Basketball Season Begins For Sean
November 6, 2008
Football season is barely over, but basketball season has begun for Sean this week. They have already played two games and his middle school team is 1 – 1. Sean is the starting point guard for the team.
Its ironic that he is even playing basketball. The sport was my favorite growing up as a kid and I played in high school and then intramurals in college and in work based leagues afterwards. I tried early in Sean’s life to get him interested in basketball and to work on his skills. Unfortunately, he showed no interest in basketball whatsoever. Our hoop outside went unused for years except for the occasional times I went out to shoot around.
It wasn’t until last year upon entering middle school that he got interested in basketball and tried out for the team and made it (okay, all the kids made it). He saw limited playing time last year, but has made the starting team this year.
The hoop outside is now in disarray and basically worthless. I guess its times to get a new one and impart my skills on him. 
I wasn’t MVP of the work league several years running for nothing. Seriously, I am excited that he likes hoops and now wants to play. I fear, however, that he is getting too late a start.
In the game this afternoon, where they evened their record with a victory, Sean had the winning bucket on a short jump shot. Unfortunately, afternoon is the key word there and I was not able to attend the game. In fact, I have yet to see a single game of his middle school team this year or last year.
For some reason, the games start at 3:00 or 3:30 and its really hard for me to get to the games. Just like football, road games are not that close by and even the home games are 40 minutes from work. They play every Tuesday and Thursday during the relatively short season. When I was playing in junior high (vs middle school), I don’t remember the games starting that early. I feel really guilty cause I don’t remember my Dad missing very many (if any) of any of my sporting events. I pride myself on making his football and baseball games, but there really isn’t any way to make these early basketball games. Still, I really wish I could and still feel guilty.
What’s Up With the Lions?
October 14, 2008
Holy cow, what has gotten into the Detroit Lions lately? They are finally starting to act like an NFL football team. Most of my readers know that I am an avid, loyal, long time Detroit Lions fan and am not afraid to admit it!
They have, unfortunately, been the doormat of the NFL for many years during the reign of Matt Millen as the President of the Lions. Lately, despite being 0 – 5 this season, things are beginning to look up for us Lions fans.
Recently, the Lions fired Matt Millen and signaled the end of the current era. In the 7+ years he was in Detroit, no team lost more than the Lions as they compiled a 31 – 84 record. Why it took Ford Sr over 7 years to realize Millen wasn’t working out is beyond me.
Then today, the Lions pretty much stunned the league and made a couple of moves.
First, they traded WR Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. Williams is in the last year of his contract and its unlikely they would have been able to afford to sign him in the offseason. The Lions steadfastly maintained they didn’t want to trade him and Williams repeatedly said he wanted to stay in Detroit.
However, the Dallas Cowboys pretty much made the Lions a deal they couldn’t refuse. In exchange for Wiliams and a 7th round pick next year, the Lions received the Cowboys 1st, 3rd and 6th round picks next year. Wow, nice haul and perfect for a new management team coming in. With all the negative press in Dallas lately (T.O acting up again, Jones suspended again, Romo’s broken finger, etc) and the Cowboys fading after starting 3 – 0, Jerry Jones must have figured he needed some more positive press. Williams played at University of Texas and will give them a double deep threat. Its also no secret that I hate the Cowboys, so I can only hope this screws up the chemistry worse down there.
Second, the Lions placed QB Jon Kitna on injured reserve, pretty much signaling the end of his days as a Lion too. I have also not been a Kitna supporter over the years and am glad to see the Lions concentrating on their two young QBs the rest of the way and seeing what they have there.
Despite not liking Kitna, this was not the most fair and just way to end Kitna’s career in Detroit. One thing you could always say about Kitna is that he left it all on the field. He gave 100% and tried to carry the team, he just wasn’t able too. To put him on IR when he says he could play seems a bit unfair. I would have preferred to see him released or traded so he could try to continue elsewhere.
Throw in a much improved game last week handed to the Vikings due to a couple of very, very bad officiating calls (what is with officiating across the league this year?) and things are looking up.
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