DetroitWonk

A Royal Oak Night Out With Urbane Apartments

2008-06-09T15:27:00.002-04:00

Had a chance to go out with folks from Urbane Apartments, the Royal Oak apartment I live in. Love the place, and I'm glad I finally met the people who live in my building. I mean, come on, I've only been living there for like, a year and a half!

Smart Fortwo Crash Test

2008-05-14T08:18:00.002-04:00

The IIHS just released US-Spec Smart Fortwo crash test data. Guess what? The little tyke did "Good."

2009 Ferrari California

2008-05-13T06:51:00.002-04:00

Yup, it's real -- alternately called the "Dino" or "GT", we've now got the real name of the new Ferrari and pictures. It's called the 2009 Ferrari California and it's got one lovely face.

2009 Ford Focus Coupe

2008-05-13T04:36:00.002-04:00

What automaker would reveal their new econo-box on American Idol? Ford would. The 2009 Ford Focus Coupe? Lipstick on a pig.

2009 Porsche 911

2008-04-26T16:52:00.002-04:00

Who needs spy photos when you've got basically every detail in the book on the next-generation 2009 Porsche 911. That's what we just snagged over on Jalopnik -- all the deets on the entire new 911 lineup. Take a peek.

Cadillac CTS Wagon

2008-04-25T15:29:00.002-04:00

Jalopnik just snagged the first spy shots of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon. Do want!

2010 Ford Taurus

2008-04-08T14:18:00.002-04:00

Jalopnik had a spy photo up of the 2010 Ford Taurus, but now they don't.

2009 Nissan GT-R

2008-04-08T08:39:00.002-04:00

Godzilla's back and hopefully we'll be driving him soon. That's right -- the 2009 Nissan GT-R is here and we're hoping we'll have one in hand post-haste. Of course, we could also wait for the 2010 model year when we're expecting to see the Nissan GT-R Spec V.

Max Mosley Sex Video?

2008-03-30T23:20:00.001-04:00

Seriously -- the Max Mosley nazi orgy sex scandal video has to be the weirdest thing I've covered since I've started blogging about cars.

Audi Super Bowl Commercial

2008-02-03T14:53:00.000-05:00

It's not quite as exciting as having Super Bowl XL in Detroit, but Super Bowl Sunday's still a blast and we'll be covering all the automotive Super Bowl commercials live over on Jalopnik this evening, so check out our coverage over there. We've already got a teaser screen capture of the Iron Man Super Bowl commercial up as well as the Audi Super Bowl commercial.

Chicago Auto Show

2008-01-28T09:17:00.000-05:00

I'll be at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show this upcoming week -- so head over to Jalopnik for the full deep dish -- all of the car and truck revealing action!

Detroit Auto Show

2008-01-11T07:19:00.000-05:00

Still looking for more Detroit Auto Show action? Fire away through the link above.

Tata Nano

2008-01-10T06:20:00.001-05:00

Jalopnik's got all the details on the Indian automaker Tata, and their new $2,500 car -- and yes, it's call the Tata Nano! Click the link for their full coverage of the Tata Nano.

Yes Folks, It's Now Time for the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Yay

2007-12-11T06:52:00.000-05:00

It's December and it's already Detroit Auto Show season. I'll be spending this week doing nothing but going from one embargoed auto show briefing and holiday party to the next. Last night and yesterday it was GM, today and tonight is Ford, Honda on Wednesday and Chrysler on Thursday. I'm not at all excited. Follow along with all my fun at Jalopnik's Detroit Auto Show tag.

Tigers Turn the Page, Prepare for 2007

2007-03-04T14:38:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again! Spring Training is underway, the Tigers are preparing for another season of baseball, except this year, things are different. After traveling all the way to the World Series last season, higher expectations await these Tigers, who look to have a promising season ahead of them. Just a few short months ago, it was the Cardinals shutting down Detroit's Tigers to become World Champions. Now, the Tigers have turned the page, and are looking forward to this season, forgetting about last season.

Jim Leyland's team is largely the same unit fans from across the country came to know and love during the 2006 American League Championship campaign. Jamie Walker jumped ship to the Orioles, and Jose Mesa is now a member of the bullpen, but otherwise, the Tigers pitching staff is in tact. Gary Sheffield was added in a trade from the Yankees early on in the offseason, and while acquiring an older player is always a gamble, the Iron Chef appears to be in good health, and poised to give the Tigers a legitimate designated hitter. The logjam in the outfield has also been somewhat negated as the Tigers attempt to change Marcus Thames into a first baseman. Craig Monroe, Curtis Granderson, and Magglio Ordonez will all be back to roam the outfield at Comerica Park, and the infield remains the same. Add in another year of experience to the young players, and this Tigers team has perhaps an even better shot at greatness than the one that preceded it.

I'm sure everyone else is also looking forward to April 2nd, when the Tigers open their 2007 season at home against the Toronto Blue Jays. Single game tickets went on sale Saturday, and the team sold over twice as many tickets on Saturday than they did on the first day of ticket sales last season. As we begin to move closer and closer to summer, the anticipation continues to build, for Detroit will soon be free of snow and a become a baseball town once again.

Single Game Ticket Information [Tigers.com]

Winning does wonders for Tigers' image [ESPN]

Chris Webber Adds New Dimension to Pistons

2007-01-27T23:11:00.000-05:00

When the rumors began swirling after Chris Webber was waived by the 76ers, I have to admit that I was skeptical. I liked the agility and size ratio Nazr Mohammed gave the team, yet felt C-Webb could add a much more powerful inside presence on the offensive end. With big men, it is usually difficult to predict how they will fit in with their new clubs. When Webber saw his first action in a Pistons uniform, I was pleased with his passing ability, but worried about his flat jump shot and difficulties in elevating. However, in the limited time we have been able to see Webber play with his new NBA squad, he looks to have been a solid pickup by Joe Dumars. Rasheed Wallace has been developing an increasing tendency to fire shots exclusively from the perimeter despite being a legitimate threat on the block. Adding Chris Webber, who can play from the high post or on the low blocks gives the Pistons a new dimension in the paint. Webber is an exception passer for a man of his stature and size, which means that players like Tayshuan Prince and Richard Hamilton can more effectively make their cuts and slashes towards the basket without the ball, and perimeter players can receive feeds when working from the inside out. And while Detroit's native son may appear to have trouble rising up much higher than the minimum height necessary to dunk the basketball, he still has shown that he can get up and throw it down in traffic. Chris Webber is a solid acquisition, and things will only get better as he learns the system and his teammates. While not the world's greatest defender, at least Webber has enough size to hold his own, and has averaged seven rebounds per contest in his five games with the Pistons. Plus, he has averaged better than three assists and nearly eleven points, proving that he can make a huge difference on the floor. Post-Webber, the Stones have put up a 3-2 record, however Friday night's loss to the Wizards went down to the wire, and things look to be largely back on track. The Pistons were already high on talent, but with the return of Chris Webber to Michigan, they could have gotten just the extra push they need to make them poised for a deep playoff run.

Masses Flock to Cobo as it Fills With New Car Smell

2007-01-18T12:54:00.000-05:00

It's a beautiful time of year. The magical time of year when Detroit is host to the North American International Auto Show, and when we can all take a look at just about every car worth looking at all within the confines of a single convention center. Though the shiniest and more interesting cars to look at may have only concerned those looking for a new Maybach or Rolls convertible (I figured I'd head to the NAIAS as I consider buying a new Bentley to help fill up my garage), there were plenty of cars for the common man. Best thing about it was that most of the cars for the common man are open, allowing you to sit in them, which is particularly important if you happen to have trouble fitting into cars. While I'm only 6'4", apparently that is just too tall in the eyes of those who design cars. They simply don't like the look of me in pretty much anything with a sunroof or the majority of convertibles (I can fit into a Porsche convertible quite well, however -- it's only too bad that Porsche is a little out of my price range). That aside, there were so many new cars in one area that the new car smell was almost overpowering, and there were plenty of shiny new concepts to check out from behind the safety buffer of velvet ropes as well. For those of you who have not been to Cobo to check things out yet, I highly recommend going -- it's a sight to behold. Show hours and ticket prices are available from the NAIAS website. You have until this Sunday before all the chrome wheels and soft velvet ropes pack up and move out of town.

The 2007 NAIAS has many particularly interesting technologies and concept cars, but I'll only list a few of them. GM's Chevy Volt "e-flex" plugin hybrid is worth taking a look at, as well as the new Chevy Camaro. Ford's Interceptor concept and the Airstream concept are both worth taking a peek at as well. The Airstream is mainly of interest because of the strange lounge setting that also includes a 360-degree TV that can function as a lava lamp or fireplace.

Ford also debuted their Sync technology, which allows for voice activated iPod integration that also works with any portable music player that can plug in via USB. GM's iPod Personal Audio Link system for iPod was also present. Ray tried them both out for Jalopnik -- Obviously Sync is more entertaining to look at, and looks like it could be a huge pull factor for Ford, but taking GM's PAL for a test drive is interesting simply because of the drive itself.

For more on the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, I suggest you head down to Jalopnik.

2006 Detroit Sports Awards

2006-12-31T18:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the 2nd annual Detroit Sports Awards, where we recognize the most notable teams, players, and moments of the 2006 calendar year in Detroit sports.

Best Overall Team: Detroit Tigers
When the 2006 season began, most fans shot for the goal of a first winning season in 12 years. The Tigers went beyond that marker, and made it all the way to the World Series behind a stellar pitching rotation and rising young stars. New manager Jim Leyland helped the team turn the corner from mediocrity into greatness, and a franchise that suffered through a 43-119 campaign just three seasons ago went 95-67, leading the AL Central for the majority of the regular season before falling behind the Twins on the final day of the regular season. Still, the disappointing finish to the regular season could not slow the Tigers, who beat the heavily favored New York Yankees in the ALDS. Detroit followed up the ALDS with a sweep of Oakland in the League Championship Series before falling in five games to the Cardinals. These Tigers put a contender on the field for the first time in years, and with the core players returning next season, the Tigers will look to continue a run for greatness in 2007.
Honorable Mentions: Detroit Shock, 2006 WNBA Champions; University of Michigan Football, #3 in BCS Rankings

Best Detroit Sports Athlete: Carlos Guillen
As the Detroit Tigers made their epic 95-67 regular season run, shortstop Carlos Guillen was among the few players who were consistent through the majority of the season. Carlos played 153 of 162 regular season games, and led the Tigers in batting average (.320), on-base percentage (.400), walks (71), as well as stolen bases (20). The 31-year old shortstop tallied 85 regular season RBI and crossed homeplate 100 times for the Tigers. Once the postseason rolled around, Guillen showed he was clutch, putting up a .362 average to go with a .434 on-base percentage. Throughout the Tigers' epic 2006 campaign, Carlos Guillen proved that his veteran leadership, talent, and consistency made him one of Detroit's premiere athletes, and the best of 2006.
Honorable Mention: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons Guard

Biggest Surprise: Detroit Tigers
The 2006 American League Champions were projected to finish the season behind the Chicago White Sox, as well as the Minnesota Twins. Many even placed them behind the Cleveland Indians for a fourth place finish -- instead, the new-look Tigers led the AL Central for the majority of the season, settled for a Wild Card, and made it all the way to the World Series.
Honorable Mentions: The Lions Not Drafting a Wide Receiver; Mike Furrey, Detroit Lions Receiver

Biggest Disappointment: Detroit Lions Offense
Coming into the 2006 season, the Lions looked to be on the verge of mediocrity. With Joey Harrington out of the picture and veteran Jon Kitna at quarterback, things looked promising. Add in Roy Williams, Mike Williams, Charles Rogers, and Mike Furrey playing wide receiver, along with Mike Martz at offensive coordinator, and it looked as though the Lions could have been unstoppable. Kevin Jones was compared to Marshall Faulk out of the backfield. Instead, the Lions' offensive line was decimated by injuries, Charles Rogers was released, and Mike Williams rarely played. Kevin Jones suffered a season-ending injury in a Week 14 loss to Minnesota, and the Lions offense is now on its fifth-string running back due to injuries.
Honorable Mention: Neifi Perez

Best Newcomers: Justin Verlander & Joel Zumaya
Rookie pitchers as spectacular as the Tigers' dynamic duo come around once in a lifetime. In the starting rotation, Verlander tied for the team high in victories with a 17-9 record along with a 3.63 ERA through 186 innings. Justin also won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in a landslide. Verlander's partner-in-crime, Joel Zumaya, pitched 83.1 innings from the bullpen, and used his 100+ mph heater to rack up 97 strikeouts. Zoom finished the regular season with a 1.94 ERA and a 6-3 record. Zumaya brings a level of intensity to the mound Detroit hasn't seen out of the bullpen for awhile, and the classic fist-pump and lit up radar guns are fast becoming trademarks of the Tigers' 22 year old reliever.
Honorable Mentions: Ernie Sims, Detroit Lions Linebacker; Sean Casey, Detroit Tigers First Baseman

Best Comeback Story: The Return of October Baseball to Detroit
Baseball being played in frigid temperatures and in the October skies was something Detroit had been lacking for many years. Seeing Comerica Park jam-packed up to the rafters was a beautiful sight, and Downtown Detroit was bustling with all of the noise and activity that comes with a deep playoff run. The Tigers had never played on my birthday in my lifetime, but this season they lost 5-0 to the Cardinals in game three of the World Series. Watching a city become excited about baseball again was a fulfilling experience, and an autumn tradition that will hopefully continue for years to come on the field at Comerica Park.
Honorable Mention: Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings Goaltender

