Michigan Sports Fan Blog

The Pistons are the best team in Michigan. Just kidding. Tigers.

49 matches won. 1 loss. 19 games lost in this tournament. 6 championships. Rafael Nadal is proving why he is the “King of Clay” once again during this year’s French Open. Growing up playing on this surface in his hometown of Majorca, Spain he has had a lot of practice playing on the red surface. He always talks about how it is his favorite surface to play on and it shows with his incredible record when playing in clay court tournaments. It is very rare when he loses, and it shocked everyone when he lost in the 4^th round of the French to Robin Soderling back in 2009. But Nadal came back stronger the next two years and won the 2010 beating Soderling in straight sets, and then in 2011 defeating Roger Federer in four sets.

Once again, Nadal is the favorite to win the French. Yes, Novak Djokovic has dominated Nadal over the past year in all tournaments, going undefeated against the Spaniard, but this year Nadal took charge. After Djokovic won the Australian Open this year, Nadal finally got the revenge he wanted after beating Djokovic at Monte Carlo and then again a few weeks later in Rome. Both of those tournaments were played on clay. Nadal got his confidence back that he needs in order to win a 7^th title in Paris. And it looks as though it is going to happen. Nadal has cruised over his first four matches, having only dropped 19 games, a new record. Will Djokovic and Federer give him a run for his money? Possibly, but at this pace Nadal will be lifting the trophy in Paris for the 7^th time in his career.

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The Detroit Pistons have recently contacted Tracy McGrady about joining their team. The Pistons, who had much success in the past ten years, are now in a funk. They had a dismal season last year, and need a resurgence. McGrady was a superstar in the past, but is past his prime now. On top of that, he has been plagued with injuries. However, the Pistons should take a gamble on McGrady. If anything, it would furthermore motivate them to move Richard Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince. The two of them should be moved, as their time in Detroit is clearly up.

Dontrelle Willis is gone. The question, still a sticking point from spring training, is why he was ever brought north, why the Tigers believed a man with heartbreaking control challenges was viewed as having any reasonable chance for success in 2010.

The answer, of course, is that the Tigers didn’t opt for a pitcher as much as they opted for a contract when they decided to make Willis part of their five-man rotation.
Nothing about his performance in Florida seriously stated that Willis should have made the team, let alone be entrusted with a fifth rotation spot.
He still battled the strike zone. He was still prone to back-to-back walks, if not worse. The double play was his godsend any number of times an inning, and his place in the rotation, were perhaps one batted ball, or one more walk, from blowing to pieces.

Click here to read the full article – By Lynn Henning of The Detroit News

On Monday, the Detroit Tigers pitching staff seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

Three days later, everything is fine.
Justin Verlander kept up a much-needed success streak for the Detroit rotation, throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings in the Tigers’ 6-0 victory over CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees on Thursday.
Miguel Cabrera homered, doubled and drove in three runs for the Tigers, who took three of four from New York. The Yankees had only lost one other series this season.
“I thought we pitched very well against a team with a relentless offense,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “There’s no place to relax against the Yankees from one to nine.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Johan Franzen doubled his previous playoff scoring total in one game.

Perfect timing for the Detroit Red Wings.

Franzen had a natural hat trick in a 3:26 span of the first period, scored a fourth goal in the third and set a team playoff record with six points as Detroit stayed alive with a 7-1 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.

“Hopefully, I can get some confidence and the team can get some confidence,” Franzen said. “I’ve been struggling on the goal-scoring side.”

Franzen had just two goals in the first 10 playoff games. The burly forward known as “Mule” scored 25 times the previous two postseasons for the two-time defending Western Conference champions.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Jimmy Howard bounced back.

The Detroit Red Wings did, too.

Howard had a 29-save shutout, Henrik Zetterberg scored twice and Pavel Datsyuk had a goal, leading Detroit to a 3-0 series-evening win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Howard’s saves included one without his helmet.

“I’m going to enjoy it here for a couple minutes,” said Howard, who gave up four goals to lose Game 3. “Then, just like I did the other night, forget about it and get ready for Friday night.”

That’s when fourth-seeded Phoenix will back at home for Game 5.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

At a recent practice, Pistons coach John Kuester, enduring a season of frustration, had seen enough.

He screamed at his team and then punted the basketball as far as he could.
It has been that kind of season. The team that made six consecutive Eastern Conference finals thought it was starting a rebuilding process.

No one expected this — multiple 10-game losing streaks, a 26-55 record entering tonight’s finale in Minnesota, and little fan interest.
How could a team that seemed to have some promise fall so badly, so quickly?


Click here to read the full article – By Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News

Detroit Pistons T-Shirts
and other Pistons Apparel

Detroit Pistons True Court Performance Shirt

Detroit Pistons Surgical Scrub Top

Following one baseball team exclusively is a little like relying solely on your vehicle’s side mirrors. You don’t always get the big picture.


Geography made it tough to get fresh insight into the Tigers’ division rivals.

The Twins trained in Ft. Myers, Fla., and never played the Tigers in the Grapefruit League. The White Sox, Indians, and Royals tuned up in Arizona’s Cactus League.

I call it Marchant Myopia: the tendency to magnify the Tigers’ pluses and minuses while sometimes failing to remember other rosters have their hot shots and soft spots, as well.

So, here’s the case for how Jim Leyland’s team could steal a division title, based solely on how the Tigers stack up against the rest of the Central:

Click here to read the full article – By Lynn Henning of Detroit News

Detroit Tigers T-Shirts
and other Tigers Apparel

Detroit Tigers Official On-Field Youth Dedication T-Shirt

Detroit Tigers Momentum authentic childrens onfield tee

Detroit Tigers Youth Textured Stitch Logo T-Shirt