WEBVTT 1 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:16.359 Get some facts and come back and Seebee. Get some facts and come back 2 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:20.600 and Seebee. Don't fill out salaries or other things. Get some facts and 3 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:24.960 come back and Seebee. You can't handle the true now told our players you 4 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:27.760 need a bit more like a dog. We don't need a bunch of cats 5 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.359 in here. Looking in the mirror, I look good. I got my 6 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:35.280 extra bands on, I got my other shoes. Be a doll. We 7 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:38.920 don't need no meals. We don't need no cats. We need more dogs. 8 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:44.280 Are not a detain Why you're not that detained? We weren't good. 9 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:46.719 There's no sense of asking me things about the game. I'm telling you. 10 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:49.079 We laid an egg. So I'm not gonna break it down for you. 11 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:54.159 He sucks. He sucked. He laid an egg. That's all I have 12 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:56.399 to say. Guys, I'm sorry. I'm not gonna break it down for 13 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:59.479 you. Nothing went well for us. It's on us. We have to 14 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:08.120 figure it out and we will. Jo Dad Tiger's leaden egg yesterday at Kamerica 15 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:12.799 Park, coming home after getting swept by Kansas City losing nine to one. 16 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:18.920 Welcome in to the eight o'clock hour. Dennis Fithian in for Matt Shepherd on 17 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:23.159 Xies and Bros. On the Michigan Sports Network. Yeah, nine to one, 18 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:26.480 Tigers have lost five in a row. Coming up in a half hour, 19 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:32.840 we'll talk some Tigers with Tom Gage, the long time Tiger beat writer. 20 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:38.439 Right now we're talking about the alliance. Is it super Bowl or bust? 21 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:44.079 Dan Campbell, Lions head coach, answered that question, also got the 22 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:48.519 hype train going for Jamison Williams, calling him the most improved player, saying 23 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:53.280 he's a man on the mission. He's a man on a mission. How 24 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:57.319 much are you counting on Jamison Williams? What do you expect for him? 25 00:01:57.319 --> 00:02:00.439 And Tho As a couple of questions that we have out there, you're just 26 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:10.719 waking up tuning in Celtics beat the Pacers, Oilers in double overtime over the 27 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:17.879 Stars down in Big d. Those are your finals in basketball and hockey and 28 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:28.639 of course baseball. I said, would it be something that the Lions would 29 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:34.080 think about doing? Going all in for t Higgins, the outstanding wide receiver 30 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:40.159 for Cincinnati, who's doesn't want to sign any kind of franchise tag. He's 31 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:43.400 trying to get delt. He wants a long term deal. He wants to 32 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:46.560 get Delt and you think about the Lions and the position that they're in, 33 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:55.560 and could you add a T. Higgins And the first thing you think, 34 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.000 you know, you get a big name, and you get the Lions offense, 35 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.919 and you already got him on our Saint Brown and you're looking over there 36 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:05.879 and you got left Porta and and everything that you know, and then we're 37 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:08.439 just talking about Jamison Williams, Like, wow, how about T Higgins? 38 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:14.280 This could be the best offense in the league. If you were able to 39 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:17.560 bring T. Higgins in now, that might be the best offense in the 40 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:24.800 league. Anyways, if Williams even comes close to the kind of hype that 41 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:30.599 has been bestowed on him in the last twenty four hours. The reason I 42 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:36.159 here I bring it up to kind of get everything going. But then here's 43 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:38.919 the bunch of cold water on to bring in a T. Higgins one. 44 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:46.080 If the Lions were going to make a big swing and go all in, 45 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:52.680 so to speak, it would be on the other side of the ball. 46 00:03:54.319 --> 00:04:08.120 If you follow Brad Home so far, at least through now this upcoming being 47 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:13.280 his fourth year, there's no track record to suggest that he's doing anything all 48 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:18.600 in. You know, he has not gone after that big name in free 49 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:24.079 agency. Maybe you think Kevin Zeitler, the offensive guard from the Ravens at 50 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:28.439 the Lions brought in to fill in on their offensive line. That's, you 51 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.240 know, a big name for you, all right, a DJ reader on 52 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:35.480 the defensive side at defensive tackle. But you know, trading for Carlton Davis 53 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:42.000 or you know, signing Marcus Davenport, you know those aren't going all in 54 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:47.120 moves. So a little bit of cold water, wrong side of the ball 55 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:53.079 and then wrong general manager think about the big swing and going all in. 56 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:58.639 