Most Exciting Athlete: Joel Zumaya
Out of the Tigers' bullpen, it is Joel Zumaya who lights up radar guns in stadiums across the country. The fireballer has been known to light up guns into the triple digits with regularity, and with more strikeouts than innings pitched, it's easy to see why the Tigers have invested so much in this young pitcher who converted from starter to reliever before the 2006 season began. After seeing Zumaya pitch out of jams in pressure situations, walking off the mound with a pump of the fist, it is clear that he has more than the required passion and drive to make it in the Big Leagues, which is why he is so incredibly exciting to watch. It seems as though every time he gets into the game, the fans are in for a treat.
Honorable Mentions: Jason Maxiell, Detroit Pistons Forward; Brent Petway, Michigan Forward

Need More Of: Mike Williams
After drafting Mike Williams as the third and final receiver in a streak of three consecutive drafts in which the Lions drafted a wide receiver with their top pick, it is unclear why the Lions simply turn into a black hole for rookies. Certainly after releasing Charles Rogers, there would be plenty of snaps for the second Williams, but not so. Although Mike has had trouble with drops, it seems like if he had a chance he could still be a legitimate threat in the passing game, especially with Roy Williams and Mike Furrey tallying so many receptions. It seems as though the player who set freshman records at USC for most yards and touchdowns as a receiver would be able to take advantage of the defenses' extra attention on Furrey and Roy Williams, but that is not so. Regardless of whether Williams has had enough chances or not, his track record at USC is not a fluke, and the Lions could significantly benefit by developing their still young receiver.
Honorable Mention: Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers Manager

Good Riddance Awards:

Detroit Lions Offensive Line
Matt Millen, Detroit Lions General Manager
Neifi Perez, Detroit Tigers Utility Infielder
Charles Rogers, Former Detroit Lions Receiver
Joey Harrington, Former Detroit Lions Quarterback

Up-and-Coming Awards:

Ernie Sims, Detroit Lions Linebacker
Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers Starting Pitcher
Jeremy Bonderman, Detroit Tigers Starting Pitcher
Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers Third Baseman
Jason Maxiell, Detroit Pistons Forward
Dan Cleary, Detroit Red Wings Wing
Mikael Samuelsson, Detroit Red Wings Wing

Wake Me Up Before You Cobo

2006-12-05T15:50:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, Wayne County Executive Rob Ficano unveiled a new $968 million expansion and renovation of Cobo Hall. Adding about 300 thousand square feet, the proposal would also call for the demolition of Cobo Arena and the building of a new, Jetsons-ish skywalk connected Cobo 2.0 to the Renaissance Center and Sheraton Ponchartrain.

Here's a handy little graphic, via the Detroit Free Press:

I'm actually kind of excited about the proposition of a new Cobo, though the skywalk thing strikes me as a bit much. Wouldn't a really nice renovation of the waterfront make more sense?

And while we're remaking Cobo, I'd like to propose renaming it. Albert Cobo was a notoriously racist office holder in Detroit - if you don't know what I'm talking about, I recommend reading Thomas Sugrue's brilliant "Origins of the Urban Crisis," which ought to be required reading for every Metro Detroiter - and Cobo is not worthy of having such a building named after him.

I don't really have a new name in mind, though I would note (if memory serves) that Martin Luther King first delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech at Cobo Hall, so perhaps something connoting that. What would you guys suggest for names instead of Cobo?

With the Lions, it Never Ends

2006-12-01T23:51:00.000-05:00

As a Detroit sports fan, I must say, it's hard to complain. This past season, the Tigers were the 2006 American League Champions; with wins over Miami and New York the past two days, the Pistons have extended their winning streak to eight games as they climb to the top of the Central Division; and although the Red Wings may not be as dominant as in years past, their 32 points is good for second place in the NHL's Central Division. Plus, the University of Michigan has put together one of the country's premeire college football teams, and Michigan State seems to have yet another solid basketball team. Here in the D, it seems the winning never stops... There is one exception to this. With the Detroit Lions, it is the losing that simply never ends.

After reading a brilliant real life interview with William Clay Ford, I was talking to a friend online about firing Matt Millen. After showing him the interview, he asked, "How old is WCF, anyway?" Naturally, I fired up Wikipedia, where on the Detroit Lions entry, I found the most blatant, simple statement I've ever seen: "The Lions are a disgrace to both the city and state." While this is a widely-known fact, it generally isn't the type of statement you'd expect to be presented as one of the opening lines of a Wikipedia entry. Once you start to think about it, the truth hurts. As fans across Michigan beg for mercy, William Clay Ford stands idly by while Matt Millen runs the team into the ground. Although the Lions were unable to deliver a revenge victory against former QB Joey Harrington on Thanksgiving (Harringon instead went on to burn the Lions for three touchdowns), there was a beacon of hope to come from the Lions' latest chapter of shenanigans. John Czarknecki of Fox Sports has said, "Without a doubt, President and CEO Matt Millen won't be in charge of the Detroit Lions next season." Maybe there is still some humanity left. It's a good thing, too -- I'm not sure how much more I can take of these 2-9 Lions. With injuries beginning to heal and playmakers in place, there simply are no excuses. Jon Kitna should never be sacked eight times in one game, and Joey Harrington should never be able to throw three touchdown passes -- especially against his former team. The Lions could fill their skilled positions with a team of Hall of Famers, but with their disgrace of an offensive line, winning games would still be nearly impossible. At least the defense can at least hold their own (at least by Lions standards), and Jon Kitna is usually solid for the most part, at least when he can get any respectable amount of time in the pocket. In 11 games, the quarterback of our last place Lions has been sacked 41 times. In 11 games for the division leading 9-2 Chicago Bears, Rex Grossman has been sacked just 13 times. The woes of the Lions can be overwhelmingly frustrating at times, even when the bar is already set so low. In Detroit, we know how to win. But within the walls of Ford Field, the Lions are turning losing into an artform by finding new and creative ways to let games slip away each and every Sunday. Hey, at least we have the draft to look forward to, right? It might be safer to say that we can look forward to the draft as long as the Lions swear they won't take any wide receivers in the first round...

Truer words have never been written than, "The Lions are a disgrace to both the city and state." Perhaps the Lions could make our holiday wishes come true by replacing this absolute abomination of a rock-bottom team with one that is just plain mediocre. Or even a team that's just plain bad. Just about anything is better than our Lions, but don't hold your breath, because with the Lions, it simply never ends.

NY Times Raves About Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Art

2006-11-30T15:09:00.000-05:00

Today's New York Times has a great review of the realtively-new Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit. Currently the 8th most e-mailed story on the Times' website, the article lauds the architectural designs of native Detroiter Andrew Zago. I don't really have any more to add that the article doesn't say itself. Read it here.

Six Proposals for Abandoned GAR Building

2006-11-28T13:04:00.000-05:00

The long-unused Grand Army of the Republic building, perhaps better known as that triangle castle on Cass and Grand River, is going to be redeveloped with one of six new proposals delivered to the City, the Detroit News reports.

And now, the six proposals:
1. Olympia Development, owned by Red Wings/Tigers pizza magnate Mike Illitch, wants to convert the building into part-Civil War memorial, two floors of offices, and top the building off with some sort of club or cafe - which will surely draw the youngsters who always flock to Civil War memorials.

2. A "New GAR Development Team" wants to install retail on the ground level, with 15 apartments occupying the top three floors - despite the lack of any parking for the building.

3. Qualia Media Group, whose website is vaguely reminiscient of the Nuremberg rally, plans on having "a restaurant/bar/cafe on the first floor, along with a salon and retail area selling local products. The second floor would have TV production and design studios as well as a music studio that would be available for rent by the hour to the public; the third floor would have two separate theaters for live productions and film festivals; and the fourth floor would have a balcony for the theater and a lounge." Maybe it's just me, but the GAR building has never seemed - at least from the outside - to have the space to accommodate all of this. The News also notes that Qualia wants to "wrap" the building's memorable exterior with ads.

4. Robert Allen Architects PC plans on creating a "Camelot" nightclub (presumably not King Arthur-themed), complete with restaurant, a ballroom on the top floor, an ever-posh oxygen bar, and something I've never heard of: "a bar with flavored tobacco water pipes." I have no idea what to make of this; maybe Philip Morris has found a new "delivery device for nicotine."

5. Fieldstone Properties wants to house Mindfield Pictures, "a Detroit-based creative media design, production and editorial" group. Fieldstone also plans on constructing a Civil War museum on the site.

6. And finally, CS Veco wants take the famous building, and transform it into bed and breakfast (I can see a hotel, but a B&B?), "gourmet coffee shop" (read: Starbucks), restaurant and office space.

Well, I think my personal preferences are #1 and 2, but we shall follow this story to see how it turns out.

Untalented Singer, Plastic Woman Divorce

2006-11-28T08:49:00.000-05:00

Metro Detroit is reeling today with news that favorite son Kid Rock (who, incidentally, is not from Detroit, but Romeo) is divorcing Pamela Anderson, his wife of four months. I don't know about you, but it's the kind of news that upon reading, you merely shrug, as it is more or less what you expected (another recent piece of news like this was when Aerosmith frontman Stephen Tyler announced he has Hepatitis C).

We here at DetroitWonk wish Kid Rock the best. We're sure he'll rebound just fine.

Ford Seeks $18 Billion in Credit

2006-11-27T14:29:00.000-05:00

Ray posted on the Ford news over at Jalopnik. His commentary on auto industry issues is far better than mine; read it here. I've block-quoted it below.

Today, in a move that sounds an awful lot like a plot line from a Steinbeck novel of the 30's set in dust-bowl Americana, FoMoCo's asking JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to help the automaker finance $18 billion in secured (meaning backed by tangible assets like equipment, buildings, nameplates, water coolers, etc). Except, in this Steinbeck novel, instead of the Joad family, Johnny's telling the story of Pa Mulally and Momma Ford asking the bank for a loan. The bank tells them they'll have to sign over the farm, the barn and all of FoMoCo's domestic assets -- plus Volvo and Ford Credit just to be safe. That's right, the Ford family will be putting up all of that for a measly $8 billion in a secured credit line to replace an existing unsecured $6.3 billion loan plus a new $7 billion secured term loan and some stock-insured loans amounting to around $3 billion. I guess that beats running out of cash and having to declare bankruptcy. Hopefully for the boys and girls in Dearborn, this won't end like the final scene in that Steinbeck novel -- you know, a scene of Bill Ford breast-feeding a starving Alan Mulally, with FoMoCo CFO Don LeClair crying in the corner.

MI's 2008 Primaries Likely Moving Up

2006-11-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

This past April, I wrote about Michigan trying to move up its 2008 presidential caucuses up to compete with the traditional early-primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire. The Boston Globe is now reporting that MI's Democrats and Republicans are working together trying to move our state's caucus to Feb. 2, which would bring all sorts of new attention to our state. From the Globe:

Though moving the caucus date would violate DNC rules, it could get signed into law during the Legislature's lame-duck session next month, said Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis . "There is widespread agreement from both sides that we will do this. The question is just when we will get it done," Anuzis said.

It's nice to see such bipartisanship on this issue. There are always plenty of opportunities for disagreement and "us vs. them" attitudes - and rightfully so. But it's nice to see that we can work together to improve Michigan's importance in the nation. As I said in my post last April:

Michigan has a vast population - urban, suburban, rural, white, black, Catholic, Protestant, liberal, conservative, and moderate - much more like that of the nation as a whole. ...it would be nice to see a rotating system of primaries, with different states in front every presidential election year, offering each state its turn in the spotlight, and ending the monopoly on the election process held by the privileged few. Michigan Wants In.

MSU Inores Izzo, Hires Dantonio Over Mooch

2006-11-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

This morning, the MSU Trustees approved Mark Dantonio, coach of the University of Cincinnati's fightin' Bearcats, so succeed John L. Smith as MSU's football coach. It's a bit of a surprise, considering the others interviewed for the position - among them, LSU's brilliant defensive coordinator - and the rumors that beloved MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo was pushing to get Steve Mariucci, his best friend, the job.

Admittedly, I know nothing about Dantonio sans what has been reported this morning - that he's revived Cincinnati's football program and has a great history of defensive coaching both under Nick Saban at MSU and Jim Tressel at both Ohio State and Youngstown - but what I do know that he can't be worse than what MSU has now. Go Green.

Hizzoner Curbs Credit Card Spending

2006-11-27T01:07:00.000-05:00

After coming under widespread criticism over his use of city-issued credit cards during his first term, the Detroit News reports that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has "reined in" use of the cards "by more than 70 percent" this year. As you may remember, the Free Press reported in 2005 that during his first three years in office, Kilpatrick charged over $210,000 in entertainment, meals, and travel-related expenses on the public-paid Master Card - roughly $5,500 a month. This year, the monthly credit card expenses are down to $1,457. He's proving himself to have some discipline and maturity - some things money can't buy. But for everything else, there's his taxpayer-funded Master Card.

