than crunchy. Their flavor seems familiar and yet unlike anything else—a little bit nutty, slightly sweet. Here in Michigan, we have chestnut trees growing throughout the Lower Peninsula. So chestnuts can be purchased directly from local farms, markets, and groceries, just in time to put on your Thanksgiving menu!

Road to Sorrow by pairadocs

More about Michigan chestnuts right here. If you're looking to really Michiganize your Thanksgiving, you'll want to click over to A Very Michigan Thanksgiving - Absolute Michigan's guide to a homegrown holiday.

This year, consider extending the Michigan grown goodness to include Michigan libations. You can start with the First Annual Ohio vs Michigan Wine Clash and continue to explore Michigan wine and Michigan beer on Absolute Michigan. Not a drinker? No problem - we have lots of juice in Michigan too!

Apparently, even at 0-10 Detroit is still in the NFL (though there are rumblings that the Lions may lose their franchise) and we will have a chance to see the Detroit Lions square off vs the potentially 11-0 Tenessee Titans. When the storyline is "0-11 vs 11-0" it's hard to get excited for the 12:30 Thanksgiving game, but the Lions always seem to at least make it a game on Turkey Day. Tickets available!

...except for last weekend of course, when politics was a welcome relief for UM and MSU fans. After getting pasted by a combined 91-24, the state of Michigan is assured of a Big Ten victory on Saturday as the Michigan State University Spartans travel to Ann Arbor and the Big House to face the University of Michigan Wolverines for bragging rights and the Paul Bunyan Trophy. You can read all about the trophy and the game at Michigan vs Michigan State Football Rivalry from Absolute Michigan.

Over there to the right is just a bit of The Best Thing I Saw on These Internets This Week: The Season of Much Woe by Samara Pearlstein of Roar of the Tigers. Relive all the shock, all the outrage, all the Spazzosaurus and be sure to tell her how cool it is so she'll do the next installment!!

Darren McCarty by radiospike photography

The Detroit Bad Boys are getting ready for the NBA season to start and report that power forward Jason Maxiell will test the waters of free agency next year. Bummer, but hopefully that means he plays harder than ever. In their 2008-09 Pistons Preview, they say (only half-jokingly) that the biggest offseason move was the Flip Saunders for Amir Johnson trade. Over at Ball Don't Lie, crazy Canadian blogger turned crazy Canadian blogger with a Yahoo contract J.E. Skeets has a Pistons season preview that says the Pistons may miss Flip in crunch time and Need4Sheed feels it's Larry O-Brien or Bust for the Pistons core of Billups, Prince and Rasheed.

Finally, in some depressing news, the Detroit Red Wings waived 36-year-old Darren McCarty. If he clears waivers, he'll be assigned to Grand Rapids.

For those of you who are thinking that I forget to mention the Detroit Lions, I didn't.

FOXSports.com and WDFN-AM (1130) are reporting that the Lions have removed team president and CEO Matt Millen from his post, ending one of the most criticized tenures in Detroit - or for that matter, NFL history.

As we look back on such landmark events as the Millen Man March and spontaneous movements like "Fire Millen!" we can't help but shed a tear ... though that's mainly for everyone who has suffered their way through the team's bottom-of-the-NFL record of 31-84 since Millen took over in 2001.

I know that Lions fans can't take too much jubilation. If you're feeling overly giddy, you could read Fire Millen Finally Becomes Reality; But Now What, Lions Fans? from Deadspin.

Dog_Parade_3 by scherbis

Say hello to August and the dog days of summer! Our Michigan August Event Calendar is loaded with great opportunities to explore the Great Lakes State. The PGA Championship is in Bloomfield Township August 4 - 10. Celebrate the blueberry industry in and around South Haven at the National Blueberry Festival August 7 - 10. Crystal Falls is "Home of the Humungous Fungus" and the annual festival is August 7 - 10. Not to be missed is the Great Lakes Folk Festival in East Lansing August 8 - 10. The festival is a FREE, unique fusion of arts fair, music festival, county fair, multi-ethnic festival, hands-on activity workshops and celebration of cultural heritage. The St. Johns Mint Festival runs from August 8 - 10 and the Northport Wine and Food Festival & Dog Parade happens on August 9th.

