OT: MIchigan Sports Thread: UM wins Natty Championship

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

It's nice to have not heard from the contrarian-esque vocal minority (that of course included MBH lol) from back in the day that used to argue our crew wasn't very good. Ken was 'overrated' and Mick was 'a massive homer.' Those critiques were as ridiculous back then as they are today. This vote is a nice piece of vindication for Ken and Mick. They are indeed top notch.

I mean… Mick IS a massive homer. So was Ernie Harwell and Bob Ufer.

There is nothing wrong with being a homer as long as real can recognize real. Like I will say I get a charge out of Ken Daniels calling Wings goals. Those are always great! But when something awesome is done by the other guys they recognize it.

And Mick is more old time hockey and ginger ales anyway.

 

[izlez]

I mean… Mick IS a massive homer. So was Ernie Harwell and Bob Ufer.

There is nothing wrong with being a homer as long as real can recognize real. Like I will say I get a charge out of Ken Daniels calling Wings goals. Those are always great! But when something awesome is done by the other guys they recognize it.

And Mick is more old time hockey and ginger ales anyway.

Of course they get excited when the wings score and are disappointed when the wings are scored against. I think that is part of the job.

I don't think that's what being a "homer" means. I think it means when you're unrealistic about things. You constantly complain about the refs not calling things your way. Mick will absolutely criticize the refs, but he'll also absolutely do it when the wings get a favorable call

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Of course they get excited when the wings score and are disappointed when the wings are scored against. I think that is part of the job.

I don't think that's what being a "homer" means. I think it means when you're unrealistic about things. You constantly complain about the refs not calling things your way. Mick will absolutely criticize the refs, but he'll also absolutely do it when the wings get a favorable call

I'm not saying homer as a bad thing, at all.

 

[newfy]

Of course they get excited when the wings score and are disappointed when the wings are scored against. I think that is part of the job.

I don't think that's what being a "homer" means. I think it means when you're unrealistic about things. You constantly complain about the refs not calling things your way. Mick will absolutely criticize the refs, but he'll also absolutely do it when the wings get a favorable call

Yeah Mickey isnt some big homer, hes about par for your typical regional broadcast. Fans of other teams will call him a homer because he complains about calls but he just loves old time hockey and like you said, will call it out both ways.

Ken though, is just simply one of the absolute best in the business

 

[Bondurant]

Tigers are headed into my backyard for a 3-game stand next weekend. Tempted to attend all of them but that might be overkill. Might regret dedicating the entire weekend to bad baseball.

 

[YpsiWings]

Tigers are headed into my backyard for a 3-game stand next weekend. Tempted to attend all of them but that might be overkill. Might regret dedicating the entire weekend to bad baseball.

I agree all 3 would be overkill, but going to the ballpark and getting a few beers/hot dogs and watching a bad team is still a good time. Kansas City is just a 2 hour drive for me, hopefully I can get over there to watch the Tigers myself, work permitting. Hope you have fun.

 

[newfy]

Tigers are headed into my backyard for a 3-game stand next weekend. Tempted to attend all of them but that might be overkill. Might regret dedicating the entire weekend to bad baseball.

If I were you I would go watch Greene live at least once. Not sure if I would do the whole weekend for this tigetrs squad though lol

 

[jaster]

I mean… Mick IS a massive homer. So was Ernie Harwell and Bob Ufer.

There is nothing wrong with being a homer as long as real can recognize real. Like I will say I get a charge out of Ken Daniels calling Wings goals. Those are always great! But when something awesome is done by the other guys they recognize it.

And Mick is more old time hockey and ginger ales anyway.

This comes down to semantics. To me, Hawk Harrelson is a massive homer. Jack Edwards is a massive homer. These guys do a disservice to the profession (and yes, I know they are PBP guys, not color, they're just examples) imo, and I remember some people used to talk about Mick in the same way. Which is what I think is ridiculous. He's never been close to the level of those guys.

Whatever level of "homerism" any of us want to apply to Mick, I'd argue (and it seems you'd agree) that it is well within the realm of acceptable. Color guys should be colorful, and they should certainly lean at least a little toward the team they work for, but the best ones should also provide some balance, and I think Mick excels at that.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

This comes down to semantics. To me, Hawk Harrelson is a massive homer. Jack Edwards is a massive homer. These guys do a disservice to the profession (and yes, I know they are PBP guys, not color, they're just examples) imo, and I remember some people used to talk about Mick in the same way. Which is what I think is ridiculous. He's never been close to the level of those guys.

