I was very happy to hear that after 76 seasons, the Lions have FINALLY decided to honor the teams greatest players with a new  ”wall of fame”  known as the “Pride of the Lions”.  The inaugural class of 12 hall of famers will have their names, numbers and service years displayed on the wall inside Ford Field that was once the old Hudson Warehouse.

I was also very DISAPPOINTED to hear that the Lions chose to finally do so:   in the midst of some of the WORST skids in NFL history (2-31, 32-105),  in the middle of another DREADFUL 1-8 season, during halftime of a game that will probably be BLACKED OUT from TV  in the Detroit, Lansing and Flint markets,  and most importantly, in front of what will probably be, THOUSANDS of EMPTY SEATS.

Either the Lions didn’t consider how embarrassing it will be for both the franchise and the players it’s honoring, to have such an important dedication in front of thousands of empty seats or they did so simply to help sell tickets to a battle between the two WORST teams in the league.  Although the latter seems to be working, (as of this writing there were less than 10,000 seats available) in either case, it’s wrong and  inexcusable.  This event should be held a time of optimism and in front of a guaranteed sell out crowd so fans at home could watch on TV as well.  In other words, for the Lions…. opening day.

I’ve been a diehard Lions fan for more than 40 years now and always will be…. but sometimes they make you wonder why.

It was one year ago tonight, that I nearly lost my life.

On July 7, 2008…. three weeks before my 44th birthday…  I suffered a massive heart attack… a 99.9% closure of the anterior descending artery… what is known in the medical field as a “widow maker”, for all the obvious reasons.  Thanks to the care and effort of a wonderful wife and the great staffs at Metro Health and West Michigan Heart, I survived what most people, unfortunately, do not.

While I am much more conscious about what I eat and how much I exercise, I must admit I have slipped a bit from the strict diet and regular exercise program set up for me during my rehab at Spectrum Health.  What I’m most disappointed in however… perhaps even ashamed of…. is that at times I have lost that “new perspective on life” that seemed so suddenly clear to me a year ago tonight and in the days and weeks that followed.  The kind of perspective you unfortunately only seem to get when you know your life may soon be coming to an end.  It’s amazing how quickly you realize what REALLY matters and what really doesn’t.

I’m disappointed that at times I have let little things bother me, that I swore I would never let bother me again.  I’m disappointed that at times I have let things that happened away from home, occupy my mind or time, while at home. 
Although I consider myself a very good dad, I’m most disappointed in the times that I haven’t been able to FIND TIME to do something with my daughters because of other responsibilities or projects that had to be taken care of first.

Do me, and yourself, a favor.  Take a little time today, tomorrow, or sometime soon, just to think about what really matters.  I’m sure for the most part, we’ll all come up with relatively the same answer.  The unfortunate fact is, that in the year ahead, some of us, or at least someone some of us know, will face a life threatening situation or disease.  Don’t wait until then to realize what, really, you already know.

For those of you with children… take a little time to play with, read to or simply talk with your kids.  I PROMISE you, if you ever end up in the same situation I was in, THAT will be the FIRST thing you’ll think of.  And should, unfortunately, anything ever happen to any of us, it will be one of the first things they think of, as well.

Be healthy.

I had a chance to spend a little time with former Michigan State Spartan, Detroit Lion and now Seattle Seahawk running back T.J. Duckett this afternoon in Mattawan.  More importantly, I got to watch as T.J. treated eight young boys…. kids he previously did not know….each of whom have a parent battling, or who had battled cancer…. to a day of fun at local arcade and fun park. 

“I’ve been through the whole experience,” said Duckett, who lost his mother to cancer when he was a kid.  “I know what they’re going through.”

After meeting the kids and their parents at the West Michigan Cancer Center, Duckett surprised the group with limo transportation to the “Formula K” fun spot in Mattawan.  There, Duckett treated the kids to go-cart racing, bumper cars, air-hockey, arcade games, and host of other activities.  

“When my mother was sick, she really didn’t have the ability, the energy or the time to do things like this,” Duckett told me this afternoon.  “Being able to take kids out who are in the same situation I was in and give some relief to their parents… I think that’s half the battle.  When you’re sick you worry about how other people are doing, especially your children.”

Duckett also gave each of the kids his personal cell phone number, as he gets set to head to Seattle for training camp. 

“I don’t want these kids to feel like they are by themselves,” Duckett said.  “(I want to) give them a chance to call me, whatever it is, in any situation that comes up, when they feel alone or they feel they don’t have anyone to talk to.  If I can talk to them on the phone when they’re having a bad day, I can remind them of what we did out here today.”

A simple gesture by a good man… yet one these eight young men, will never forget.

I’ve been going to Detroit Lion training/mini camps for 20 years now.  After interviewing dozens and dozens of players over two decades… it’s not very often you get a quote from a player that you’ve NEVER heard before…. Tuesday, I did, courtesy of new Lions Linebacker Larry Foote.  When I asked the former Wolverine and Steeler if he felt any pressure being the only two-time Superbowl champion on the team that other players are looking to for leadership… he simply smiled and said…. “I make love to pressure!”  Click here to hear from Foote and the rest of the Lion linebackers:   http://tinyurl.com/nhhbmc

The Detroit Lions will open a mandatory three day “mini camp” on Tuesday (June 23rd)… their last official team workouts until the opening of “training camp” in late July.   At the end of OTA’s (organized team activities) I had a chance to talk with Booth Newspapers Lions Beat Writer Tom Kowalski, about the team heading into mini camp.  Click here to see that interview: http://tinyurl.com/lr3nuz

There are 14 players on the Red Wings playoff roster who began their professional career with the Grand Rapids.  (Two others – Chris Chelios and Chris Osgood have played in Grand Rapids, but only on rehab assignments.)  With a win tonight, ten of those players would have earned the right to have their names engraved in the Stanley Cup:  Nick Kronwall, Jiri Hudler, Justin Abdlekader, Brett Lebda, Tomas Kopecky, Darren Helm, Jonathon Ericcson,  Villie Leino, Valterri Filppula, and Derek Meech.