Last but not least, preseason football kicks off this week with the Lions taking on The New York Giants, Thursday August 7th at Ford Field. Game time is 7PM and you can purchase tickets online.

Feel free to add news, interesting blog posts, cool video and media and coming events for the week of August 4 - 10 in the comments section below.

< The Week for July 28 - August 3, 2008

Last weekend the state championships were decided in girls hoops. This was the first year that boys & girls seasons were held at the same time in Michigan, something that seems to have reduced the attention lady cagers receive (contrary to what the court case alleged). In the Class A game, it was Grosse Pointe North over East Lansing 58-46 (stats). Class B is was a cross-town match with Detroit Country Day topping Detroit Community 46-40 (stats). In Class C action, Saginaw Nouvel raced by Galesburg-Augusta 73-42 (stats) while in Class D, New Lothrop defeated Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 42-36 (stats). You can get Audio/Video from MHSAA TV. While you're there, check out the video from the 1958 Class A Boys Basketball Final featuring Detroit Austin Catholic (led by Dave DeBusschere) vs. Benton Harbor (with Chet Walker).

Longest. Game. Ever.

The Freep has a story on the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 hockey state finals between Marquette and Orchard Lake St. Mary. The two teams played a U.S. High School Hockey record 8 overtimes to a 1-1 draw before finally being declared the first ever co-champions by the MHSAA and raising the same trophy. Division 2 was Trenton over Midland 3-0 while Calumet skated to a 1-0 overtime victory over Flint Powers Catholic. The photo is one of a giant set of photos by Marquette based sports photographer Daryl Jarvinen - check out the whole set of photos from this historic MHSAA Hockey match!

Michigan Boys Basketball State Championships

After last night's quarterfinals, the final fours are set for the 2008 boys basketball state championships. The Class C & D games take place on Thursday (Mar 13) with Class A & B on Friday (Mar 14). The Finals are on Saturday and will be televised live on Fox Sports Detroit: Class D is at 10 AM, Class C at Noon, Class A at 4 PM and Class B at 8 PM. Both the semifinals and finals take place at the Breslin Center at MSU in East Lansing, which brings us to...

Michpics March Madness

Over on Michigan in Pictures we're featuring the basketball arenas of Michigan's Division I universities (CMU, EMU, MSU, UM & WSU) each Saturday this month. So far we have Central and Eastern and you're invited to point us to cool photos and follow along with our Michigan March Madness posts.

...and don't forget about College Football

The Freep reports that Kirk Gibson (wide receiver for MSU from 1975-78, first-team All-American, Big Ten receiving leader), Rob Lytle (UM running back 1974-76, consensus All-America in 1976, '76 Big Ten MVP), Tony Mandarich (MSU offensive tackle in 1985-88, consensus first-team All-America in '88, on 1987 Rose Bowl winning squad) and Percy Snow (MSU linebacker in 1986-89, unanimous first-team All-America and Butkus Award winner in '89, 2nd all-time in career tackles with 473) are up for the College Football Hall of Fame. Also on the ballot is Darryl Rogers, who coached MSU from 1976-79. Rogers was the Big Ten coach of the year in 1977, Sporting News national coach of the year in '78. They also have a nice look at the major sports sites' predicted destinations for Michigan players (and who the Lions might get) in the 2008 NFL Draft. I'm thinking WR Mario Manningham to the Lions makes a crazy kind of sense.

This photo is titled Lioness and it was taken by Ralph Krawczyk Jr. at the James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle in Detroit. If you follow Michigan in Pictures, you've seen a lot of Ralph. If you don't click here to see what you've been missing!