But maybe you know he's got a trade. You know, you say all 57 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:01.639 of this, but then Holmes is sitting back there and if the the I 58 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:10.439 could see him going completely against what he's done and you know, even bolstering 59 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:14.800 the offensive side if the deal was right, because the Lions are in that 60 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:19.360 position where it is a piece or two, a player or two where you 61 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:23.920 were talking about the possibility of this team winning a Super Bowl. He knows 62 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:27.680 that, I know that you know that the movie's going to make what's it 63 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.600 going to be? And honest, he just got to continue this is that's 64 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.959 just kind of hang in there, hang around. This is not We're not 65 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:38.360 ready to push all of our chips in. Yeah, we're Yeah, we 66 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:42.959 got some stacks that were firing once in a while here on our poker analogy, 67 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:46.319 but not all in. Let's go to the phones. Where are we 68 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.480 going, Ben? Yeah, we got Freddy on the line. Oh, 69 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:56.000 Freddy, Freddy, how are you? Good morning? Dennis? How are 70 00:05:56.040 --> 00:06:00.319 you Blady? I'm doing good, Freddie. I hope you have a an 71 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:04.600 enjoyable Memorial weekend you as well. But we gotta get you back on the 72 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:09.319 radio full time. You're you're much You're much needed. I'll tell you that. 73 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:16.040 So now, people that are answering this question super Bowl or busts are 74 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:20.240 not answering it with emotions right now because the football season's not here. They're 75 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:26.879 not watching the games. You're fooling yourself if you're saying it's not super Bowl 76 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:31.040 or bust this team doesn't win a super Bowl in the next I'm not gonna 77 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:34.120 say five ten years. Let's forget about that the next two years. If 78 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:39.000 this team doesn't win a Super Bowl next two years, it's an absolute bust. 79 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:43.399 Okay, because the Rams went to the Super Bowl with Jered Goff and 80 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.879 it was a bust for them and what they do. They ship them to 81 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:50.560 the town and they brought another quarterback to win the Super Bowl. So this 82 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:55.560 team, if they don't get to the super Bowl this year, I don't 83 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:59.600 care what anybody says. Half of the half of this fan base is gonna 84 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:05.000 turn it on Jared Golf because they the Golf is a likable guy, good 85 00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:10.480 dude, you know the Jared Golf chants and all that stuff. But he'll 86 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.199 be the number one target if he doesn't get to the super Bowl this year. 87 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.319 Absolutely, there's no doubt about it. But that's with the money he's 88 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:19.879 gotten. And it's super Bowl or boss. This team has never won a 89 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:23.920 super Bowl. It's never been to a super Bowl. They smelled it last 90 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:28.920 year and they blew it the second half. They absolutely blew it. And 91 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:31.160 and I just think people if they say, well, it's you know, 92 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:34.360 we don't if we don't get to the super Bowl, it's okay. You're 93 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:39.120 not dealing with the emotions right now. You're not watching the games. Once 94 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:43.240 the game starts, your emotions are going to be completely different. Well, 95 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:46.839 you're right about that, Freddie. If we could fast forward to the divisional 96 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:49.399 round right now and talked a little bit about it earlier, and you know, 97 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:53.560 the Lions lose by one point to let's say the Eagles. What you're 98 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:56.560 saying is exactly true. For twenty four or forty eight hours, people are 99 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:00.600 going to be out of their mind and the windows slamming shot and everything else. 100 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:03.959 But you get a little further back, and you do if you if 101 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.560 you don't have the kind of team where you think that they could run it 102 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:11.920 back and they still have a window. I mean, that's going to be 103 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:16.480 the thing that you have to remember, sure, or the emotion. You 104 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.800 know, there were people last year after they completely melted down, that like, 105 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:22.519 this is back to square one, this is their one chance. This 106 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:28.000 is the same old alliance. But people even that thought that, after a 107 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.240 week or two looked at this and said, well, you know, this 108 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:33.480 is this team has all of the components to come back and be in the 109 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:37.559 same position next year. And you know, we don't know because there's a 110 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:41.360 lot of factors. And sometimes the window looks wide open and then it's slam 111 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:45.879 shut so fast, and you know, so there is that danger. But 112 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:50.519 you know, and you even said it yourself, you put two years on 113 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:52.120 it. If they don't win in two years, I said three, so 114 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:56.320 we're not that far apart. I look at it as a three year window 115 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:03.120 or bust, but you know it could it could slam shot. I go 116 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.919 back to the conversation we had yesterday. I said to you, the two 117 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:09.679 thousand and six oh seven Tigers, right, I always look at Jim Leland 118 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:13.559 and Dan Campbell is the same person. They know how to manipulate the media. 