I don’t know how widely available it is on various television systems, but the interview Bob Costas did with Ernie Harwell on the MLB Network is very good.
It was taped during the World Series. Ernie is at his classic best. He discusses his impending death with typical class and grace. There isn’t much of the interview we haven’t heard around here before. No revelations. But it is a one-hour picture book into Ernie’s life. He looks great. His mind is sharp as a tack. I’ve always been amazed by Ernie’s memory. Still am. As usual, his storytelling is terrific. The best part is at the end, though, when Costas asked Ernie to recite the end of his Hall of Fame speech about baseball. And Ernie did so, word-by-word. It was amazing.

Random Thoughts

- If the Pistons play with the same effort the rest of the season, as they have the last two nights in losses to the Lakers and Portland, they will win a lot of games. That’s especially true of their performance last night. They were one long rebound to Steve Blake away from winning that game. Seems like Rodney Stuckey is starting to come on.

- The Red Wings did get a raw deal on the disallowed goal Wednesday night, but the bottom line is they are a better team than the Dallas Stars. And the Stars carried much of the play. The Red Wings, in their current state, can’t allow home games like that to slip away. They had terrific momentum going - and lost it.

- Who cares if Shaun Rogers wants to return to Lions, which he is hinting. He was a horrible locker room influence while here. Look what he’s done for the Browns? They were a 10-6 team before he got there. They’ve been a dysfunctional mess since. Rogers is a really good player, but his sour attitude trumps his ability on the field.

I see tonight’s game against the Dallas Stars as an important one for Jimmy Howard. He has played well lately, and you can sense trust being gained in him by the organization and its fans. But as we only know too well in this town, it just takes one bad game to break that trust for a Red Wings’ goalie.
That’s what happened to Ty Conklin to a degree last year during a late season game vs. Calgary. It looked like Conklin would be the Red Wings No. 1 goalie in the playoffs, that’s how well he had been playing. The Red Wings had a 4-2 lead in the third period at home - and Conklin allowed three goals in two minutes. That quickly, it became evident they would go with Chris Osgood in the playoffs - despite Ozzie’s considerable struggles at the time.
The Red Wings need Howard to play roughly half their regular season games. Early in the season, it was obvious they didn’t trust him with that type of load. They have been forced into by Osgood’s flu.

Random Thoughts

- Say all the service time and salary issues were the exactly same, would you trade Justin Verlander even up for Zack Greinke or Alex Hernandez. I wouldn’t.

- Call me crazy because Ohio State isn’t that formidable this season - just the best team in an alarmingly down year for the Big Ten. But I do think Michigan has a fighting chance for an upset Saturday in Ann Arbor. I think the Wolverines will move the ball. Just don’t see their defense stopping anybody.

- Despite the Pistons’ loss to the Lakers Tuesday, Will Bynum continues to impress. If he is the real deal, it’d be nice to see a longshot coming in. Last year at this time, it would have literally drawn laughter if anyone suggested Bynum could put together a stretch of games like this.

My column in Wednesday's Oakland Press on the Lions and Browns being kindred spirits: http://tinyurl.com/ydq9buz

Look, I have voted for the American League Rookie of the Year Award before - and all the other major baseball awards. I understand the decisions are subjected to debate.
I am sure my fellow members of the Baseball Writers Association of America did what they felt was right. So it is in that context I write the following:
Rick Porcello finishing third in the balloting was an utter joke. He won more games than any rookie pitcher. He pitched outstanding baseball down the stretch for a team struggling to stay in the race. He was brilliant in a one-game playoff at Minnesota under the most adverse conditions.
Aaron Bailey did not pitch under pressure. Oakland stunk. And you can't tell me winning 14 games, and going 6-3 with a 3.76 ERA under the pressure of a tight pennant race in the second half, doesn't trump Elvis Andrus and his .267-6-40 numbers.
Next Tiger pitcher to get jobbed: Justin Verlander in Cy Young Award voting.

Random Thoughts

- The Silverdome only sold for $583,000? There are a lot of Metro Detroit homes being sold for more than that even in this tough economic environment. Wonder what Tiger Stadium would have brought if it were put up for public auction?

- Sorry. Couldn't help it. I know one is a Hall of Fame coach, the other on the opposite end of the spectrum. But I did think of Marty Mornhinweg Sunday night when Bill Belichick made The Decision. Wonder if he has ever taken the wind instead of the ball in overtime?

LeBron James is off base about his desire to have the NBA retire Michael Jordan’s No. 23 permanently.
They did it in baseball for Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 because he was so courageous while breaking the color barrier in that sport, when it was far and away the most popular in this country, and Jim Crow laws still ruled the South. Robinson was a great player, but certainly not the best of all time. He was, however, the most important player of all time, opening up professional sports to those of color - and it help set off a reaction that is still rippling throughout our society.
Michael Jordan's greatest impact on society was his ability to market himself.