Chlamydia Pervades The D

2006-11-26T17:30:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving, let's get to some recent news:

Our ever-invaluable Metro Times pointed out this past week that Detroit has the highest rate of chlamydia of any city in the nation. According to numbers cited from the Center for Disease Control, the Motor City has a rate of 1,358 cases/100,000 residents, or 1.358%. For those of you who haven't taken math at the middle school level, this means 1 in every 100 Detroiters is infected with the STD. According to the disease's Wikipedia entry, about four million cases occur in the United States a year, among which "about half of all men and three-quarters of all women" with the disease not knowing they're infected - which, needless to say, is troubling on many different levels, seeing as the disease is the #1 preventable cause of blindness, and can also lead to infertility. Perhaps equally troubling is the fact that, as the Times reports, "42 percent of Detroit's 2005 cases [occured] in people 19 years old or younger."

Mark Miller, manager of Michigan's STD program at the Department of Community Health, is not one to let such bad news bring it down, and finds some silver lining in the news, suggesting it's a sign that more testing for chlamydia is being done, though perhaps others would suggest that the incredibly high rate of frequency causes the need for more people to be suggested. Either way, it's a problem that we, as a region, need to be aware of.

It All Comes Down to "The Game"

2006-11-18T10:59:00.000-05:00

Apparently there's a little game going down in Columbus, Ohio, today that could be interesting. The #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are hosting the #2 Wolverines of Michigan in the final game of the season in a clash of undefeated football titans. Whoever wins will certainly advance to the national championship game. Michigan brings in a tough running defense, Mike Hart running the ball, and a now seasoned Chad Henne at QB. Ohio State brings just about everything to the table, featuring Heisman candidate Troy Smith at quarterback. In this epic clash of the titans, only one team can prevail. Unfortunately, Michigan coaching great Bo Schembechler just couldn't make it until kickoff. He collapsed during the taping of a weekly show at WXYZ-TV in Southfield and passed away several hours later. As we mourn the loss of one of the greatest figures in Michigan sports history, one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports will play on.

Let's win one for Bo.

Lasting Legacy: Michigan coaching legend Schembechler dies at 77 [SI.com]
Game, rivalry couldn't be scripted any better [ESPN]

Vote Today

2006-11-07T00:16:00.000-05:00

Friends, this is a friendly reminder asking you to please go out and vote today. Secure Michigan's Future - Vote Granholm.

If you're not sure where to vote, go here. And please, when casting your ballot, think of your neighborhood, think of our state, think of our nation, and remember how futures are built.

Apparently, Christmas Time Is Here

2006-11-05T00:50:00.000-05:00

Well, the Christmas season unofficially began earlier this week when Metro Detroit's 100.3 WNIC - who boast the fact that they normally play "100.3% Love Songs" - switched over to their 24-hour-a-day Christmas music format. And I'm glad, because, really, when else can you hear The Carpenters, Michael Bolton, Manheim Steamroller, and Burl Ives on the radio? Last year, WNIC began their season on November 1st, but this year, they decided it was too early, so they held out until November 3rd. On the radio, they refer to themselves as Metro Detroit's "official" Christmas station; of course, the idea that one can get an endorsement deal with a religious holiday seems somewhat odd to me. You can get a live stream of WNIC's Christmas cheer at their website.

And what November means, of course, is that Detroit's Thanksgiving Day Parade is only a few weeks off (3 and a half weeks, as of this writing). I've fond memories of watching the parade on TV, anchored by Carmen Harlan and Mort Crim - who was replaced many years ago by Devin Scillian. I'd venture to guess that most of you have similar memories of eagerly watching the procession of floats as the smell of roasting turkey wafted through the air. My favorite float has always been the infamous Chilly Willy, who in 1986 broke free and floated up into the air, being sighted about 5,000 feet above Detroit before ending up in Lake St. Clair. (Note: the photo is taken from flickr user joojanta.)

Last year, this blog's editor, Ray, volunteered for the parade, captaining "Team Nutcracker" in the procession. If any of you are interested in getting involved with the Thanksgiving Day parade, you can volunteer at the Parade Company's website. I'm sure they would appreciate the help in making the parade a success for those children at home watching on TV as Turkey roasts in the kitchen.

A Streetcar Named Detroit

2006-11-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

This morning, the AP put out a story about the redevelopment of the famous Book-Cadillac Hotel in downtown Detroit. The storied building - which, for information's sake, is the setting of an important scene in Scorsese's "Raging Bull" - has been vacant more than 20 years, which makes it all the more encouraging that the Cleveland-based Ferchill Group is helming a $168-180 Million Dollar renovation project. The top eight floors of the 33-story building will be expensive - as instance, $450k for two bed, two bath, 1500 sq. feet - condominiums. The other 25 floors will be converted into a 455-room Westin Hotel, set to open in 2008. High-speed internet and flat-screen TVs will be featured in every room, and a Convention center within the Hotel will offer 39,000 sq. feet, which is sure to make it a preferable conference space compared to the nearby Cobo Hall.

In other Downtown news, the promise of of a mass-transit system is again being discussed, with the City of Detroit looking specifically at a high-speed connection to Ann Arbor, as well as the various possibilities of transit in the Metro area. According to the article, while light rail seems to be the front-runner at this point (and rightfully so, IMHO), they're also looking at the options of "rapid bus service, an expanded People Mover, even street cars."

Now, I'm all for mass transit, and think that it's particularly needed in as large an area as the Metro Detroit region is, but street cars? We've tried the trolley system several times - the most recent campaign ended in 2003 - and the massive streetcar system Detroit enjoyed in the first half of the 20th Century was scrapped due to a combination of the expense of running streetcars (especially when compared to buses) and lobbying from Detroit's auto industry, which reasonably preferred that Detroiters use cars and buses - things their companies could produce. And it seems a bit unrealistic to expand the People Mover - a tie-in of some sort would be good, but the monorail seems such a 60s and 70s vision of what the future would look like, and beyond that, is prone to failure.

Nonetheless, I look forward to the day when Metro Detroit has a rapid-transit system, which will hopefully get people throughout area to see themselves as part of a region, rather than resorting to the old City vs. Suburbs attitudes.

Michigan On the Interweb

2006-11-02T13:28:00.000-05:00

Well, I am feeling rather lazy at the moment, so I thought that rather than blog about something myself, I'd link you to a few other Michigan-centric posts:

1. Gawker Points to Recent NY Times Errors About Detroit
One of the great blogs, Gawker never passes up a chance to point to errors in the Times, particularly when it is as glaring an error as referring to Detroit as a state - not just in passing, but in a list among other states. This comes just days after the paper of record said that the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series over the Detroit Lions, which is, of course, nonsense; the Lions haven't made a championship game since 1957. Read the Gawker post here. And speaking of football...

2. MichLib Points to DeVos Making Up His Own "Remember the Titans" Moment
Matt from Michigan Liberal points to an article in this morning's Grand Rapids Press which details an inspirational High School football anecdote that DeVos apparently made up:

DeVos recounts a conversation he had with then-head varsity football coach Frank Rosengren: "He and I took a walk right behind this building (the old gym). It was a warm day and I remember he told me, 'Dick, I am going to start you because you have leadership skills and the team responds to your leadership.' "

DeVos went on to say: "That was a great encouragement to me. Those words were very important to me. Someone I respected affirmed that skill as I was a young person, and I will remember it the rest of my life."

Rosengren, 69, is now retired and living in Elk Rapids. He said the conversation never took place. He never walked with DeVos behind the gym for the coach-athlete heart-to-heart, Rosengren said, and he's certain DeVos never started as a quarterback in a varsity football game.

The only thing that would make that story better would be a line like "Dick DeVos was 5-foot-nothin', 100-and-nothin', and had barely a speck of athletic ability." Speaking of Dick DeVos...

3. Defamer Looks at Celebrities and the Granholm-DeVos Race
Gawker's sibling publication, Defamer looks at a recent GOP campaign mailing comparing the celebrities supporting Governor Granholm to those supporting DeVos:

As Defamer says, "We immediately understand the campaign's efforts to tie their Democratic opponent to Madonna... and bullhorn-wielding troublemaker Michael Moore's inclusion on their list needs no explanation, but Scorsese?"

I should be back with a post later tonight. Hope this will suffice until then.

Fighting With a Vim - What the Hell is a "Vim" Anyways?

2006-11-01T20:26:00.000-05:00

Well folks, here are two stories of varying note and importance from the banks of the Red Cedar. I speak, of course, of Michigan State University:

1. MSU Football Coach John L. Smith Has Been Fired.
Yes, the Ignoramus from Idaho Falls has been canned, to the resounding applause of Spartans everywhere. Though he will finish coaching the final three games of the season, he will be replaced for next season - maybe even by failed Detroit Lions Coach Steve Mariucci, who, as everyone knows, is best friends with Tom Izzo. As for John L., maybe he can look for a new job that will value his natural slapping ability and propensity towards failure.

2. Vice-Chair of 12th Congressional District GOP Recalled from Position on ASMSU
This probably is not intriguing to any of you, but Kyle Bristow, the most hated/prominent young right-winger on MSU's campus has been recalled from his position representing James Madison College on ASMSU, which is MSU's student government. Bristow, shown at right with Dick DeVos, is also the Vice-Chairman of the 12th District Republican Party, was recalled by a vote of 225-18 among James Madison College students. President of MSU's Young Americans for Freedom (a name which is about as controversial as "Americans Who Love Puppies," with views about as controversial as Mel Gibson's), Bristow is known for his right-wing fringe views, not the least of which include stripping all GLBT student groups of university funding and creating a White Student Alliance. It's unfortunate the the Republican Party has veered so far to the Right as to allow somebody like Bristow to Vice-Chair their party in one of Michigan's 15 Congressional Districts. I wonder what the MI GOP thinks about all this?

Bouchard Makes Push for Those "Moral Issues" Voters

2006-11-01T00:25:00.000-05:00

According to (my favorite pundit) Chuck Todd over at the National Journal's "Hotline On Call" Blog, the NRSC is putting between $800K - $1 Million into Michael Bouchard's Senate campaign for this final week. This is particularly interesting considering that no credible polls show the race to be close, with Debbie Stabenow regularly above 50% in most recent polls. So why sink the money in? Well, to try and take the Dems off the competitive races with GOP incumbents in Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri.

Another sure sign of Bouchard's "final push"/desperation is that this Thursday, he will seek out the moral values votes that can only be delivered by an appearance with Detroit's own - by which I mean Romeo's own - Kid Rock. Rock, best known for his "musical talent," has kept a relatively low profile since the Kid Rock/groupies/Scott Stapp sex tape appeared earlier this year (which you may remember from Ray's enormously-popular coverage on it this past February). Perhaps he's trying to become his generation of Michiganders' Ted Nugent. I'm seriously wondering what type of campaign event this will be; maybe Rock will deliver a stirring policy speech, or talk about the need for a trade prosecutor. This may well be the single greatest campaign event in Michigan this election. Just imagine the photo opportunities:

I, for one, can't wait.

EDIT: 2:26 PM The National Journal's Hotline is reporting that in addition to Kid Rock, the Bouchard appearance will also feature the shimmering talent that is Uncle Kracker. Also, they say that Laura Bush might be present. Best. Photo Op. Ever.

Trick or Treat

2006-10-31T16:56:00.000-05:00

The World Series ended with disappointing results, and summer is now officially over. But before Detroiters are faced with the cruel reality that is the Detroit Lions (this Sunday's bye means they didn't lose!), we can still have some good old Halloween fun.

After all, Halloween is the one night of the year where random strangers hand candy over to young children (and also to those a few years older who apparently wish to extend their youth) and lighting candles inside of pumpkins is not only accepted, but encouraged. As for these Tigers pumpkins, even though the Cards may have taken the World Series, seeing the Olde English D on a pumpkin still makes me smile. For once we can be optimistic about baseball, and spring training is still months away! It also means plenty of time for the pitchers to take fielding practice.

Oh, and for those who didn't have the time to carve pumpkins of their own, you can still have all of the fun of pumpkin carving without the mess it leaves behind by using this handy online pumpkin carving simulator.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

One Week More

2006-10-31T16:50:00.000-05:00

Well folks, we have only one more week until Election Day, when Michigan will vote on a myriad of things: Granholm vs. DeVos, Stabenow vs. Bouchard, whether or not affirmative action should be allowed (at least in its current form, as the proposal wouldn't ban the usage of an economic-based affirmative action), whether Michiganders should be able to hunt for doves (why not hummingbirds while we're at it?), yada, yada, yada.

In the Ninth District, Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg is facing off against Dem nominee Nancy Skinner, and though it's incredibly unlikely that he will lose, that doesn't stop him from devoting a large chunk of his campaign website to her. Going to his home page, one button immediately stands out. Let's see if you can guess which one:

If you guessed "The Skinner Files," you're right! They must have decided that it wasn't attention-grabbing enough to merely center the link, so they made it almost bleed red. Click on the link, and you'll have a veritable feast of negative campaigning. The headline screams about "High Taxing Nancy Skinner" (never mind that there should probably by a hyphen between "high" and "taxing," and that since she's never implemented a tax, she cannot be "high taxing."). As if the page's diatribe isn't psychotic enough, there's this gem of a picture:

Being in a political ad's Black & White picture = Bad. Even worse if the contrast is increased and the photo made grainy. And if that negative-campaigning by sledgehammer approach isn't subtle enough for you, read the FOX News ticker. It contains the phrase "face disastrous consequences" beneath Nancy Skinner. The message, quite obviously, is that voting for Nancy Skinner = Disastrous Consequences. Happy Halloween.

Thankfully, there's only one week more and all this idiocy will disappear - at least until 2008.