Whatever level of "homerism" any of us want to apply to Mick, I'd argue (and it seems you'd agree) that it is well within the realm of acceptable. Color guys should be colorful, and they should certainly lean at least a little toward the team they work for, but the best ones should also provide some balance, and I think Mick excels at that.

I have only ever cared regional vs national.

Like I don't complain about what Eddie O does on a Hawks broadcast but I think it matters once you go to the national level where I complain about him a lot.

Ken Daniels is a homer, he is better than some, but he is a homer as a play by play guy. He cleans it up when he goes on National broadcasts as he should.

Your regional broadcast should cater to your fanbase, zero issue with that. Find Hawk Harrelson fairly entertaining especially in a sport that has the pacing of baseball, frankly his intensity is welcome to me there.

 

[jaster]

I have only ever cared regional vs national.

Like I don't complain about what Eddie O does on a Hawks broadcast but I think it matters once you go to the national level where I complain about him a lot.

Ken Daniels is a homer, he is better than some, but he is a homer as a play by play guy. He cleans it up when he goes on National broadcasts as he should.

Your regional broadcast should cater to your fanbase, zero issue with that. Find Hawk Harrelson fairly entertaining especially in a sport that has the pacing of baseball, frankly his intensity is welcome to me there.

I agree with your first three paragraphs, but then....

Hawk Harrelson is literally the most offensive sportscaster I've ever heard, and I'm including Jack Edwards in that. I think the fact that it's baseball actually makes him worse. The slow pace of the game brings his ridiculous junk rhetoric to the surface, just bathing his listeners in all it's grossness. He was atrocious, I'm glad he's finally gone, and may no upcoming announcer ever find even an ounce of inspiration from that shitty windbag. Now, I grew up with Ernie Harwell, so he is my gold standard. The way Hawk called games, he may as well have walked up to Ernie and spat in his face. F*** Hawk Harrelson.

And I feel vindicated since I've lived in Chicago for 15 years and a huge chunk of Sox fans I know agree with me

 

[Ricelund]

Greene is looking great so far. He has superstar vibes for sure. He actually walks! It appears he's getting Torkelson going too.

In other news, old friend Isaac Paredes hit three homers last night.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

Tomorrow is NBA draft night, and the most likely candidates for the Pistons at #5 seem to have narrowed to Purdue's combo guard Jaden Ivey, Iowa's forward Keegan Murray, and Arizona's shooting guard Benedict Mathurin. I don't think there's a real star there (maybe Ivey if he really maximizes his talents), but I think all three project to be good starters and fit with our young team. Not my favorite draft class ever, but I think we'll add a good player.

There has been so much buzz around a Jerami Grant trade this summer that it seems more likely than not he does move, in my opinion at least.

The juiciest Pistons rumor has to be the Ayton situation. Not sure if there's fire with the smoke, but Detroit and Atlanta seem to be the two teams most heavily linked with Phoenix's 23 year old center, with Portland, Toronto, and San Antonio also in the mix. Some people have concerns about giving Ayton the max, but I'd be pretty excited to add the player. Grant I'm sure would be involved in a potential deal, beyond that I'm not sure what else we'd be sending Phoenix's way.

 

[FabricDetails]

Tomorrow is NBA draft night, and the most likely candidates for the Pistons at #5 seem to have narrowed to Purdue's combo guard Jaden Ivey, Iowa's forward Keegan Murray, and Arizona's shooting guard Benedict Mathurin. I don't think there's a real star there (maybe Ivey if he really maximizes his talents), but I think all three project to be good starters and fit with our young team. Not my favorite draft class ever, but I think we'll add a good player.

There has been so much buzz around a Jerami Grant trade this summer that it seems more likely than not he does move, in my opinion at least.

The juiciest Pistons rumor has to be the Ayton situation. Not sure if there's fire with the smoke, but Detroit and Atlanta seem to be the two teams most heavily linked with Phoenix's 23 year old center, with Portland, Toronto, and San Antonio also in the mix. Some people have concerns about giving Ayton the max, but I'd be pretty excited to add the player. Grant I'm sure would be involved in a potential deal, beyond that I'm not sure what else we'd be sending Phoenix's way.

My preference is Mathurin.

I also prefer to keep Jerami Grant unless that trade rumor for John Collins is for real, maybe.