119 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:16.960 They know how to talk to the media and motivate their players. That's 120 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:20.759 what they do that makes that's what makes them great. Now, the those 121 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:26.120 six Tigers, they blew it. They had chanced those These chances don't come 122 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:30.639 along in life, not just sports. In life, when it comes around, 123 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:33.799 you gotta grab it because you're never guaranteed. And the those six Tigers 124 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:39.000 are proof of that. And I'm not saying this team is, but even 125 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:41.960 Dan Campbell said at the end of the year last year, it's not gonna 126 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:43.960 be easy, boys. And when you get that chance, you gotta grab 127 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.039 it. And if you don't, it's gonna take a long while before it 128 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:50.600 comes along. So go get that super Bowl. Just shut everybody up, 129 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:54.440 because this town deserves it. I like your Tiger analogy, you know, 130 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:58.559 thanks Freddie, You know, two thousand and seven it was a collapse, 131 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:01.919 and then remember there was the tie breaker game with the Twins. That felt 132 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:05.679 like it was all over. But what did they do? They made some 133 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:11.799 key moves. They had a core including Justin Verlander at the top there. 134 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:16.519 But then they got Cabrera and then look, they made it to the Alcs 135 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:22.039 in twenty eleven, in twenty twelve, they made it to the World Series 136 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:26.000 in twenty twelve. They were back. They were right there. They should 137 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:30.039 have I can't say they should have won it. They were favorite. I 138 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:33.480 thought that they were gonna win. But the point is is that it wasn't 139 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:37.559 over for them. The Tigers did have that window. It wasn't two thousand 140 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:43.559 and seven wasn't a World Series or bust for the Tigers. A little bit 141 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:46.279 of it if you can squeeze it in and we're comparing baseball to football, 142 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:50.879 as much as that's hard to do, I think that that's the part that 143 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:54.679 I look to spin it a little bit forward. The Tigers did have other 144 00:10:54.720 --> 00:11:01.080 opportunities. Good job. Freddie will continue on talking about the the Lions and 145 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:09.039 the Super Bowl and their most outstanding player, their most improved player, and 146 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:13.600 the player that is on a mission. According to Dan Campbell, Jamison Williams 147 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:18.840 axes and brows Michigan Sports Network, we're teeming off our tenth year at the 148 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:24.440 Meyer LPGA Classic for simply gives. Get ready for the best who are yet 149 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.159 to help neighbors in need while enjoying golf, food and family fun. Join 150 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:33.519 us June thirteenth through the sixteenth at Blakefield Country Club for fabulous food, discoveryland 151 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:37.840 for kids, and of course, elite women golfers from around the world competing 152 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:43.679 to help feed our neighbors. Get your tickets now at Meyer LPGA Classic dot 153 00:11:43.679 --> 00:12:13.240 com. Does it feel like the holiday weekend because it's here? Memorial Weekend 154 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:20.840 twenty four Dennis Fithian inn for Matt Shephard this morning the Michigan Sports Network. 155 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:26.600 We're taking your calls, but talking about the Lions a lot. It's one 156 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:31.120 of those days where you have the Lions. Yesterday, Dan Campbell, their 157 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:35.639 head coach, was asked if it's Super Bowl or bust at OTA's in a 158 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:39.799 news conference there and he said he doesn't see buss, you see super Bowl. 159 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:48.039 And then he was like ll Cooljay and that beer commercial busted through the 160 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:54.919 apartment in that train Dan Campbell when he came in and said, I have 161 00:12:54.919 --> 00:13:01.600 our most improved player, this Jamison Williams. And then he hit the horn 162 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:11.519 and everyone who went crazy when he said he's a man on a mission. 163 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:18.840 Now, you know, what are your expectations for Jamison Williams. And if 164 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:24.559 you just looked at the numbers or his first two years, now he was 165 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:28.320 hurt and then he was suspended, and it's not good for a wide receiver 166 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:33.519 that was taken in the top fifteen of the NFL draft when you look historically. 