At Least Detroit Is Safer Than St. Louis

2006-10-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

Well, according to new rankings done by Morgan Quitno Press, Detroit is the second most dangerous city in the nation, behind only our World Series rivals, St. Louis. Flint is number three. And while Detroit and Flint's places on the list only help to reinforce old stereotypes about those cities, there is some silver lining: suburbs Troy and Sterling Heights are the fifth and sixteenth safest cities in America. But that silver lining is quickly outdone when one sees the rankings of the "Most Dangerous 25" metropolitan Areas in the nation; the "Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn" metro area is #1, metropolitan Flint is #7, and Saginaw is #14. You can see the complete dangerous/safest rankings here.

Earlier this year Morgan Quitno - studying quality-of-life factors like "education outcomes, energy, state government spending, prisons and corrections, highways and public health" - ranked Michigan the #2 Most Improved State in the Nation. So perhaps we can take some small measure of comfort in the fact that while we may not be perfect, we're getting better all the time.

-----
On a partially unrelated note, tonight is Angel's Night/Devil's Night in metro Detroit, so if anyone is interested in volunteering, you can get more information here. Also, do you guys think that the amount of arson will be an increase or a decrease from last year?

Tigers Lose World Series

2006-10-28T00:18:00.000-04:00

Well, with tonight's 4-2 Game 5 defeat by the Cardinals, our beloved Detroit Tigers have lost the 2006 World Series. Having watched the frustrating game, I can't help but to ask what was up with errors by the Tigers, particularly the pitching staff? I mean, how hard is it to throw to third base without an error? Oy. Plus, to lose at the hands of Jeff Weaver - former Tigs pitcher and enemy of Todd Jones. We were completely embarrassed in this World Series, playing so poorly that at times it looked as if we had gotten the pennant as a charity gift.

But while I am saddened by our loss, I am exhilarated by the fact that we got to the World Series after 13 straight losing seasons and only three years removed from a 119-loss season. We must remember what a drastic turnaround this is for the Tigers. And with that in mind, a World Series loss almost seems like a win. Almost.

Feel free to let it all out in the comments section.

Us and Them In Fight Over Macomb Executive

2006-10-27T10:01:00.000-04:00

For some time now, there's been a push underway in my home Macomb County to switch to an executive form of government, which would put us on equal footing with Wayne and Oakland. Macomb's population is greater than those of the states of Wyoming, Alaska, Vermont, South Dakota, and North Dakota, and it is long past due that we unify the county under one unified, strategic vision by creating a position that would be accountable to everyone. It's supported by a broad coalition including the Democratic caucus of the Board of Commissioners as well as the Chamber of Commerce. But among those opposed to the idea is Pete Lund, leader of the Board's Republicans, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of investigating the process of becoming an Executive County. Unfortunately, Lund has decided to put his own partisan politics ahead of the best interests of Macomb, and has stifled the debate by refusing to allow Wayne Executive Robert Ficano and Bay County Executive Tom Hickner - two of the only three people in the state to hold the county executive position - to testify before his committee.

What about Oakland County's L. Brooks Patterson, you ask? Perhaps Lund would allow a fellow Republican Exec to testify? No, he's not allowed either. At least Lund is consistent in his incompetence. Patterson, like Ficano, supports a Macomb Executive. But unlike Ficano, who is willing to advocate publicly, Patterson said of his favoring a Macomb Executive: "I'll keep it to myself." Why would L. Brooks Patterson, known for his loose tongue, keep quiet here? Because Lund and the rest of the County GOP leadership sent Patterson a letter in April 2005 demanding that he not speak out in the best interests of Macomb. According to the Detroit News, that letter at one point read:

"It is our view that Macomb County's current form of government is what is best for us and will do all in our power to keep it as such."

But who agrees with Lund when he says "it is best for us"? Not Ficano. Nor Patterson. Nor the Central Macomb Chamber of Commerce. Nor the Detroit Regional Chamber. Nor Macomb Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nancy White.

So when Pete Lund says that "Macomb County's current form of government is what is best for us," he means "us" as in "us Republicans," not Macomb County as a whole. He just simply isn't willing to help improve Macomb if it means that his party might not win. And that is shameful.

Another Reason to Root for the Tigers

2006-10-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

Well friends, it's been about six months, and our readership has dwindled, but I am going to try and start posting again on a regular basis. For those of you who have not kept up on political news, I cannot even begin to try and catch you up, so I refer you to MichiganLiberal, which is always a great resource. In short, Granholm > DeVos on everything. And the Tigers are in the World Series - which isn't particularly political, except in the way I'll explore below.

As If There Weren't Enough Reasons To Root For the Tigers, Cardinals Pitcher Jeff Suppan - scheduled to pitch for tonight's game - is appearing in a Missouri political ad opposing stem cell research. This of course, comes just days after Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's, appeared in an ad for MO Senate candidate Claire McCaskill, who advocates stem cell research (her opponent, incumbent GOPer Jim Talent, does not). After seeing the Fox ad for stem cell research, Rush Limbaugh attacked Michael J. Fox, alleging that Fox was "either off the medication or he was acting." This, of course, has set off a firestorm of controversy, resulting in the right-wing gathering up what few "celebrities" - former Rams QB Kurt Warner, sitcomer/Schiavo protester Patricia Heaton, an Arameic-spewing Jim Caviezel, and Jeff Suppan - they could find to appear in this anti-stem cell ad set to air during in Missouri during tonight's Tigs-Cards game:

So even if you aren't a Tigers fan or a Michigander, you should root for Detroit tonight if only to embarrass Jeff Suppan. You know now.

How 'Bout Them Tigers?

2006-10-08T00:22:00.000-04:00

The New York Yankees were heavy favorites heading into the ALDS against the Tigers, especially with a $200 million payroll that features superstar players like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. However, it was the Tigers who stole the show from the Yankees. After splitting the first two games in New York, the Tigers took care of business at Comerica Park to clinch the series in four games.

Words cannot express how proud I am of this Tigers team. They came to play in this series, and quickly showed the Yankees that they belonged in these playoffs. After losing the division title and their last five games at home, there were doubts as to whether these Tigers would have a chance against the "greatest lineup ever." I myself found it difficult to pick anybody over the Yankees. If the Tigers had won the division, they would have faced Oakland, which I had thought to be a more favorable matchup -- instead, the A's swept the Twins in three games. The Tigers responded to their critics by using the disappointing end to the season as a chance to refocus and get their heads back in the game. Instead of staying at home, an angry Tigers team flew to the Bronx determined to show the world what they were made of. And they have done just that. Stellar pitching by folks like Joel Zumaya, Justin Verlander, and Kenny Rogers kept the Yankees in check, allowing the Tigers offense to finish the job. A tip of the cap to the Detroit Tigers, who advance to the American League Championship Series to face the Oakland Athletics. The winner of the ALCS will meet the National League Champions in the World Series.

Isn't baseball in October great?

Tigers roll over Yanks, win series [FSN]
Tigers finish off Yankees behind Bonderman [SI]

Detroit Tigers: Now With 100% More Playoffs

2006-09-25T18:28:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the 2006 Detroit Tigers, who clinched a playoff spot with their emphatic victory over Kansas City yesterday. This means that, at the very worst, the Tigers will settle for a Wildcard win. Of course, with a 1 1/2 game lead over second place Minnesota, the Tigers have a decent shot at winning the division, with only six games remaining on the schedule. The Tigers will play the Blue Jays for a three-game series, and then will face the Royals for their final three games. This final stretch of regular season is key. If the Tigers win the division, they will play the Oakland A's in the first round, but if they settle for the AL Wildcard, it means a rendezvous with the New York Yankees, which is something the Tigers would like to avoid.

Of course, this season has been a major victory for Tigers fans from all walks of life. The last time the Tigers reached the playoffs? 1987. Do I remember 1987? Of course not. An entire generation of Tigers fans have grown up watching nothing but losing season after losing season, and, after 12 straight losing seasons and a 19 year absence from the playoffs, the Tigers have returned. This team still has business to take care of, although this season should not be forgotten. After all, most of us would have been happy with a .500 finish, and, as I joked that I was going to the World Series after the Tigers started 5-0, I had no idea what a ride we were all in for. It was a long and winding road, but the roar has finally been restored.

A tip of the cap goes to GM Dave Dombrowski, manager Jim Leyland, and the players who gave us one heck of a ride. Winning is such a sweet thing when you've never felt it before.

5 Championship Drive: Shock Take All the Marbles

2006-09-10T11:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the Detroit Shock drew a sellout crowd of over 19,000 at Joe Louis Arena (the Palace was booked for a Mariah Carey concert) as they took on the Sacramento Monarchs in the final and deciding game of the WNBA Finals. Things weren't looking good early, as Sacramento put up an eight point lead at halftime, and the Shock were taking poor shots and turning the ball over. Fortunately, things changed in the second half. The Shock were able to rally beginning in the third quarter, and even led by as much as 13 in the fourth quarter. Sacramento made a game of it, but a Katie Smith three pointer with 14 seconds left was the final blow, effectively putting the game in the bag. The Shock were able to walk away with their second WNBA Championship in four years as Flint-native Deanna Nolan was named the Finals MVP after scoring 24 points in the final game.

Congratulations to all of the ladies from the Shock, as well as coaches Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn!

Electric! Shock rallies to top defending champs [Freep]

A Summer Finale: Detroit Style

2006-09-04T15:41:00.000-04:00

As Ray would put it, I was able get my own sexy on last night with a Detroit-style ending to my own summer. It seems like everything this summer just flew by, but at least it went out with a bang. We had a bite or ten at PizzaPapalis in Greektown to kick things off. Before I continue, let me say that the deep dish pizza I had there was certainly the best pizza I have ever had, and if you have never been to PizzaPapalis, I would highly recommend checking it out the next time you're in the area. After we were stuffed with pizza, we headed over to Campus Martius to check out the Jazz Festival, which was an incredible experience all in its own. The atmosphere was just electric, in that urban jazzed up kind of way, and the band onstage was really getting into the spirit of the event. Once they had played a few songs, we walked down Woodward, passing numerous booths offering T-shirts and various outdoor barbecue-type foods. Just seeing the huge mass of people all coming to simply enjoy some music and have a great time right in Downtown Detroit was quite a fulfilling experience to say the least.

The whole night was capped off with a trip to Comerica Park to watch the Tigers fall to the Angels 2-1. Something that was brought up in one of the recent telecasts was the fact that if the Tigers can just play .500 baseball in the month of September they will finish with 97 wins, which usually is enough to make it into the playoffs. However, I wouldn't hold my breath -- there is still plenty of baseball to be played this regular season, and both the Twins and White Sox are right on our tails. Our seats were in left field, several rows behind some obnoxious college-age kids who were a bit tipsy by the time the final out was made. And in classic fashion, the Tigers were aware I was coming, as evidenced by the lack of offensive support for what was otherwise a solid start by Wil Ledezma. That keeps my streak alive: Never in my life have I attended a Tigers game where the guys sporting the Olde English D have come out on top... I'll do you guys a favor and stay away from the ballpark the rest of this season.

Hopefully everyone here had a great Labor Day Weekend!

Two Ways To Avoide Labor This Weekend In Metro Detroit!

2006-09-02T16:52:00.000-04:00

Yes friends, it's been far too long -- but let's get our SexyBack with some fun weekend events going on in Metro Detroit for you, your friends and your whomever to do -- hell, you may even spot one of us getting our own sexy on downtown. Here's the scoop:

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get yo' jazz on!

Last night there were thousands of people packed into the Campus Martius stage and the other five stage areas to follow the rhythms of some of the best funk n' jazz artists this side of the mighty Mississippi. It's not just the New Orleans crowd getting down with their bad selves, there's also a strong Detroit contingent -- and not only from the six Mack Ave. artists/groups like Gerald Wilson's Big Band (Saturday night at 8:00 PM) and Sean Jones (Sunday at 4:30 PM at the ampitheatre stage), but there are also some hidden Metro Detroit jazzanistas like Rick Margitza, a tenor sax with Mouton Reunion Band, Randy Johnson a guitarist with Lou Donaldson and Peter Washington a bass with the Lewis Nash Quartet Tribute to Tommy Flanagan. Good gigs all, check 'em all out -- but first head on over to the official site to find where the stages and locations. Hell, we'll definetly be there tomorrow!

ARTS, BEATS & EATS: Fun and food and arts-fartsy are all up in Pontiac

The food's the thing, the beat's the thing and heck, even the art's the thing. Arts, Beats & Eats runs through 8 p.m. Monday. Today, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Head on over to the official website for more info.

Lions Finish Preseason 1-3

2006-09-01T14:20:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again. The time of the year when optimism for the Lions begins to fade, and the fans wonder if this will be yet another losing season. Last night the Lions fell to the Buffalo Bills in their final preseason game by a final score of 20-13. Of course, most players who had already made the cut (in this case Roy Williams, Kevin Jones, Jon Kitna, and the starters) played very little, if at all.

The backup quarterback job will be an interesting decision, as both candidates played well in their final preseason action. Josh McCown completed 11-of-14 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and Dan Orvlosky completed 9-of-14 passes for 73 yards. Eddie Drummond made five receptions for 39 yards, including the McCown touchdown pass, to lead the team in receiving. Charles Rogers played very little, catching only one pass for a three yard gain. Mike Williams played much of the fourth quarter, but never even saw an opportunity to catch a pass. For those of you who are wondering, cuts will be finished before this weekend is through. The NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks will return to Ford Field for the Lions' season opener on Sunday, September 10. The Seahawks were last seen in Detroit losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL. However, the Lions have one secret weapon on their side: the Madden Cover Curse! Seattle running back Shaun Alexander graces the cover of Madden 07, so that should help matters for Detroit.