Ralph says that he's a graphic designer, a geek, a pirate and that he has no clever quote. What he does have is an awesome array of analog (2 Holga 120Ns; Agfa Clack; Agfa Click; Capital '120'; Ising Pucky I; Diana; Polaroid SX-70; Pilot 6) and digital (Canon PowerShot SD500; Nikon D50) cameras and the skill and will to use them all.

I could ramble on and on about his cool pictures of everything from cars to the UP to decay, but let me just say: wander through his photos ... your eyes will thank you.

The Future by Dave Hogg

While I'd like to say I avoid thinking about the Detroit Lions until October or so, the truth is I'm a Michigan boy and can't help but think that this might be the Lions' "year" ... I mean, it's statistically possible, right?

When I received an email from NFL.com announcing the newly redesigned NFL.com, I headed over and found that the Lions won their preseason opener 27-26 as shown in this video featuring Calvin Johnson and 400+ Lion passing yards and then went on to stick it to the Cleveland Browns 23-20 yesterday.

Now preseason football games are basically the equivalent of a 1st grade report card, but they generated enough interest for me to check out NFL.com lead writer Pat Kirwan's interesting and sort of upbeat Camp tour: Lions looking to make big move that asks the question:

ARE THE LIONS THIS YEAR'S NEW ORLEANS SAINTS?

From last to first in one year is the dream of every Lions fan. (starts well) This Detroit team will be better than the 3-13 team of 2006 but a quantum leap like the Saints made may be too much to ask. (it might be, but we like to believe) The Lions defense gave up 118 yards a game on the ground last year in division games. The pass rush only generated four sacks in six division games, while surrendering 232 yards per game. (yeah, there was that) The Lions offensive line is better and will protect Kitna but the Mike Martz offense usually gives up sacks. In six division games last year Kitna went down 26 times and the offense turned the ball over 18 times. (that too, but isn't that what helmets are for?) I believe the team will do a lot better but a Saints turn around may be too much to ask.

Still ... you think maybe a playoff game ... or two?

The latest issue of ESPN: The Magazine has their "Ultimate Standings" for US sports franchises. It will come as little surprise to learn that Detroit scored three teams in the top 20 for the 2007 rankings. The rankings are a combination of record, ownership/management, coaching, players, affordability, fan relations, stadium experience and "bang for the buck" and anyone who has been to a game in the Motor City knows there are few better sports experiences anywhere.

The Detroit Pistons lead the way at #5 despite the fact that coach Flip Saunders was rated #73. Fans appear to love the players (#13), the arena (#11) and owner Bill Davidson (#6 - you have to think Joe Dumars is a big part of that as well).

Not far behind at #12 are the Detroit Tigers who are led by skipper Jim Leyland (#2), a great team (#21) and a little thing called the World Series!

At #18 are the Detroit Red Wings whose perennial contention combined with an ownership rated #2 (in large part for their stellar community engagement) ... and hey, they don't call it Hockeytown for nothing!

It seems to be true that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, because the Detroit Lions have fought their way to the absolute bottom of the list #122 out of 122. Fire Millen anyone?

Photo credits:

• 365 67 "DEEEEEEEEEEEE troit...." by Artsy_T
  
• 10,000 by Radiospike
• Hasek by McPhloyd
• Lions by Shogun13

Dave Dombrowski, Joe Dumars & Jim Leyland,
shown evaluating their new acquisitions.

DATELINE: APRIL 1, 2007, LANSING, MICHIGAN

Residents of Michigan were stunned today by the announcement of a massive trade that sent Michigan's full House, Senate, Governor and a number of key government officials to be named later to the Territory of Guam in exchange for left handed pitching prospect Carlos Camacho, Jr., the rights to University of Guam phenom Roberto "Big Bobby" Bordallo and 148 fruit bats.

Tiger GM Dave Dombrowski and Pistons President Joe Dumars, two of the most successful CEOs in sports, held a joint press conference Sunday morning to announce the landmark deal. "I think we did really well here," Dombrowski remarked at the press conference. "Camacho has a heck of a heater and Joe here thinks that Bordallo could be the next Kelly Tripucka."