167 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:37.600 But you do have to put those two factors in. If you look 168 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:41.399 at the negative side, there's you know, he has been more times than 169 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:48.240 not considered a bust or or been on a bust trajectory than he has any 170 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:52.240 kind of you know, superstar. But you know the thing is, you 171 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:58.440 know he doesn't have to be a superstar. You pick a guy in the 172 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:01.559 first round with the idea that, yeah, he's going to be a superstar. 173 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:11.360 But what we have seen are big drops in big spots. But we 174 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:22.519 have also seen flashes of a brilliance and so much so for me and I 175 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:26.840 don't even remember the game, I've referenced it earlier. It was an end 176 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:35.480 around where he scored a touchdown and on like the five yard line. He 177 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:43.159 do he didn't need to, but he did, and it looked like he 178 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:50.480 jumped from the fifteen yard line and it looked like he jumped like fifteen feet 179 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:56.120 in the air. It was one of those moments, one of the things 180 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.679 you love about sports. Sometimes you're watching it just like what did I just 181 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:09.840 see? I'm watching just some incredible talent. So he's got that and he 182 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:15.720 is in the perfect position, you know who reminds me of And take your 183 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:18.320 calls. See we're gonna talk some tigers coming up in just over ten minutes. 184 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:22.960 And you know the numbers. Let me give it to you. Eight 185 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.480 six six eight three eight forty eight forty three. That's the Meyer hotline. 186 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:33.440 Eight six six eight three eight forty eight forty three. You could text us 187 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:37.919 by typing in sports radio one word to twenty one thousand. You get the 188 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:43.360 prompt you can get in that way. He reminds me, I'm thinking of 189 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:50.919 Rashid Wallace, the former Piston. They go to work Piston who won a 190 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:56.879 championship. If I went for Rashid Wallace, they wouldn't have won the championship. 191 00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:58.240 But if what for Rashid Wallace, they you know, they could have 192 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:02.759 won two champions Himpsfielder Garden, Robert Rory. But you know that's not what 193 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:07.240 I'm here to talk about. But Rashid when he was out with the jail 194 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:14.559 Blazers, now it is loud mouth getting thrown out, smoked his way off. 195 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:18.879 You know, he suspend all of these things, ejections left and right. 196 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:23.120 He just wasn't that guy to lead you to where you wanted. The 197 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:27.279 awesome player, great talent, all over those kind of things, but just 198 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:33.519 it just wasn't He couldn't be that guy. And he got into the Pistons 199 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:41.799 where you know who could be that guy, mister big shot Ben Wallace could 200 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:48.240 be that guy, and he fit in with Tayshaun and ripped perfectly. He 201 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:53.279 didn't have to be the leader, he didn't have to be the guy down 202 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.639 of the post. He didn't. He just he was able just to do 203 00:16:56.879 --> 00:17:03.279 all of the things that he could do. He actually could go down to 204 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:07.160 the post. He was great on defense. You know, you he could 205 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:11.200 knock down for he was an incredible player, and it just it brought out 206 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:15.319 all of the best things and that's the position that Jamison Williams in. I'm 207 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:18.000 sure somebody had to tell them and they look at you are in just an 208 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:22.279 incredible spot. You got Laportie, you got Brown, you got everything that 209 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:30.279 with his offense and you can put them over the top. I'm looking on 210 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:37.720 Twitter and it's been a good dwo days on Twitter. Terry has been involved 211 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:47.079 on Twitter. And here I have a tweeked from FTP who was talking about 212 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:52.960 Jamison Williams and he says, Teddy Bridgewater was brought in to mentor this kid. 213 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:59.000 It's talking about Jamison Williams. He said so at his presser and Teddy 214 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:03.359 and Jamo himself off did a wonderful job turning around the first two years of 215 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:11.440 off the field stuff. Kudos to both. Yeah, old Teddy two gloves. 216 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:15.160 I he didn't do much on the field, but the off the field 217 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:21.759 stuff. Last week I saw him throwing as is the high school coach. 