And, for those of you who want a little Fantasy Football action, there are still several spots open in my ESPN Fantasy Football League. You'll need an ESPN account to join, however, one can be created absolutely free of charge. The draft is sometime tomorrow, so you'll want to sign up right now by following this link, and then clicking on "Sign In to Join This League" where you will be asked either to sign in or create an account.

Andrew Miller Makes Major League Debut

2006-08-30T15:58:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Tigers decided to give the folks in the Big Apple a look into the future of Tigers baseball this afternoon in the first game of a double header. Down 2-0, the Tigers put in their first round draft choice from this summer's draft, Andrew Miller. The left-hander had only made three appearances in Single-A Lakeland before getting the call up to the bigs at the beginning of this week.

Miller's first pitch was a 95 mph fastball that was bunted foul by Melky Cabrera, who later lined out to Magglio Ordonez in right field. Craig Wilson faced Miller next, and was hit in the knee of his back leg with an 0-2 pitch, but Andrew Miller was able to recover, first getting Johnny Damon to ground into a fielder's choice, and then inducing a ground ball to third by Derek Jeter to end the inning.

Andrew Miller's selection at sixth overall in this year's draft was a surprise, not because the Tigers should have drafted someone else, but because nobody expected Miller to fall so far in the draft. After all, who wouldn't want a 21-year old pitcher who could already pitch in the big leagues. The Tigers called Miller up just in time -- if they do make the playoffs, he will be eligible to be on their playoff roster. What a way to begin a career in the big leagues, right in the middle of Yankee Stadium! It simply doesn't get any more big time than that. When he came off the field, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez even checked his heart rate. Hey, you can't blame him: the Tigers have quite an amazing arm to protect.

Tigers 0, Yankees 2 [ESPN]
Miller Couldn't Ask for Better Debut [Tigers.com]

*Update 10:19 PM: The video of the debut has surfaced on YouTube. Enjoy it before MLB issues a takedown notice. They're infamous for being very... protective of their content.

Have Newspapers Missed the Boat on Blogs?

2006-08-26T23:50:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week the Detroit News ran a great article about how blogging is changing the way we all communicate, and also highlighted a few of the bloggers from the D. Of course, blogging is nothing new, and the newspapers are beginning to worry about Internet sources for information and the readers they attract away from the conventional media. Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

The News did a great job showing a few of our local bloggers, but I'm not quite sure they understand the kind of revolution that is taking place. Oh, sure the newspapers try to join in the fun of the Internet. However, it becomes obvious the the Detroit News isn't quite into the latest technology. Certainly, you can become an incredible source for news on the Internet if you have a clean site design and provide easy navigation. For one, I think the Detroit News could use a little bit of a facelift. As for the availability of the stories, it is difficult because of a lack of RSS. Most all blogs publish RSS feeds to help the content reach the readers without the readers having to check in with the site periodically to see the new entires. Major newspapers also accomplish this when they add in new content, as they often use content management systems to add content. The same kind of software is what powers blogs. The Detroit News has a page that literally lists dozens of feeds for our benefit. However, if you try to subscribe to them, you'll find that they aren't quite functional. Rather than having the title of the feed and then placing stories with their own titles below, the Detroit News made the title of their RSS feed the title of their most recent article, and there are no other entries in their news feed. If anyone from the News reads this, I suggest you try and subscribe to a few of your own RSS feeds and see what happens. And they wonder why blogging is causing such a commotion...

Blogger nation [The Detroit News]

The ALDS: Coming to a CoPa Near You?

2006-08-22T22:56:00.000-04:00

The Tigers have yet to clinch a playoff spot, and there is still over a month of regular season to be played. Regardless, the Tigers have announced that tickets for the ALDS will go on sale September 19, 2006. That's right, 2006 -- the very year we're in right now. It isn't an illusion: the Tigers have a legitimate shot at playing playoff baseball this year. Tickets will go on sale at the Comerica Park box office at 10:00 am for all the early birds, and tickets will be available for purchase online that very same day at 2:00 pm. Once again, nothing is set in stone, but the Tigers still have the best record in the American League, and currently hold a 7.5 game lead over the AL Central. The best-of-five ALDS is scheduled to start on either October 3rd or 4th.

It's still amazing that the Tigers have made such a drastic improvement this season. And they have now sold out 17 of their last 27 games at Comerica Park. I still remember when 15,000 fans seemed like a lot... Oh, how things have changed! Comerica Park is simply a beautiful sight when she's full.

ALDS Tickets to go on sale Sept. 19 [Tigers.com]

Where's Ray? At the Woodward Dream Cruise, of Course!

2006-08-20T21:51:00.000-04:00

The last time Ray was sighted here at DetroitWonk, he was blogging about things like the 175th birthday of the Detroit Free Press and Dick DeVos's campaign slogan. Since then he's been working overtime for Jalopnik, even taking the time to make a few appearances on MSNBC.

This weekend he was patrolling the 2006 Woodward Dream Cruise for Jalopnik, paying people to touch their Ferrari Enzos and such. Of course, with a ride that exotic, I'd pay a handsome sum just to hop in and take a spin around the block. This particular Enzo is one of only two in Michigan (the other belonging to former Red Wing Sergei Federov, who still owns a house in the area). It's not often that you get to be around so many amazing cars, even if it does congest the traffic. After all, what's more American than going for a drive and showing off our horsepower simply because we can?

For complete coverage of the 2006 Woodward Dream Cruise, I suggest you get your browser down to Jalopnik.

The Price of Winning

2006-08-05T12:15:00.000-04:00

I was recently searching for tickets to a Tigers game. Now, there are three matinees at Comerica Park this month, all of which have only standing room only tickets available. If you want to head over to a game, I suggest you plan several weeks in advance to ensure that you have the tickets you want. Unless, of course, you don't mind standing. It is a small price to pay for such a great season -- Detroit is a baseball town once again.

At an incredible 73-36, this Tigers team is still atop the Majors, and for once, they will actually be playing meaningful baseball late into the season. The White Sox may have fallen eight games back in the division race, however, they will most certainly make a late season push. The way this season has gone is more than any of us expected, and it is a thrill to watch. The Tigers surpassed last season's win total of 71 this past Wednesday, and there are still weeks of baseball to be played. I figured the Tigers would be good this season, but I doubt there is anyone who thought they would be this good.

For schedule and ticket information, go to detroittigers.com.

Lions, Red Wings, and Tigers -- Oh, My!

2006-07-31T21:34:00.000-04:00

Ernie Sims, the ninth pick in this season's NFL Draft, signed a five-year contract with the Lions. The Lions also signed safety Daniel Bullocks, who was selected in the second round out of Nebraska.
According to Randy Hill, the Lions apparently have no hope for winning the Super Bowl this season. This is the reason he gave for why the Lions could win it all:
Detroit Lions: Let's see ... Millen, Mornhinweg, Mariucci, Marinelli, Martz, McCown, Miami?

Nah, I don't believe it, either. We'll have to go with Kitna here (but still be M-M-M not so good).
Kitna is better than Harrington, and he should help us win some games, but the tone of his segment for the Lions just doesn't seem very encouraging. Of course, we don't need the mainstream media to tell us what to think -- we all know who the winners of Super Bowl XLI will be.
The Red Wings finally found their goaltender. Luckily, we were able to avoid signing Ed Belfour, 41, whose back was cause for concern. Unfortunately, the Red Wings still continued their strategy of trying to put the oldest possible team on the ice, and today announced the signing of Dominik Hasek. Hasek, 41, will be a Red Wing for the third time, signing a one-year contract believed to be worth around $750,000. Ken Holland is taking a gamble on this one. He will either look like a genius (i.e. we see Hasek raise another Stanley Cup above his head) or a complete idiot (i.e. Hasek goes down with an injury or just plain fails). On the bright side, the Red Wings avoided giving up any important players, something they would have had to part with in a trade situation. Plus, Hasek takes up very little cap space.
Sean Casey recently closed on a house in Pittsburgh, only to learn that he was traded to Detroit. The Tigers gave up a minor league pitcher for the left-handed Pirates first baseman. Casey missed some games earlier in the season with a back injury, but still has solid offensive numbers, batting .296 with 3 homers and 29 RBI. Rumor has it that he is also a great defensive player. Chris Shelton was demoted to Triple-A Toledo to make space on the roster.

Delphi Execs Score Huge Bonuses

2006-07-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

A federal bankruptcy court approved today a multi-million dollar bonus plan for Delphi senior executives. That's right -- the court decided 467 executives of a bankrupt auto supplier needed bonuses -- as long as they achieve earnings targets in the second half of the year... So -- two questions. Is keeping your job when you've sent your company down the crapper no longer the incentive folks need, and where' the similar bonus plan for the blue-collar workers? Oh wait, Delphi's cut most of those jobs.

One would think that when in bankruptcy, the company would try to eliminate huge bonuses, especially for the people in charge who essentially have run the company into the ground in the first place. Do greedy executives really deserve such high salaries? Of course not, especially when you consider just how much higher their pay is compared to the average worker. All it takes is a little Google action to get the facts, and it is truly sickening: "The ratio of average CEO pay (now $11.8 million) to worker pay (now $27,460) spiked up from 301-to-1 in 2003 to 431-to-1 in 2004." Executives never used to make this much, but now all it takes is a year or so on the job, and they are set for life. Does the work they do merit salaries higher than those of most professional athletes? Certainly not. Think of the blue collar workers, who are the heart and soul of any company. Salaries like these send the message that those workers are dispensable, and not important to the company -- and I'm sure that the fat cats at the top of the ladder feel this way, too, as they continue to award themselves outrageous salaries, pensions, and bonuses. One would think that companies in financial trouble would try to save money, not throw it away.

Feedback and discussion is highly encouraged.

Steve Yzerman Hangs up His Skates

2006-07-03T14:28:00.000-04:00

The face of Detroit hockey, Steve Yzerman, announced his retirement this afternoon at a press conference. Yzerman's NHL career spanned 22 seasons, all of which were with the Detroit Red Wings. This guy was an inspiration, and a true class act. It's really a shame to see him go, but at the same time, it seems like it was meant to be. The Captain posted career tallies in goals (692) and points (1755) that are 7th all-time in the NHL, and 2nd all-time for a Red Wing.

"I've enjoyed my career immensely here in Detroit," Yzerman said. "I've finally made a definite decision. I've decided to retire, to hang up my skates."

Things just won't be the same without Steve Yzerman. The guy has been playing for the Red Wings for as long as I can remember, and we all have our memories of the great times he brought us. Yzerman brought the City of Detroit three Stanley Cups, and will forever be etched into the rich history of Hockeytown.

Feel free to comment and leave your thoughts and tributes to the one-and-only Captain.

Sports Woes Surface in the D

2006-06-10T12:29:00.000-04:00

Things simply aren't the same as they were just a few weeks ago in the D. The Red Wings exited in the first round, and the eighth-seeded Oilers are now being humiliated in the Stanley Cup Finals. After Dwayne Roloson went down in game one, the Hurricanes dominated the Oilers 5-0 in game two, giving Carolina a 2-0 series lead.

Our beloved Pistons also met defeat, only they fell in the Conference Finals. The Heat took the series in six games, and now trail the Mavs one game to zero in the NBA Finals. Although the series looked lopsided, there were a lot of times where the Pistons had the effort, but just couldn't get any shots to fall. Give Miami credit -- they shut down the a team that has made it to the NBA Finals the past two seasons, and also posted an NBA-best 64-18 record in the regular season. Honestly, I believed that Miami was going to be like the 2004 Lakers: two superstars with no chemistry and no chance. Pat Riley proved us wrong, and has whipped his team into shape, showing us that Miami is the team to beat in the East. The Heat now trail the Dallas Mavericks 1-0 in the NBA Finals. Game two is Sunday at 9 PM on ABC.

The Tigers seemed to be the upside from all of the playoff disappointments in Detroit, but things aren't going too well on the baseball front either. After losing series to the Yankees, Red Sox, and White Sox, the Tigers have now dropped 9 of their last 12, and are barely hanging on to the AL Central. Mike Maroth had been experiencing a great season, with a 5-2 record, but now sits on the 60-day disabled list after having surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. Chris Shelton started the season on a record-breaking pace, but has since cooled down. The stellar Tigers bullpen is allowing late inning heroics, and the Tigers are now clinging to a half game lead in the AL Central.

Things just don't come as easily in Detroit as they used to...

Got Hoffa?

2006-05-27T00:08:00.000-04:00

The search for Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa continues! The Hidden Dreams Farm in Milford Township has already been taken over by FBI agents searching for Hoffa's remains. Apparently a tip from a federal prisoner, Donovan Wells, was enough to warrant the complete demolition of a horse barn. The barn was taken down Thursday, and agents are now sifting through dirt under the barn's foundation.

It seems to me that finding Hoffa at this point in time would probably do very little to put the mystery to rest. Unless Hoffa had some sort of evidence that points specifically to one person, whoever killed Hoffa has cleared their tracks well -- we've already been searching for answers for over 30 years. The FBI should just come out and admit that they are looking out of curiosity like the rest of us. The disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa is just one of those great American mysteries that has become legend after spawning countless theories and myths. Wherever he may be, may he rest in peace.

