One Mayor Robs, The Other Gets Robbed

As a show of goodwill from one host city to the next, Detroit has invited Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard up to the Final Four festivities and there will probably be some silly hand off ceremony shortly after the One Shining Moment clip runs.

What they failed to mention to the Mayor was the tiny crime problem plaguing the great city of Detroit. Following the Saturday night games at Ford Field, Ballard was on his way back to his hotel when he stopped to assist a man the thought was mid-seizure. While he was rendering aid, a group of thugs surrounded him and shook him down. Turns out the seizure was a FAKE. Who would have thought?

It is more than a tad ironic that former Detroit Mayor Kwame Fitzpatrick (or some such shit) robbed and extorted his city blind and just a few years later a visiting mayor has the treatment returned on him. Seems a little unfair if you ask me.

There are quite a few unanswered questions from the Ballard incident however. For starters, the guy only lost a cell phone. Why no wallet, watch, cuff links? Shit it's Detroit, those bums would sell anything for a fix, he should have been lucky to get home with his boxers intact. Also, was this man at the games alone? No personal assistants or escorts?

And who approaches shaking crackheads on the street in DETROIT? I even seen a black person in that city and I'm crossing the street. Fuck I'm hailing a cab or flagging down a cop.

Another Perfect Season?

No, I’m not talking about the Tennessee Titans, but rather, the winless Detroit Lions. After a perfect pre-season (4-0), the Lions have dropped their first six games of the season. Things have gone from bad to worse for Detroit. First, they lost their leader, Jon Kitna. Then, they traded away Roy Williams, their number one receiving threat. The Lions did receive a first round draft pick from Dallas in the Williams trade, hopefully with Matt Millen out of the picture they won’t squander this pick on a highly touted receiver.

Except for a 12-10 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings and a heartbreaking 28-21 loss to the Texans last week, the Lions have been the victims of some brutal losses. Including a 34-7 beat down by Chicago. Unfortunately, the toughest games on their schedule are still to come. Over the next 10 weeks, Detroit will travel to; Indianapolis, Green Bay, Carolina, and Chicago. That’s four more for the loss column. With the daunting road schedule that lies ahead, the Lions will probably need to pick up a W at Ford field, which could be even more difficult. Six home games remain for Detroit, this week against the Redskins who may be the second best team in a deep NFC East division. From there, the Lions take on; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Minnesota, and New Orleans. Tampa Bay and Tennessee are in first place in the respective divisions, and they visit Detroit in back-to-back weeks.



With Dan Orlovsky under center, the Lions should be nervous about playing Texas or USC. Orlovsky, product of Uconn, has been sacked 6 times in 2 starts, and looks flustered and unstable every time he drops back. The Lions desperately need a quarterback for the 2009 season. Drew Stanton isn’t the answer either Bob so don’t bother; if they had any confidence in him, he would not be backing up Orvlovsky in the first place.

Overall, the Lions are a disgrace and should be concerned with going 0-16 in 2008. With a new GM in place and budding young talent, they should be out of the NFC North basement in a few years. But who knows, the Lions find a way to be putrid every season. Keep those paper bags on Detroit, there is nothing to be happy about on Sundays.

-Brian B