218 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:26.359 Now it's throwing balls high school kids. Not a surprise from from Teddy two 219 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:33.319 Gloves. Like to see that and if is a part of it just being 220 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:38.640 able to turn around the off the field stuff, I mean, the off 221 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:41.680 the field stuff. What are we talking about here? We're talking about he 222 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:48.640 got hurt. I like, so I'm not holding that against him. The 223 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:56.599 suspension. Yeah, you got to be better than that. You're the other 224 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:59.359 players. You know, he could have been out of here if and you 225 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.960 know, so if that's a strike or two strikes, whatever it was, 226 00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:08.319 I'm not getting on him because he likes to eat at McDonald's or go down 227 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:11.799 to a Coney Island in the city, which you know, some people it 228 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:17.839 seemed like they were you know, or had something needed something to talk about 229 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:27.279 there. But give me that guy feeling good about himself and his life on 230 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:30.880 the football field with a ball in his hand, and if he can't catch 231 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:34.519 it, hand it off to him. Because he's that kind of special talent. 232 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:41.960 I don't want to go overboard. But if we're lining up talent wise, 233 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:49.640 the hundred greatest receivers in NFL history, just talent, Jamison Williams is 234 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.160 going to be up close to the front of that line. Now. I 235 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:57.920 know he's you know, he has not shown very much production on the field. 236 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:03.359 Twenty four catches a couple of TVs last year, you know, just 237 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.680 over three hundred yards. And you know what, he's also a bust, 238 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:14.440 you know, what about talent playmaking. You know that's where it's at when 239 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:23.680 it comes down to JMO. All right, I wanted to give this to 240 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:26.839 you on this Memorial weekend. If you're you know, you're not gonna watch 241 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:30.799 basketball, you're not gonna watch hockey, you might want to on a Memorial 242 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:37.720 weekend take in a war movie and just for your viewing pleasure. I have 243 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:45.359 three of them for you that are available if you have Netflix and if you 244 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.759 have not watched any of these. I liked all three. Number one on 245 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:52.960 the list. It's called The Forgotten Battle. Again. These are all on 246 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:56.720 Netflix. This is one of the best war movies I have seen in the 247 00:20:56.839 --> 00:21:03.440 last ten years. It is the marshes of World War Two and the Netherlands. 248 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:07.519 I give it a total thumbs up. All Quiet on the Western Front 249 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:11.319 is also there on Netflix. It got cashed in on some awards. It's 250 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:17.039 very gory, so you have you know, like you it's a war movie, 251 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:22.200 but very gory but good. And then Narvik also gets the nod for 252 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:26.640 me as a thumbs up, one that I wouldn't actually think, but I'm 253 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:30.400 pleasantly surprised and I gave that a thumbs up. So there are three war 254 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:33.920 movies right there on Netflix. Check all those three out. I think you'd 255 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:38.440 like all three of those. Little tip for me on this Memorial weekend. 256 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:42.599 Oh you want to tip on how to cook a steak? Okay, I 257 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:47.880 don't have to. Maybe next time when I when I join you. Coming 258 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:51.200 up straight ahead, we'll talk some Tigers with Tom Gage, the longtime beat 259 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:59.920 writer. Next on the Michigan Sports Network in Then with Dan Dickerson. Hey, 260 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:03.319 Tigers fans in new baseball season means a new season on Michigan's favorite island 261 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:10.119 destination, mckinaw Island. Baseball Spring and mckinaw Island things that return every year, 262 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:12.440 reminding us what a great state we live in. Shake off the winter 263 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:15.480 blaus, take in a game, and plan your trip to America's top summer 264 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:19.559 destination, mckinaw Island dot Org. It can take years for a young left 265 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:22.559 handed hit or to learn to hit lefties in the major leagues, but cold 266 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:27.200 Keith is making rapid progress. Aj Hinch has been very careful which lefties Keith 267 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:30.319 gets to base. Then, after going on an eleven for eighteen tear, 268 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:34.519 Hinch said, Keith earned that start against very tough Cole Reagans in Kansas City. 269 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:37.839 Now, Keith was over two against Reagans, but he drew a walk 270 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:41.119 ahead a single against two lefty relievers. More than anything, he showed he 271 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:44.960 can hang in against tough lefties. He says facing a hard throwing lefty actually 272 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:48.279 helps him because it forces him to really focus on his hitting keys making better 273 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:52.759 against Wright eas And it looks like cold Keith might be about to take off. 274 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:59.880 Hey, Michigan, let's go. Wait. 