Cleveland Takes Third Straight, 3-2 Series Lead

2006-05-18T15:58:00.000-04:00

After an embarrassing effort by the Pistons in yesterday's game five at the Palace, it is clear why the Cavaliers have seized a 3-2 series lead. The Pistons are not playing with enough intensity to make a deep run in the playoffs, let alone deserve the #1 seed. We often hear of this as "confidence" since the Pistons are so experienced in postseason play, but there comes a point when confidence becomes arrogance.

The first game of the series was an absolute blowout, leaving Cleveland puzzled and lost. The Pistons took game two, but the Cavaliers made a late rally, cutting the final score to respectable levels. Sadly, most of the media wrongfully discounted this run. Now the Cavs have taken that final quarter from game two and stretched their momentum, changing what was once a 2-0 Pistons lead to a 3-2 advantage in favor of Cleveland. Am I surprised? Not in the slightest. Even after taking a 2-0 lead in the series, the Cavs were not done. There simply are no cakewalks in the NBA Playoffs. You can blame it on ankle sprains, officiating, or just plain bad luck, but fact is that the Pistons are being outplayed. The Cavaliers have more desire, and it shows. This is what happens when you simply expect a sweep, or expect a win after a loss. Nothing comes easy, and you cannot take anything for granted. Cleveland knew they had a shot after falling in a hole, and it was not just optimistic players who believed. In the two games in Cleveland, crowds at the Q put Detroit's to shame. They do not take their team for granted. This Cavaliers squad is probably the best team in any professional sport the folks in Ohio have seen in years, and they are absolutely psyched. On the other hand, the Pistons stayed calm and "confident" as they saw a 2-0 lead slip away. It was obvious that the fans coming into the Palace last night just plain assumed that the Pistons would win game five, and were absolutely stunned. The Pistons had to win, because they never had a three-game losing streak during the regular season. Well, this certainly is not the regular season, and there is a first time for everything.

Although the Pistons have dropped three straight games, they did show up to play in the second half of last night's 86-84 loss. To recover and win the series, the Pistons will have to take game six on the road, and then close out game seven at home. After what they have exhibited over the course of the past week, it seems like a monumental task. Just as we cannot assume the Pistons will win tomorrow night just because their backs are up against the wall, we also cannot assume Cleveland will automatically hold on to their series lead. Last time the Pistons won in the series, Cleveland was able to transfer momentum from the fourth quarter into the next couple of games. The Pistons are usually perform well on the road. If the Pistons could beat LeBron & Co. twice in a row to open the series, they certainly have the talent to win two straight to close the series. Detroit just needs to take it one game at a time.

Bittersweet Monday: Wings Are Out

2006-05-02T15:48:00.000-04:00

It is official. The Detroit Red Wings, the highest seed in the Western Conference, have been eliminated from the NHL playoffs in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers. This is the third straight playoffs in which the Wings have been knocked off in either the first or second round. The Red Wings got one goal in each period, one each from Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, and Robert Lang, but it simply was not enough. The biggest problem in this series for the Red Wings was goaltending. Not our own, but the opposition's.

The Wings' third first round playoff exit in five seasons could bring about some changes in the locker room. Manny Legace comes to mind as the most obvious scapegoat. While no one can say he played badly, he certainly didn't play well and gave the Wings no inspiration or confidence with his body language and post-game quotes throughout the series. It will be a huge offseason decision whether to retain Manny as the backup, or give Osgood that role. Both are unrestricted free agents this summer. [via On the Wings]

After being acquired by Edmonton at the trading deadline, Dwayne Roloson has to be the MVP of the series for the Oilers, making 211 saves. The worst part about this game? The Oilers scored all four of their goals in the third period to come back and top the Wings 4-3. The end of the season leaves many questions. Among them is the Captain. This very well could have been the end of the road for Steve Yzerman, who ended his 22nd season with the Wings last night.

Of course, we are in Detroit, and being the best sports town in America, we still have a few things to cheer about. First of all the Detroit Tigers finished April with 16 wins, which is the most since the 18 wins posted by the 1984 squad (they moved on to start 35-5). Some of you may remember them winning a little thing called the World Series. With stellar pitching and offense that can come from anywhere in the lineup, there are great times ahead of the Tigers - assuming we can slow down the divison-lead White Sox.

If you still have some desire for playoff action, the Detroit Pistons currently lead their first round series against the eighth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks 3-1 after taking game four on the road last night. I won't count our blessings until the series is over, but there are still three games left for the Pistons to close it out. Hopefully they can end this series soon and give Richard Hamilton's sprained ankle a little bit of rest.

Says Hamilton: "I'm beat up [laughs]. Know what I'm saying? I'm beat up. I've got a deep thigh bruise and a bad ankle. I'm just trying to fight through it and that's my role. Regardless of how I shoot, if I can do any other thing to help my team win - if that's defend or whatever - I'm going to be out there."

The Bucks played quite well in game four last night, until the Pistons were able to hit clutch three pointers on two straight trips down the court to silence the crowd and build some cushion on their marginal lead. Free throws may have kept Milwaukee in the game, but Detroit's high percentage from the line iced the game in the fourth quarter. One cause for concern: Rasheed Wallace received a bogus technical foul in game four, putting his playoff total at two (you are only allowed seven for the playoffs before suspensions are issued). Chauncey Billups scored 34 points to lead the team. Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince both chipped in 18. The Pistons can clinch the series in game five, which you can watch this Wednesday at 6:00 PM on TNT.

"Get It Done?": Is DeVos A Bit Out Of Touch?

2006-05-01T13:43:00.000-04:00

The answer is yes. It's the only response I can think of to is new "Get It Done" bus tour. Because if Dick DeVos were really in touch with the average Michigander, he'd know the phrase to chant would be "Get'r Done," the phrase popularized by the Larry The Cable Guy character. Unfortunately, he's so out-of-touch, he probably would just think me another ignorant casualty of Michiagn's public-school system -- and yet another example for the need to establish more charter schools in Michigan. Now those who know me know full well that although I may be ignorant, it's my private school I have to thank for that.

Regardless, I doubt he's seen the popular "Larry The Cable Guy" comedy sketch -- he doesn't really seem to me to be the Comedy Central kinda-guy.

DeVos kicks off weeklong "Get It Done" bus tour of state [Freep]

What If Cinco De Mayo Really Meant 175?

2006-05-01T06:41:00.000-04:00

Well, if you're the Detroit Free Press it does! That's because this year on May 5th, the Freep turns 175 years young. Yay Freep! Ya don't look a day over 130 -- seriously. In celebration, they're running a "Counting to 175" special report featuring "fun" trivia all week.

Ok, that's totally the lamest way to celebrate a birthday. And here I thought I was lame by celebrating with writing papers and taking exams. This totally sucks worse.

Special report - COUNTING TO 175: Free Press trivia [Freep]

NFL Draft - - The Detroit Lions Now Have A Guy Named Ernie. We'll Keep The Sesame Street Jokes To A Minimum.

2006-04-29T14:30:00.000-04:00

With the 9th pick, in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions pick...Matt Leinart? Jay Cutler? Haloti Ngata?

Nope -- Ernie Sims.

Ernie Sims?

Yup -- Ernie Sims.

The guy from Florida State who already has like -- Five Concussions? That Ernie Sims?

Yup.

Oh, that's good. Real good.

I can already hear the "Fi-re Mil-len!" chants in the background.I'm gonna start drinking. Deadspin's got all the news -- check back here or over there in their NFL Draft -- or Detroit Lions tags.

Holy Partnership, Detroit! WDIV And Freep To Get Freaky!

2006-04-26T23:27:00.000-04:00

Holy shnikes, talk about Metro Detroit media consolidation -- effective Friday, May 5th, the Detroit Free Press and WDIV-TV Local 4 -- will share reporting resources in print, over the air and on the Interwebs. Oh goodie, cause this will totally make the reporting better for both, right?

Read the whole release/article thingie on the Freep website -- which is good, cause WDIV's site totally sucks.

Free Press, WDIV announce new partnership [Freep]

Heritage Vs. Retro Vs. Old Stuff

2006-04-26T08:38:00.000-04:00

Battle royale time -- apparently the automakers need to decide which term to use when describing old stuff? Heritage or Retro? Isn't this kind of a false dichotomy -- I mean shouldn't we really be using the term "old school"?

Second question -- what's Japanese retro?

Car styles: Heritage, not retro [Freep]
Japanese retro? [Freep]

Playoff Fever Erupts in Detroit

2006-04-24T14:46:00.000-04:00

Simply put, this is the best time of the year for sports fans. The NBA and NHL are both beginning the opening rounds of their playoffs, and baseball is a sign that summer isn't that far away. This is especially a great thing in Detroit, where the Red Wings and Pistons both had the best records in their respective leagues, and the Tigers are posting a winning record (12-7).

The Red Wings and Oilers kicked off their series Friday night. The Wings launched over 50 shots on goal, but Edmonton's Dwayne Roloson was able to turn away almost every one of them. With the Oilers leading 2-1 in the third period, Kirk Maltby scored a goal to tie up the game. With a rebound directed high in the air, Maltby was able to direct the puck into the back of the net using the shaft of his stick. The game went into double overtime before Maltby again scored, winning the game for the Wings. A few lucky bounces, and the Wings were able to escape Game 1. Game 2 was a different story, with the Oilers applying a "press," making it difficult for the Red Wings to move the puck up ice. Two goals off of turnovers in the Detroit zone in less than a minute highlighted Edmonton's 4-2 victory. Chris Pronger really was a beast yesterday, and the Red Wings just plain got beat. We will have to wait and see what happens next, as the series travels to Edmonton tied at one game apiece.

Of course, you simply cannot go anywhere without hearing something about the Pistons, who opened up their playoff series with Milwaukee yesterday. Rasheed Wallace scored 22 points and Ben Wallace snagged 17 rebounds as the Pistons triumphed. Flint-native Charlie Bell led Milwaukee in scoring, with 13 points. The Pistons defense was able to shut down Michael Redd, keeping Milwaukee largely ineffective on offense.

I knew it was going to happen. They did a great job having two or three guys around me all night. It was very difficult to get a shot off. They really were just concentrating on shutting me down tonight. We have to make adjustments; it's totally different from the regular season.
-Michael Redd

However, the game was much closer than the final score of 92-74 suggests. Milwaukee came back from a 19-point deficit, and nearly took the lead before Detroit was able to make a final push to ice the game.

There are still weeks of playoffs ahead of us, and both the Red Wings and Pistons have a chance to do something really special. It is truly great to be a sports fan in Detroit.

'Erect Pillars' On Woodward? Mmm...Phallic Goodness

2006-04-24T08:12:00.001-04:00

It looks like the Woodward Avenue Action Association is taking a long and hard look at driving traffic up Metro Detroit's corridor during non-Dream Cruise periods of the year. I think it's a smart idea; erecting a series of 10 to 30 foot decorative pillars each displaying important aspects of the heritage (mainly auto) of Metro Detroit.

I have two thoughts on the issue. The first is that I think this is a really good idea and a long time coming. We in Metro Detroit haven't fully leveraged our amazing automotive heritage to its fullest extent. While no one wants to create a post-modern "Auto World," it'd be nice to see us using our history as an industrial titan to our advantage.

Secondly, although this idea is rather kitschy, it's precisely "kitchiness" (oh yeah, I totally know I just created a new word!) that helps to sell a region as an interesting and unique place to live. It's why, for instance, I like the I-94 bridge over Telegraph and don't understand why the MSM treats it so poorly. I mean come on folks, people don't go to visit New York's Statue of Liberty cause it's on an island in the Manhattan...they visit it because it's a big freakin' statue on an island in Manhattan. I mean, come on, I'm hard-pressed to find a more kitschy thing around. The point is that kitschy is a good thing cause it helps to make a community unique and allows us to sell ourselves to others as an authentic and real place.

So let's hear it for the Woodward Avenue Action Association, for helping increase Metro Detroit's "kitchiness," and helping to further make Metro Detroit and Michigan great places to work, live and play.

Woodward art could lure travel, group says [Freep]

Concept Art and Story Idea from the Freep

Detroit's Steve Wilson: Protecting Us From Poisonous Milk

2006-04-22T01:07:00.000-04:00

I was messing around looking at video sites earlier today, and found a neat little video over at throwawayyourtv.com, where I found an amazing video about investigative journalist Steve Wilson's work working for Fox News down in Florida. Here in Michigan, Wilson's most well-known for his "hard-hitting" investigative stories on Mayor Kilpatrick. I always kind of looked at Wilson as humorous, but without a whole lot of substance. I was wrong. The man is worth a second look if you've had the same thoughts about him I have.

In this video, watch the story of how Wilson and the rest of the "Investigators" were attacked by Roger Ailes' News Corporation (owners of Fox News), for their report on Monsato, the huge chemicals mega-corporation. Monsato had created a new bovine growth hormone, now used in almost every non-organic jug of milk you drink. Find out why I'll be buying organic from here on out, as well as the depths to which major corporations will go to protect their profits. Kudos to Steve Wilson, and the next time I see him...I am most definetly buying him a drink. A non-dairy one at that.

"Payola PR" Or "Reich-staging" At The General?