Fruit Bat by Spike

Dumars expressed regret that the kicker of Matt Millen for nine fruit bats was turned down by Guam but expressed hope of a future deal. He also told the assembled reporters "This deal was really all about clubhouse chemistry. You can't expect to turn a team around when everyone's bickering in the locker room."

Tiger manager Jim Leyland, who will also act as temporary Governor, agreed saying "I think everyone's real hopeful that this new lineup will allow us to turn this state around." He said that the winged mammals were taking well to their new home in the state's capitol building and that every Tuesday would be Bat Day.

More April Foolishness...

Bank bailout "tweak" to spur auto industry - the Treasury department takes bold action!

Canadian Freeze Ray Wreaks Havok - weird science from our Northern neighbors

Five Things You Need to Know for Friday, April 1st, 2005 (Google, Izzo, Michael Moore & more)

scoring the game by Boston Fan in Michigan

Blue Cats and Red Sox is written by "a Bostonian at University of Michigan OBSESSED by baseball," but I guess how could she not be, coming from Boston. Luckily she manages to talk about other sports (and cities) as well, maybe because baseball isn't always in season? Baseball, football, the X-games - is there anything more important in life?

"There are other cities that are obsessed with baseball, of course, but the Bostonian brand of obsession is a distinct and particular one. It's an obsession that does not keep baseball in its own little niche, but spills it out into all walks of life, as if Boston Baseball is some kind of molasses that you're trying to hold in your hands."
- on Boston & Baseball

"It's like watching Darwin's finches. Only, you know, colder, and with more bad music."
- on the X-Games.

"I was sitting there saying things like, 'But we COULD HAVE WON if only it had been Roy of the Williamses in that corner of the endzone, instead of Mike of the Williamses and his useless, useless hands'"
- on the Detroit Lions, the Williamses and Bad Football

A visit to FireMillen.com "just to check" didn't produce a new Lions coach, but it did produce a link to news that Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders (#88) will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sanders caught 336 passes for 4,817 yards and 31 TDs in 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions. He was voted to seven Pro Bowls and named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

Read Six named to Hall's class of 2007 at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Sanders catches spot in Canton and Drew Sharp's recollections of playing "Charlie Sanders" in the Freep and be sure to check out the really cool Charlie Sanders Career Overview at DetroitLions.com. You might also want to take a look at his book Charlie Sanders' Tales from the Detroit Lions Sidelines. It has some stories from his playing days including a couple you can read online about Lions' legends Lester "Bingo" Bingaman and Alex Karras.

In the Modern NFL, only once before Matt Millen had come around had the Lions finished with 3 wins or less in a season (1979). Now he is on track to do that three times in six years if the Lions don't win more than 1 game the rest of the year. The year after that 1979 season, the Lions had a winning record at 9-7. Millen has not even managed a winning season in 6 tries.

As I like to say, the numbers don't lie. The Lions under Matt Millen are the worst Lions team in history. Millen may not be the only problem, but he is the biggest problem and it is time to do something before we keep digging ourselves a deeper hole.

Mlive says that Ford needs to go public with decision on Millen -- now, even back in October it was clear that the success of other NFL franchises makes the Lions look even worse. As folks as far away as the Rocky Mountains are counting failure by the Millen, even supporters of Millen are saying it's time for him to go to that big huddle in sky (arena football I think).

Even More Matt Millen Football Firing Frenzy

• FireMillen.net Bandwagony goodness including lots and lots of photos (of questionable taste) in Fark Millen.
• Wikipedia's entry on Matt "Fire" Millen reminds us of great moments like the Millen Man March.
• Rate the Lions lets you vote on players coaches and Burning Matt. Fun fact: The team was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs BEFORE Thanksgiving!
• If heads are going to roll, do we need to start at the top and Fire the Fords?

A big, big thanks to the Northern Michigan Leelanau Detroit Sports Guy for helping me pull all this together!

OK, here's a Fire Millen video courtesy of MySpace/firemillen:

Click here to view the embedded video.