There is a saying I like to use. Sometimes, probably a bit too much, a least when I am yapping on the radio.
But, sorry, here it is again: "With rank comes responsibility."
I guess it is my way of saying that certain athletes or teams have raised the bar because they have performed well in the past. And because of it, they have gained a certain measure of respect others do not have.
The price for "rank" comes with the challenge of, when the moment arrives, having to do it again.
The Pistons have arrived at that moment. And they aren’t getting it done. Period.
Hey, you can say we’re spoiled because this is their fifth straight Eastern Conference finals. But you can also say we have come to expect certain things from the Pistons, who are widely respected in the Detroit Area. What we’ve come to expect is a lot better than what they have produced so far in their series against the Cavaliers. Swagger is a good thing, but the Pistons seem to have taken it a bit further to the land of overconfidence. They seem to expect the Cavaliers to just fade away. Maybe, just maybe, LeBron James and his buddies have grown from last year when they had the Pistons on the ropes, but couldn’t put them away.
Sometimes this flirting with disaster gets a little stale. The Pistons, frankly, are lucky they aren’t down in this series. They can’t lose Game 5 this time and expect to win it. They are better than this - and need to start playing like it. Bottom line.

Random Thoughts

- The subject is the sacrifice bunt. Are you for it or against it? Lately, it appears as if Tigers manager Jim Leyland is against it. He doesn’t call for the bunt much. The Tigers have a powerful hitting attack this season, and Leyland appears determined not to take the bat out of the hands of his hitters. I tend to agree with him on this point. I don’t know what the statistical evidence actually is, but it appears, to me, that more times than not, bunting backfires. An out is an awfully steep price for moving a runner into scoring position. Just my opinion.

- Sorry. I know the rest of the world would rather watch poker or billiards or NACAR, but not me - I love the Stanley Cup Finals. Game 1 was terrific. The way Ottawa came out with a lot of jump. The way the Ducks stormed back to win the game with an unrelenting attack. The way Jean-Sebastien Giguere made a huge glove save during the waning seconds. Great stuff. Can’t wait for Game 2 tonight.

- Too bad for the Tigers they didn’t win in Tampa Monday - blowing a big lead - or they already would have made up two of the games they lost to Cleveland in the standings since being swept by the Indians over the weekend. The key, really, is beating the bad teams. It’s what made the Tigers last season. Having said that, it would be good for the Tigers to at least split their series in Cleveland this weekend.

- I know the Red Wings want Dominik Hasek back, and I understand why, but I would stop short of begging him. Remember how that turned out the last time they did it? He is a lot better when he has something to prove or feels snubbed than when he is comfortable.

- Hey, the most underrated aspect of this time of the year is the "ping" of the college baseball regionals, and then the College World Series. I get hooked on it. I admit it.