There are so many things to pick at when it comes to Tigers' slugger Miguel Cabrera and his DUI arrest.
The alleged swigging of hard liquor in front of police officers. The "don't you know who I am" attitude he reportedly presented. The evidence that keeps mounting strongly suggesting he has a drinking issue.
It'll be a long time before Cabrera will fully earn the trust of fans, management and his teammates. I mean, he was not fully there down the stretch for the Tigers in 2009. Obviously, his dedication to this coming season was not good. He is, justifiably, perceived as the other shoe about to drop. And will be deep into the future.
The term is knucklehead. That's not meant to be mean. It's just what people are saying because it fits Cabrera at this point. There is no defense for getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, especially a person making $20 million per year, who can afford to be driven from Florida to California and back 50 times - and still have plenty of pocket change.
It's just that I disagree with the notion, the Tigers should keep him off the field. Or that he must be locked up for the public's safety.
First of all, the Tigers aren't the bad guys in this. They not only need to protect their investment, they also need Cabrera to flourish. He is the best hitter they have had in my lifetime and a Hall of Fame caliber player. I think he is the best hitter in the game. I'm not alone.
The Tigers are running a business with an annual budget conservatively estimated at $200 million per year - 10 percent of which goes to pay their top player's salary.
The other thing, who is to say Cabrera wouldn't better dealing with this issue while playing? While the road is tempting and the baseball lifestyle slanted toward the "beer or two after the game" mentality, it is much easier to keep him under control when he is under the watchful eye of the team.
There is also the matter of due process. This is, albeit technically because he wasn't charged with anything in Birmingham in 2009, a first-time offense for Cabrera. He shouldn't be treated by the law and Major League Baseball any differently than anyone else. I have no issues with the way the Tigers are handling this matter.
The only thing I do wish, is that Cabrera would admit that has a drinking problem. There does seem to be self-denial going on there.


Random Thoughts

- The piling on Richard Hamilton continues. The Pistons reportedly could have traded him to Cleveland, but only if he had agreed to an undisclosed buyout of his contract. Yeah. So he is selfish for not giving up $25 million the next two years? Please. Joe Dumars made his bed here when he gave Hamilton that contract extension. Don't blame Hamilton because the Pistons - and their confused and suffering fans - have to sleep in it.

- Three reasons Michigan's basketball team has turned the corner: Tim Hardaway Jr, Darius Morris and Jordan Morgan.

- If I'm the Carolina Panthers, I'd take Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. He is the most underrated player in this draft, and a much better player than Jimmy Clausen