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

When the Lions defense gives up more points (38) than the afternoon high temperature (36) – you know things aren’t going well at Ford Field. The Lions had -6 yards of offense in the 3rd quarter. Next it’s Carolina on the road…then Tampa Bay and Tennessee…so it doesn’t get any easier. Congratulations to M.S.U. (a shot at the Rose Bowl now that Penn St. has lost) and Western on their big win over Illinois…at least there’s one Michigan team that can win at Ford Field!

Alright, I admit it, I’m drinking the Lions Kool-Aid… again.  
In the 11 years I’ve known Jason Terzis, the one phrase he’s said to me more often than any other is, “I can’t believe your already/still drinking the Lions Kool-Aid”.   Each season I’m berated and laughed at for my “blind” loyalty to the “worst run franchise in the N.F.L.”, the Detroit Lions.  The fact is, I can’t help it.  I have been a diehard Lions fan ever since my father, a fellow diehard Lion fan, introduced me to the team in the late 1960’s.  

In all honesty, I have been more “hopeful” than “optimistic” in recent years (for all the obvious reasons) but this season I am optimistic again.  While I’m still not a fan of Matt Millen the General Manager, or William Clay Ford Senior the Owner, I believe in Rod (Marinelli).  I believe the running game will succeed (relatively).  I believe the new running philosophy WILL help both the wide receivers, and MORE IMPORTANTLY, the defense.   I believe the SPEED of the defense will help make up for it’s lack of overall talent.  Ultimately, I believe the Lions will have a winning record for the first time this century.  Granted, 9-7 is closer to mediocre than good, but considering they’ve gone 31-81 in the Matt Millen era, it would be a huge step… throw in a couple of breaks or good bounces, and it might even turn into a playoff birth.  There, I said it.

As Jason said live on Sports Overtime this past Sunday…  “Well it looks like someone’s drinking the Honolulu Blue and Silver Kool-Aid again.  Larry Figurski believes the Lions will finish with a winning record this season, at 9-7.  Like Notre Dame fans (with their team) Larry always picks the Lions to finish better than they really do, meaning the Lions will finish worst than 9-7 this season.”

Working in a sports office with a diehard Bears fan (Jack Doles grew up in Chicago) and a Steelers fan (Jason grew up in Connecticut, near New York, but apparently liked the Pittsburgh uniforms) I have taken more than my share of “Lion” grief during the past decade, and may be setting myself up for more.  However, Jason told me recently, that IF the Lions ACTUALLY finish without a losing record this season, he will make a public apology to me and the rest of you Kool-Aid drinkers, LIVE on Sports Overtime at the end of the regular season.   Be sure to roll the DVR’s and TIVOs.