2006-04-21T07:53:00.000-04:00

So word coming out of the sieve-like RenCen is that the whole Robert Reich thing first mentioned in The Truth About Cars yesterday and the Detroit News this morning is merely the tip of the iceberg. We need to come up with a good name for the scandal...like Gawker did with "Payola Six." Anyone have any ideas other than the two above?

A Golden Funeral For Rapper Proof

2006-04-20T00:45:00.000-04:00

2,000 people were witness to the funeral for rapper Proof (also known as Deshaun Holton) at Detroit's Fellowship Chapel. The service was officiated by Rev. Wendell Anthony, and was attended by rap luminaries such as Eminem, 50 Cent, Obie Trice and D12 members Bizarre, Kuniva, Kon Artis and Swift.

In addition to a very heartfelt speech by Eminem, rapper Obie Trice from D12 spoke and asked for an end to violence. This was the same Trice shot on New Year's Eve. Trice's comments (as quoted in the Freep article linked below) were,

"I want to talk to the black men in here that's coming up in the hood, coming up in the struggle. We're killing each other, dawg. And it's about nothing. Nothing. Nothing. We're all dying. And we're leaving our kids. Our mommas. Our grandmas. Over nothing. Proof is the one. He is the pioneer of Detroit music -- You feel me? We've got to stand up, man. I love all y'all. We black people. White people, too. I love y'all, too. We got to stand up. Rest in peace."

Well said, Obie Trice. Let's all hope everyone heeds those words. Cause it was obvious there were folks in one community or another who decided that even a funeral was a necessary ocassion for disruption when a bomb threat was called into the church amidst the activities before the start.

The really interesting thing I noticed while running through coverage was the photo above. Proof is buried in a 24-carat gold-plated casket running $48,000 purchased through the Swanson Funeral Home. Am I the only one who feel that may have been a bit excessive? Also, as gross as this may sound -- am I the only one who thinks that thing may be stolen sometime before the end of the week?

Big crowds delay start of Proof's funeral; Em and Obie Trice speak [Freep]

The Freep Is Far And Away The Picture Of The Day Winner

2006-04-19T23:01:00.000-04:00

I mean seriously, absolute pinnacle of adorable-ness. Absolutely un-deniably adorable. So let's get the vitals. She's 106 years young, from Farmington Hills and credits "dairy" as her longevity aid. And get this, her name is Elsie Weinert. That's right, Elsie...like the cow.

Well Elsie, here's a glass o' milk and a hunk o' brie raised to another 106 years of adorableness!

She's 106. She doesn't have to say cheese. [Freep]

NHL Playoffs: Wings to Face Oilers

2006-04-19T18:38:00.000-04:00

Here is the schedule for Western Conference quarterfinal between the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.

Game 1: Friday, April 21 | 7:00 PM | @ Detroit

TV: FOX2, OLN, CBC

Game 2: Sunday, April 23 | 1:00 PM | @ Detroit

TV: NBC, CBC

Game 3: Tuesday, April 25 | 10:00 PM | @ Edmonton

TV: FSN Detroit, OLN, CBC

Game 4: Thursday, April 27 | 9:30 PM | @ Edmonton

TV: FSN Detroit, OLN, CBC

Game 5*: Saturday, April 29 | TBD | @ Detroit

TV: NBC, CBC

Game 6*: Monday, May 1 | 3:00 PM | @ Edmonton

TV: FSN Detroit, OLN, CBC

Game 7*: Wednesday, May 3 | 7:00 PM | @ Detroit

TV: FSN Detroit, OLN, CBC

*If necessary

The Red Wings really had some trouble with Edmonton during the regular season, managing to split the season series 2-2. However, the veteran leadership and superior talent of the Red Wings should be able to handle the Oilers easily in a playoff series. Detroit brings the NHL's best power play, and that could make the series. One concern for the Wings, however, is the health of Pavel Datsyuk, who is a game-time decision for Friday's series opener with a leg injury. Regardless, I'll take the Wings in 6.

DEMF!

2006-04-18T03:07:00.000-04:00

This news is a couple of days old, but I'm still excited because DEMF (The Detroit Electronic Music Festival, also known as Movement, but it will always be DEMF to me) is coming back this year! It was a close call, almost didn't happen, but today, the news is good.

For those of you who do not know what DEMF is, I recommend checking out the wiki article. To make a long story short, it is a city sanctioned techno fest which is mostly an excuse for people to roll their faces off in public to awesome music with a fabulous crowd.

The festival will again be held in Hart Plaza and a lineup has been posted on the website.

Paxahau Promotions Group, the company that will be producing the festival this year has announced Chrysler Jeep Superstores and Motor City Dodge Dealers as the event's title sponsors.

Although last year was successful, I hope people in charge of this years show can find a way to make it profitable and successful. DEMF almost didn't happen because of debts still owed to artists, promoters, and technicians from previous years.

The festival is scheduled for memorial day weekend, but prices have not yet been announced.

Sashism of the Day:

fattabulous - fat and fabulous. These may be my favorite people. They're fat and happy and comfortable with it and hilarious and wonderful. "She is absolutely fattabulous! Don't mess with her or she will eat you. Literally."

Hawt Carl!

2006-04-17T08:59:00.000-04:00

Carl Levin is hot...at least, he's now on Time magazine's "Best Senators List," and if that doesn't get the man his due, I dunno what will. Time describes Levin, a Senator since 1978 as "pudgy, balding and occasionally rumpled, and he constantly wears his glasses at the tip of his nose." Yeah, but they forgot the other awesome adjectives to describe the man, myth and legend --

1.) Adorable! Come on, he's like a big teddy bear...

2.) Penguin-ish...like Batman-nemesis like, but in a cute way.

3.) Also, brainy mighta been a good one.

4.) Liberty-like...I mean, come on look at the picture, they're totally like peas in a pod!

Levin on Time's best senators list [Freep]

Red Wings Take Presidents' Trophy

2006-04-14T19:30:00.000-04:00

If you think the only teams worth your time in Detroit are the Tigers and Pistons, you are dead wrong. The Detroit Red Wings are quietly on their way to another deep playoff run. With a win over Edmonton earlier this week, the team clinched home ice advantage throughout the NHL playoffs. This means that the Red Wings have the best record in the NHL, and have won the Presidents' Trophy. Manny Legace and Chris Osgood have been able to provide goaltending good enough to power the Red Wings towards another Stanley Cup. Add savvy veterans and rising young talents to the mix and it is clear that Detroit is the NHL's team to beat. If you still aren't sold, this could be the final season for The Captain. Steve Yzerman will turn 41 this May. In his many years playing for the D, he has tallied enough points for sixth place on the NHL's all-time scoring list. If the Pistons meet expectations and win a championship, we could be having two parades in Detroit's streets in just a few weeks. NBA playoffs begin on April 23rd and the Red Wings begin their first round matchup against the Oilers on Saturday.

In other hockey news, former Red Wing Luc Robitaille looks like he will be hanging up his skates after this season. As one of the NHL's greatest, there is no doubt that he will be missed. Also, Darren McCarty has filed for bankruptcy. In the paperwork, McCarty reported just under $2 million in assets, and debts of over $6 million. Who ever said the lockout didn't hurt the game? Hopefully the future will be kind to these two former Wings as they go through the journey of life.

Rapper Proof Killed

2006-04-11T09:57:00.000-04:00

A shooting occured on 8 mile Rd early Tuesday morning. Rap artist Proof and another man were both shot to death at the Triple C club, at around 4:30am.

Police are investigating the scene.

Proof was a member of the rap group D-12 and a close friend of Eminem's. It has even been reported that he was the best man at Eminem's wedding to Kim Mathers.

More info from Channel 7 news.

No 'Real World' For Royal Oak

2006-04-11T07:43:00.000-04:00

According to today's Freep those rumors of a 'Real World: Detroit', they are just not true. It won't be happening. MTV announced yesterday the cold weather city they've selected for the next season of the Real World will be...drum roll, please...Denver, Colorado! Sorry Detroit, as your consolation prize you'll be getting...well, nothing really.

No 'Real World' for Royal Oak [Freep]

Record Crowd on Hand as Tigers Fall to ChiSox

2006-04-10T16:48:00.000-04:00

This afternoon, downtown Detroit was packed with a buzz that can only mean one thing: Opening Day. A record 44,179 fans and temperatures around 60 degrees were on hand at Comerica Park to welcome the boys of summer back to the D. Super Bowl hero and Detroit-native Jerome Bettis was on hand to throw out one of the ceremonial first pitches, but after that young ace Jeremy Bonderman took to the mound. His effort was worthy of an opening day starter, as he allowed only four earned runs over seven innings of work, striking out eight batters in the process. However, the White Sox held the Tigers to just three runs - a two-run home run by Craig Monroe in the second inning and an RBI double from Chris Shelton in the sixth. Chicago's Joe Crede made several exceptional plays at third base, and the championship caliber pitching of the ChiSox handled the rest. Despite falling to the 2005 World Series Champions today, there is no doubt that the citizens of Detroit are prepared for plenty of Tigers baseball this summer. Standing at 5-2, the Tigers are still off to a promising start. After an off day tomorrow, Detroit plays two more games against the White Sox (both with first pitch times of 1:05 PM), and then a series against the AL Central's leading team - the Cleveland Indians - beginning on Friday.

Spade-Spotting With Kid Rock

2006-04-10T07:05:00.000-04:00

So the two born and bred Metro Detroiters continue to play nicely together, with David Spade offering Rock a private screening of Spade's new film, Benchwarmers. The pair were down in South Carolina together as Spade continues his media whirlwind tour and Rock performed a quick concert at Clemson University. The two apparently became friends after filming of "Joe Dirt" a few years back.

Oh, and it's yet another "I'm just Bob" performance for Metro Detroiter Rock...

Kid Rock Screens Spade Film Before Show [AP]

Detroit Zoo YouTube 80's Hotness

2006-04-09T14:10:00.000-04:00

I love the random "Detroit" searches on YouTube...I've come up with some really funny stuff. But this has to be the best ad I've seen posted in a long time. I remember watching cartoons on Saturday mornings (it seemed so easy to wake up at 6 AM back then) and seeing this Detroit Zoo ad played 10 times in the span of an hour and a half. Ah, memories...this one's brought to us by our good friend Zelda.

Now That's One Grand MGM!

2006-04-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

Those are some pretty sweet artist's renderings of the new MGM Grand Casino and Greektown Casino in the Freep today. What do y'all think? I mean, if we're gonna have Casinos, at least lets make them...you know...nice, right? At the very least, this will mean some more infrastructure development with all of the corresponding low-wage, not-so-technical jobs...

MGM bets big on Detroit: $765 million, 1,000 new jobs [Freep]

Eminem to Divorce Kim...Again!

2006-04-05T16:39:00.000-04:00

I'm totally winning that $50. I so called that it wasn't gonna last more than 4 months! And I had the under too! The story's here from CNN.

Detroit News Photo Blog

2006-04-04T18:40:00.000-04:00

The Detroit News has a cool new "Photo Blog" set up with outtakes from their very talented photogs. Check it out!

Two Ken Gourlay's?

2006-04-04T11:41:00.000-04:00

Anyone watching CNN? There's a kid on who claims to have been molested by a computer enthusiast in Ann Arbor, MI named "Ken Gourlay."

Coincidentally, I have a "Ken Gourlay" from Ann Arbor located in my blogroll over on the right side of the page. I'm truly hoping these two people are not one and the same.

UPDATE (3:13 PM): Umm...maybe they are one and the same. I found out the kid's name was "Justin Berry," and now I found this on Gourlay's site. I REALLY don't wanna know if there was another "cosmic jerk" they were thinking about...

UPDATE (9:40 PM): Yeah, that's definetly him. Spinn found the pic on Senor Gourlay's site...also check out this...very sick...

Metro Detroit's Kid Rock: A Pimp, yes. Gangster, no.

2006-04-04T11:29:00.000-04:00

So it seems he isn't just the "stone-cold pimp" he claims he is. Metro Detroit's own Kid Rock was sued on Friday over in Wayne County Court under the RICO act. The RICO was designed as a means of attacking organized-crime and gangs. Not so much for attacking musicians. This'll be interesting...

KID ROCK ACCUSED OF LIES [93X via MTV News]

Mini Owners Drive Tiny Cars AND They Have Trouble Taking A Joke

2006-04-03T23:55:00.000-04:00

So, I had a little post and video up about the 101-Mini Cooper Parade in Detroit this past weekend.Well guess what? It seems like the legions of lilliputian Mini owners weren't very happy with the coverage. Methinks maybe they doth protest too much.

Take a look at the post at Jalopnik, and then head over to the Mini forum pages.

After reading their comments, I couldn't stop giggling for about 15 minutes. What a funny little bunch of munchkins...

UPDATE: So they not only published my cell phone number, but I also received three death threats on my voice mail this evening. Am I the only one finding this funny?

UPDATE 2: Another forum has issued their "fatwa" on me...

UPDATE 3: Ba-Weep-Na-Na-Weep-Ninnie-Bon, we've made friends with the MINI leader and their MINI-ons, and since we've already made friends with our 'Fast', I think we've run the gamut of German cars...