Random Thoughts

- In the "those who hesitate are lost" category, Stanford has decided the economy isn’t so bad it can’t afford to give Jim Harbaugh that contract extension the university had been hemming and hawing about. Wonder if there is an escape clause? It’s more difficult to find out about Stanford in that regard because it is not a public university. It is known, however, the buyout on Harbaugh previous contract was only $600,000. Stanford didn’t just beat USC - it destroyed USC.
I do believe if Stanford played Cincinnati, it would win, and TCU is better than both those teams. Michigan would lose by three touchdowns to all three. Maybe by four. The Spartans would play each tougher - and lose by only a touchdown or two.

- Does seem like some fans and media are overly excited about the Pistons. I mean they are 5-5. They did just lose at home to Dallas. Wasn’t the expectation the Pistons would be about .500 this season?
Maybe it’s because they are doing it without Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince in the lineup, and Will Bynum has surprisingly emerged. A trade is inevitable at some point. Too many players in the backcourt and not enough in the frontcourt. But just because the Pistons are different doesn’t mean they are any better. They did win 39 games and back into the playoffs last season.

- If the Stanley Cup playoffs began today, the Red Wings would be a sixth seed in the Western Conference and facing Chicago on the road.

My column in Monday's Oakland Press on Lions: http://tinyurl.com/y8lxfgf

This is a huge week for Lions QB Matthew Stafford. His performance last Sunday at Seattle didn't exactly inspire confidence. This week presents a much more difficult test. The Vikings are much stronger than the Seahawks in just about every way, and have already seen Stafford and what he does and doesn't do well - the first time he's faced a team for the second time. If he plays well this week under the circumstances, it would really mean something. If he doesn't, it's another sign he is lacking the intangible quality to be more than just another NFL QB. And considering he was taken first overall in the draft, is that good enough?

Random Thoughts

- If the Tigers trade Curtis Granderson because of money issues it would be just flatout wrong. Granderson is a way better player than he has been credit for later by many in the Tigers' fan base.

- Looking forward to the Red Wings game tonight. Is Steve Yzerman the most popular athlete ever in Detroit? I'd have to think so.

My column in Thursday's Oakland Press on hockey pioneer Manon Rheaume: http://tinyurl.com/yf6jpyh

Probably the most difficult thing for fans to figure out is why Edwin Jackson would be on the trading block. Does seem like he would be a big part of the Tigers' future anchoring the rotation with Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello.
I don't blame them.
The Tigers are paying a lot of money to unproductive veteran players carrying loads of money on contracts. So they can't re-sign Placido Polanco, may not re-sign Fernando Rodney and are looking to trade Edwin Jackson?
Those were three of their better players.
I've been around baseball long enough to understand what is happening here. The Tigers hope to contend next season because their division isn't that good. They do hope to get some value from Jackson, who scouts like because of his arm strength, but who may not be any more productive or less productive in the future than he has been the last two seasons. Jackson hasn't exactly been clutchwith both Tampa Bay and Detroit. Yet, his trade value is still high. Is Jackson worth signing long-term? Because he will soon be eligible for free agency? This is time to do it.
I just don't see where dumping Jackson will make the Tigers a better team, especially if it is just for prospects.

Should Rich Rodriguez be replaced as head coach at Michigan, there is a groundswell that would suggest Cincinnati's Brian Kelly be the choice. There is little question Kelly is an excellent coach, but this is why Stanford's Jim Harbaugh would be a better fit.

- Harbaugh has had signature wins over opponents that have destroyed Michigan - USC and Oregon. Is there such a thing as a signature victory in the Big East and has Kelly had one? How did his team do in the Orange Bowl? The Pac 10 is much more difficult landscape. And like Kelly, Harbaugh had great success at a lower level of college coaching where pure coaching often makes the difference.

- Harbaugh has deep ties to Michigan football and its patron saint, Bo Schembechler. He was raised in Ann Arbor and played four years at U-M as a great player. Kelly has no ties whatsoever to U-M. And we've seen what that can to do an outsider like Rodriguez.

- Kelly has won with players he didn't recruit, both at CMU and Cincinnati. Harbaugh's teams are getting better at Stanford as his recruits play more. Also, his NFL connections, coupled with Michigan's brand name, would make him a major force in recruiting. Kelly has no NFL ties.

This is my column in Tuesday's Oakland Press about the Michigan coaching situation: http://tinyurl.com/y97zx7a