And I say No to Ayton. Too much money. That is, too much money wrapped up for his role.

 

[Hen Kolland]

What the absolute f*** is Troy Weaver doing

 

[lhsgolf19]

What the absolute f*** is Troy Weaver doing

Amazing things

The trade is genius… Grant wasn’t a part of the future, got a future 1st and now has potentially $56 million in cap space (potentially around 27 more than anyone else)

Hello Ayton?

 

[Hen Kolland]

Amazing things

The trade is genius… Grant wasn’t a part of the future, got a future 1st and now has potentially $56 million in cap space (potentially around 27 more than anyone else)

Hello Ayton?

This isn’t a genius trade. There isn’t a significant name in free agency. Ayton isn’t a guarantee. He’s put all of his eggs in the free agency basket. Sure hope he figures it out.

If this works out, Cade will have had more to do with it than Weaver.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Grant doesn’t fit on this team anymore

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I thought we could get the pick this year... Guess I don't understand NBA trading. Good chance though if they cannot get that thing on the rails the Blazers are in big trouble because Dame isn't going to wait around longer than this year if they don't get that thing going. Though I have heard it might be Milwaukee's pick which would hurt this first round value...

What also worries me about leaving them the #7 is they use it to target Ayton themselves, but I guess we will see.

I think the smoke around them going after Bridges as a RFA probably gets a lot louder (I guess I meant thicker...) now.

 

[Hen Kolland]

I thought we could get the pick this year... Guess I don't understand NBA trading. Good chance though if they cannot get that thing on the rails the Blazers are in big trouble because Dame isn't going to wait around longer than this year if they don't get that thing going. Though I have heard it might be Milwaukee's pick which would hurt this first round value...

What also worries me about leaving them the #7 is they use it to target Ayton themselves, but I guess we will see.

I think the smoke around them going after Bridges as a RFA probably gets a lot louder now.

Bridges, Ayton, using the cap space on a Hayward trade to bring back a mid first. These are the only ways I can see this move being salvaged.

Maybe I’m wrong and Grant’s value just never appreciated the way it seemed that it would.

 

[FabricDetails]

Thr return on Christian Wood was probably a warning sign for realistic implications on a Grant return.

Maybe I’m wrong and Grant’s value just never appreciated the way it seemed that it would.

Yeah this never was as high as we'd hope it would get. Not surprised. Hella disappointed.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

In isolation, the Grant return is disappointing. I think people are backtracking a little bit, like if you suggested last week that we should trade Grant for a 1st three years from now that likely won't land higher than the early twenties, plus a bit of 2nd round filler, I think the consensus reply would be that we could get something more than that. I wouldn't be surprised if Weaver was facilitating moves to teams that Grant was interested in out of respect, and if true I don't mind that. Return aside I will say I grew to like Grant a lot. I think this was the right time to pull the trigger, but I'll wish him the best in Portland and anywhere else he may go.


Tough to judge the Grant trade until the next shoe drops here. Soooo much smoke around Ayton right now. It's tough for me to believe that this is as simple as us offering a four year max, Ayton accepting, and Phoenix letting him walk, but that's what a lot of people seem to be suggesting. Maybe we offer something like Stewart and the Bucks 1st? I really don't understand the landscape around the Ayton offer sheet value honestly, it's a confusing situation to get a read on.

I will say that I like Ayton as a #2/#3 to Cade a lot. Not a perfect player, but very well-rounded. Ayton can hold his own against the high-end bigs of the east (Giannis, Embiid, Adebayo, etc.) and would be a great PnR weapon. Realistically the Pistons probably won't find that good of a frontcourt player without winning the Wenbayama lottery next year, which Wings fans will know can't be relied on. Cade, Ayton, Bey, plus whoever we draft at #5 and some of the depth guys we've accumulated (Stewart, Bagley, Livers, etc.) would be the start of a pretty nice young core.

 

[Hen Kolland]

I’m quite happy and enjoy watching players that have a desire to play in Detroit. It seems like business to a lot of these kids, but seeing Ivey’s reaction makes you feel like the destination meant more than anything, and he landed exactly where he wanted.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

I’m glad we got Ivey

 

[Hen Kolland]

And the heist of Duren. This is the way Weaver had to make this work…and he’s wheeling and dealing.

I hated the trade yesterday, and I still do, but I’m glad Weaver had all the dominoes lined up

 

[SpookyTsuki]

duren too? Wonder who we give up