Griffins General Manager Bob McNamara, who has been in charge of developing all of these players, will join us live tonight, from inside Joe Louis Arena, during the second half of 24 Hour News 8 at 5:00.  Hope you’ll join us as well.

Go Wings! (Eli the Penguin in frowning)

Ken Kal, the voice of the Detroit Red Wings, will be join us for a live pre-game interview, inside Joe Louis Arena, tonight at 5:00 on WOOD-TV 8.  Ken has called all four of the Red Wings Stanley Cup Championships during the past 11 seasons.  Kal was in the locker room with us this morning, but as a member of the team, he will have access to any late breaking information that the rest of us, may not.  Hope you’ll join us for that.

Go Wings!

Grand Haven native and Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Blysma took a different approach to the “morning skate”, than Mike Babcock and the Red Wings did.  While many of the Red Wing regulars, and the coach himself, skipped the morning skate, all of the healthy Penguins were on the ice with Bylsma late this morning.

The Pens hit the ice, shortly before 11:25 a.m.  The Pens seemed very relaxed and at ease during the skate… even more so than the Wings… who were pretty at ease themselves.  Photographer “Eli the Penguin” and I had a chance to do interviews in both locker rooms, and attend both coaches news conferences today…. the second of which… Dan Bylsma’s… just ended.  As a group, everyone involved seems to be embracing the situation, much more than fearing it, or at least being overly nervous because of it…. at least that’s what there saying publicly.  As Blysma just said, “It’s going to be good for one team at the end of the night.  The other is going to wish it was a (best of) nine game series.”

“Eli the Penguin” and I are headed back to the satellite truck to begin sifting through an hour of tape of so, to cut a few of the best bites (interview segments) for tonight’s 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. shows on WOOD-TV.  Hope you’ll join us.

Go Wings! (Regardless of what Eli says)

Game time is still nearly ten hours away, but  already the tension is mounting here in Motown.   On Detroit radio this morning the most commonly heard phrase has been “I’m already nervous”.  There is an incredible feel of anticipation, excitement and anxiety in the air here. 

The Red Wings hit the ice for their “morning skate” at 10:25… a little later than normal, but not much.  Not everyone is skating… but that’s not unusual.  Still no sign of either Dan Cleary or Kris Draper… neither of whom skated yesterday either… but both are expected to play tonight.  Oddly, Marian Hossa has yet to ice, but again, not all players do.  I can only guess at this point, Marian is trying to keep the legs fresh for, what will be, without a doubt, the biggest game, and perhaps moment of his professional career.  Hossa, as most of you are well aware… will either hoist the cup tonight in Detroit… or have to sit and watch the team he LEFT, to pursue “better opportunities” in Detroit, celebrate victory, on his new team’s home ice.  Ouch!  It will either be the greatest or worst night of Hossa’s hockey life.

Grand Haven native Dan Bylsma and Penguins are schedule to hit the ice at about 11:30 this morning.  When the Wings are done, my partner and photographer “Eli the Penguin” and I will head to the Detroit locker room to do player interviews, and then attend Mike Babcock’s final pre-game news conference.  After that we’ll shoot the Penguins practice and attend Dan Bylsma’s final pre-game news conference.  You can hear from both sides, tonight as our live coverage from Detroit and the Stanley Cup Finals, continues tonight, on-air, at 5:00pm.

Go Wings.

To finish off my previous post… “Getting Taunted By Penguin Fans” in Pittsburgh…..

While I didn’t get to get sprayed with champagne by the Wings THIS year in Pittsburgh, , I didn’t get doused in beer, by Pens fans, either.

During game six of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final I purposely wore my “RED”  WOOD-TV 8 shirt to cover the Wings clinching in Pittsburgh.  During the second intermission I made my way with much of the rest of the crowd, to the restroom.  It wasn’t until I was well inside the VERY crowded facility, standing shoulder to shoulder with dozens of Penguin fans, that I realized I was the only person in the restroom not wearing a white shirt.  Suddenly one of the fans asked me, “why in the hell are you wearing Red, man?”  Without giving it any thought , I simply blurted out, “I’m from Michigan, I’m a Wings fan.”  I then immediately thought…. that probably wasn’t very smart.

Needless to say I was hit with a chorus of  BOOOOOOs that would make Marian Hossa proud.  Not only that, but I was showered with flickers and small splashes of beer.  The boos then turned into chants of  “Red Wings suck!  Red Wings suck!”  I found it all to be in good fun, until some “f-bombs” starting being fired in my direction, at which time I changed lines and made my way to one of the few enclosed stalls. That too seemed like a good idea at first, until someone decided to donate what was left of his beer to the cause…  dumping it over the door,  on my shoulder and down my back…. enough to put my shirt over the legal limit.  When I came out of the door a couple of different Pen fans apologized for the “drunk” in the crowd.  But as I made my way, shoulder to shoulder, through the crowd and back to the concourse, the chants resumed… a mixture of “Let’s go Pens” and “Red Wings Suck”.  

When I finally reached the exit, the first thing I saw on the concourse was a trio of Detroit fans, all in Red Wing uniforms, clapping as if to say, way to take one for the team man.  Suddenly the beer soaking seemed well worth it… especially when the Wings began spraying champagne, a period and a Cup hoisting later.