Tigers Tally Opening Day Win

2006-04-03T19:54:00.000-04:00

The Jim Leyland Era of Detroit Tigers baseball is underway. The Tigers opened the season this afternoon in Kansas City to sunshine and warm temperatures of 58 degrees. At age 41, new Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers became the oldest pitcher in Tigers history to start Opening Day - and he made the most of it. Rogers pitched six solid innings of work, allowing only one run. However, the true hero of the day was first baseman Chris Shelton, who hit two solo home runs in the game. Carlos Guillen added on another solo blast, providing all the run support the Tigers would need. Pitching prospect Joel Zumaya made his Major League debut with the Tigers, holding the Royals scoreless in both the 7th and 8th innings while striking out three batters. Fernando Rodney picked up the save, as closer Todd Jones was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to the game after pulling his hamstring in the final out of the final Grapefruit League game of Spring Training (his roster spot was filled with Jordan Tata). Overall, the Tigers 3-1 win was solid, but there is always room for improvement. Solid defense allowed the team to snatch a victory, despite leaving eight men on base. The Tigers have a day off tomorrow, and then will play the Royals on Wednesday afternoon (no TV coverage) before leaving to start a road series in Texas. Winter is officially over, and Tigers baseball has worked its way back into the Detroit picture. With a (mostly) healthy roster and 81 home games left, there is no reason you shouldn't head down to Comerica Park to see what the Olde English D is all about.

Real World Detroit: Redux

2006-04-03T06:25:00.000-04:00

So, per requests from many, I stopped over in Royal Oak to snag some more pictures of the lofts purported to be the location of the next season of MTV's The Real World. The project, the Main North Lofts, will supposedly play host to the show, which some sites are calling "Real World:Detroit." Although I'm interested in these pictures mainly because I'm interested in any major real estate development projects in "Da Oak", I'm reporting these rumors mainly because so many folks seem to believe that MTV will be filming here. The rumors claim MTV has purchased a number of units in the new building for taping of the reality TV series. Alternate theories are the Viacom advertising offices located in Birmingham will be moving to office space located in the new mixed-use development.

The debates have run long and hard both here and in forums across the interwebs, but I'll ask the question again. What do we think? Is it happening? Here are the pics, take a gander and then head over to the pics from a few months back to check progress on the high-rise:

Movin' On Up!

2006-04-02T18:23:00.000-04:00

It looks like Michigan may very well be one of the first primary states for the '08 Presidential election, ending the stranglehold on the presidential nomination process enjoyed by New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Iowa. Iowa and New Hampshire, lacking diversity in many senses of the word, do not accurately reflect America. Michigan has a vast population - urban, suburban, rural, white, black, Catholic, Protestant, liberal, conservative, and moderate - much more like that of the nation as a whole. Beyond this, it would be nice to see national leaders actually have to grapple with the problems facing states other than New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Iowa, and to see national media attention paid to the state - media attention that doesn't portray negative images of Detroit or revolve solely on auto industry woes. Eventually, it would be nice to see a rotating system of primaries, with different states in front every presidential election year, offering each state its turn in the spotlight, and ending the monopoly on the election process held by the privileged few. Michigan Wants In.

Other (Unrelated) Stories of Interest:

Check out this great video from our friends at Michigan Liberal about Amway and Dick DeVos.

Macomb leaders call for Canadian trash ban

Domino Pizza's Tom Monaghan Wants Florida Governed By Catholic Dogma

Upcoming MI drivers' licenses cannot be used to go to or from Canada

EDIT 7:00 PM Oh, and for my fellow political junkies out there, the WSJ has up this really cool feature for the 2006 elections.

Jill Carroll Returns Home

2006-04-02T16:07:00.000-04:00

I dunno about y'all, but I can admit I was crying. Read the Christian Science Monitor story and take a flip through the pictures. In fact, I'm still wellin' up with tears...talk amongst yourselves...

Best line from the CSM story:

"Throughout the past two days, there's been a dawning awareness of her celebrity - and how many people around the world who had prayed for her release: The warm reception by military personnel at Ramstein, the media waiting at the base, the strangers smiling at the airport and on the plane. And there was the German security guard who ushered her to seat 84A.

Before turning to leave, the burly guard hesitated. "Welcome back home," he said, eyes brimming with tears."

Aww...that's like, adorable and stuff...there I go, friggin' cryin' again...

$%@& The Mixing Bowl!

2006-04-01T19:45:00.000-05:00

Seriously. The "mixing bowl" totally sucks. I was able to experience the wonderful shut-down of all East-West suburban highway transit this morning first-hand. I was driving this morning downtown to cover a story for Jalopnik...totally forgetting about the hella highway screw-up I was about to face. I spent somewhere around 2 hours driving in what felt like circles in what normally, at that time and on a Saturday, would have taken 40 minutes. Totally sucked. But if you want to see the pain I went through first hand, feel free to check out our wonderful advertiser to the left! :)

Related:
Mixing Bowl Construction Sucks [internal]

Sorry For The Technical Difficulties

2006-03-31T14:30:00.000-05:00

That's what happens when I try to do a template update for the site on an intermittent internet connection. Oops! I'll be working this weekend to bring back full functionality, but for the time being we're back up and running...apologies to anyone who couldn't get their full dose of the Wonk when they wanted it...and please feel free to drop us a line at DetroitWonk@gmail.com if you notice anything amiss!

Thanks,

The Management

Lovin' The Shameless Self-Promotion

2006-03-30T19:15:00.000-05:00

I've been having some fun over at Jalopnik recently, and I wanted to share with you some of my more fun posts:

Oh Noes! Delphi To UAW: "You're So Cancelled!"

Mmm...Nascar Tastes Like Pork!

Trade War, What Is It Good For?

We Love Ourself Some Fast And Furious Threesomes

The Citroen C2 Is Good In A Jam

Breaking News! It's the Ambiguously Environmental NHTSA!

Now Back To The Bad News...

Good News For An Auto Supplier? Wha...?

The Geo Camino!

We Buy 'Em All For The Gizmos

"I Like Being Touched": It's "Dave" For The Interior

He's Ba-a-ck!

Ok, so that's more than just a quick few...but I wanted to share with y'all. Let me know what you think...by the way, our traffic numbers over there have been good this week. Real good.

BREAKING: Jill Carroll, Journalist and Ann Arbor Native, Has Been Released

2006-03-30T06:38:00.000-05:00

Both CNN and CBS News are reporting that Jill Carroll, the Ann Arbor native and journalist for the Christian Science Monitor has been released from captivity. In addition, CNN is reporting Carroll was able to talk to her family already and they are reporting she is in good spirits.

G-D Hates Me Because I'm Tolerant dot com

2006-03-29T09:59:00.000-05:00

I was reading the State News today and ran across an article which initially shocked me and then made me throw up a little in my mouth.

The long and the short of it is that in the past few months, members of the small Topeka, Kansas congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church (www.godhatesfags.com) have shown up at military funerals around the country saying soldiers are being struck down by G-d for defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality. The group has protested at three Michigan funerals in the past few weeks, previously appearing in Flint and Flushing, and on Monday appearing at the funeral of Corporal Nyle Yates in Grand Ledge.

At Yates' funeral, more than 250 military veterans and other supporters showed up to counter Westboro Baptist Church's protest. The Patriot Guard Riders chanted "G-d Bless Corporal Yates" during their peaceful counterprotest. Three members of the church held up signs denouncing homosexuality. One said, "Thank G-d for dead soldiers".

Later that day, the group picketed at the state Capitol in Lansing to oppose recently introduced legislation that would restrict protests at funerals. The first Michigan bills dealing with funeral protests were introduced March 16. The bills would ban intentional loud noises, threatening gestures and other intentional disruptions within 500 feet of a funeral ceremony.

I'm not even sure where to begin. I suppose even if you have a problem with homosexuality, blaming soldiers is simply ludicrous since they were not the ones that made the choice to go to war to defend this country. Also, a funeral is a sacred, solemn, already tragic event. There is no need to cause the family and friends further distress by rudely protesting. If anyone ever protested at my child's/friend's/parent's funeral, although the urge to kill them and protest at their funeral would be unbearable... I suppose it is important to be the bigger person here. Maybe. But mostly, what the hell kind of a world do we live in that we have to pass laws to prevent people from disrupting funerals to make a bigoted, intolerant, prejudiced, fanatical statement? Moreover, how does Fred Phelps (the leader of this anti-homosexual group) justify disrespecting the very soldiers that defend his right to free speech? Since it appears to be his favorite defense for his ridiculous protests, he should be thanking the soldiers who gave their lives to ensure that he can continue his fanatical rantings and inappropriately insensitive protests. (By the way, Phelps seems fond of protesting funerals, having previously picketed at the funerals of AIDS victims and that of Matthew Shepard).

Well, it appears as though I've made my editorial opinion pretty clear, so I'll stop before I get carried away (it might already be too late). I hope this is as infuriating to somebody else as it is to me and although I don't want to give this any more publicity than it's already received, since that is pretty much their goal, I thought I would share. I highly recommend reading the wiki article on Fred Phelps. It's rather...enlightening?

Sashism of the Day:

oof - noise made when doing something particularly frustrating or awkward or embarrassing. For instance, right after falling for no apparent reason, when putting your socks on proves to be a daunting task, when trying to pull the little ball of cotton out of the advil bottle, or when generally attempting to convey how adorable you are, in case people forgot, which rarely happens.

Mixing Bowl Construction Sucks

2006-03-29T08:42:00.000-05:00

So, it hasn't even happened yet, but I already know that the construction in the "mixing bowl" area will totally screw up my commute. For those who may not realize it, the "mixing bowl" is commonly defined as the area in south Oakland County where Northwestern Highway, I-696 and Telegraph converge. It's a mix of bridges and by-ways seeing some of the heaviest use of any stretch of road in the Metro Detroit area, with 180,000 vehicles per day travelling I-696, 155,000 on Northwestern and an additional 85,000-90,000 on Telegraph. That's a hella traffic.

Well, those drivers, including myself, will be needin' to find a new route, cause MDOT and the Oakland County Road Commission's about to turn your world upside-down...but luckily the Freep'll have you covered on Thursday with maps and stuff to make your life a bit easier. For now, check out Matt Helm's preview piece as well as the "Mixing Bowl Video Log" (who btw has purchased an ad on the left side of the page).

MATT HELMS: The fear factor is high for I-696 job [Freep]

The Mixing Bowl Video Log

A Little Bit Of 5-0 in 5.0: The Dodge Charger Police Cruiser

2006-03-28T09:23:00.001-05:00

When Dodge dropped the Charger at the Detroit Auto Show a couple of years ago, they had this little gag with one coming out decked out as the General Lee of Dukes fame, but what was really cool was the one followin' it decked out as a 4-door for the boys (and girls) in blue. And you know what? I bet Enos and Cletus would be a droolin' over this one, it just looked that mean and fast. Now Dodge has a promo clip out for what the Michigan State Police called "the fastest police car tested." Check out both parts of the clip here:

Could Tiger Stadium Have Been Saved?

2006-03-26T16:57:00.000-05:00

Detroit's beloved Tiger Stadium is still decaying, and by the end of this month, the funds that have been used to pay for upkeep of the stadium will run out. Officials already acknowledge a plan to disassemble the stadium, selling seats, beams, and everything in between. It is clear that seven long years after the stadium closed, the time for demolition has come, and there is no stopping it. The destruction of our beloved landmark was inevitable, and it looks like it could begin as early as this summer. But what about all of the plans for using the stadium? Today, I read an article in the Detroit News, that told of an excellent plan, one I had never thought of before. Restore the park to its original Navin Field configuration, cutting the capacity to around 15,000. This man gave the city a call, and they never called back. Youth teams would love to play in a place as historic as this, yet the city continues to claim that all of the proposals were bad ideas or too costly. What if there were investors lined up? This raises the question: if a stadium 10 blocks away fell, would Mike Ilitch hear it?

In other news, the Tigers released Carlos Pena today in a move that will save the team around $2.1 million and free up the jam the club had at first base. Despite the savings, the club is losing their best defender from the first base position, and a left-handed bat. Regardless, we say farewell to Carlos Pena.

Metro Detroit's Kid Rock - Rappin' On Sex, Rock and Videotape

2006-03-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

In this week's copy of Newsweek, they have a Q&A session with Metro Detroit's own Kid Rock. He talks about the industry, himself and talking to his own kid about the sex tape he's currently litigating over.

But there's more news where this whole Scott Stapp / Kid Rock sex tape is concerned. One of the women who is seen on the video currently making the rounds over the internet (and found here) is suing Stapp because she thought the video would be staying in his possession. Girl, you believed a guy engaging in sex acts in front of Kid Rock, while you were performing sex acts on the two of them? You are one silly little girl.

Q&A: Kid Rock on Sex, Rock and Videotape [Newsweek]
Woman sues Scott Stapp in Miami over sex tape [Wood-TV]

Dodge Unleashes a High-Caliber Marketing Blitz

2006-03-25T19:17:00.000-05:00

I just posted four of the new Caliber commercials over on Jalopnik. Take a look:

It's An Exclusive Marketing Blitz! Advance Copies Of Four Commercials For The Dodge Caliber!

A Couple Of Quickies

2006-03-24T10:04:00.000-05:00

Everyone should read the Brian Dickerson article over at the Freep today. Great stuff.
"I know, we'll just build it on top!" - Actually, that's a really good idea. The Greektown Casino will be building their hotel on top of the parking garage.
The Wayne County Airport Authority has ok'd international air terminal expansion at the new "North Terminal."
I got my Fast on this morning at Jalopnik, but fear not, it's only a little bit gassy.
Check back for more from me around 1:00 today, I've got some posts almost done for your viewing pleasure.