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Hey, you can make all 283 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:53.119 the jokes you want about the power outage last night at Comerica Park, but 284 00:23:53.799 --> 00:24:00.759 there was a power outage in the booth and on the score for the Tigers, 285 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:04.440 they could beat nine to one. You probably know that by now, 286 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:11.480 as well as them losing their fifth game in a row. But they got 287 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:14.200 a lot of ball games to play. That's what you can say if you're 288 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:18.720 looking for that silver lining. We're ready to there's another silver lining as we're 289 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:25.200 ready to talk some Tigers baseball with a long time Tigers a beat writer, 290 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:30.680 Tom Gage, who joins us on the line on Xes and Bros. Live 291 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:36.039 this morning. Tom, How are you? How are you? Oh? 292 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.960 I'm doing great, you know, Tom. The only thing that would have 293 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:41.720 been more perfect at talking with you on the radio if it would have been 294 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:45.599 right at game forty, but having you around game forty. It was game 295 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:48.960 fifty yesterday, as you know. But you know it's been forty years as 296 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:52.960 the Tigers, well, the World Series and that that forty you know that 297 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:56.839 that game start thirty five and five and all that, which we'll get to, 298 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:02.720 but you know, I wanted to start you out with that forty game, 299 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:07.000 Marcus is it's in Tiger's lore that Sparky said that you can't judge a 300 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:10.799 team after forty. Did he actually say that or is he just kicking the 301 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:14.599 can down the road to you guys. No, Dennis, he actually said 302 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:21.039 that. And with Sparky, he usually didn't say things just once. He 303 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:25.039 said them many times. So I think he probably said it every year that 304 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:29.559 he was the manager. But he believed in forty, I you know, 305 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:36.240 and that's probably because he didn't believe in thirty. It was one month was 306 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:41.559 just too fast to judge a team. So forty is a good measure, 307 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:48.359 I think, in my opinion, it's still a little short of being able 308 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:55.160 to judge a team. I think where the Tigers are right now at fifty 309 00:25:55.279 --> 00:26:03.640 games is a better measure because you show your true colors. By fifty you've 310 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:07.039 had some ups, you've had some downs, and now you're begin to settle 311 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:11.200 in. I hope the Tigers aren't beginning to settle in because they're not playing 312 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:18.240 well. But yeah, you know, I'm a little bit worried about that 313 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:22.519 offense, as people should be. They just don't score enough runs to support 314 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:29.319 their pitching, as you know. But you know, Sparky, Parky did 315 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:33.279 believe in forty games, and he said so often. You know, what 316 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:36.920 happens to me every year is that there's a team that gets off to an 317 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:41.720 incredible start, and this year it's the Phillies and they're thirty seven and fourteen 318 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:44.359 right now. They you know, they've won six in a row, they're 319 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:48.839 nine and one of their last ten. But then you tell people like, 320 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:51.720 yeah, it's incredible, but you know, thirty five and five, you 321 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:55.400 know that was incredible. We're gonna get a little bit more of that. 322 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:59.680 You know. I was Jim Leland back in two thousand and six, as 323 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:03.400 you know, I don't remember what the game mark was. I think they 324 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:06.559 had lost to Cleveland and they were getting ready to fly out to the West 325 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:11.319 Coast, and he tore into his team and the postgame media session he wasn't 326 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:15.519 gonna stand for this, and they got a lot of criticism right off the 327 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:18.319 bat, like this guy's just coming in and he's he's, you know, 328 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:22.319 putting his team on blast that quickly. I say that, Tom, because 329 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:27.359 we had a caller earlier who said it was time to see some emotion from 330 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:32.640 aj Hitch, like he wanted a rant, he wanted on the turnover the 331 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:37.160 table spread or something. Do you think that that could be in the offing 332 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:42.000 here for for AJ Hinch, some kind of outburst or something. Well, 333 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:45.960 Dennis, I think it should be in the Austin, but I'm not sure 334 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.599 it is in the Austin because I don't know Aj that well. I covered 335 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:52.759 him a little bit as a player, but I haven't covered him as a 336 00:27:52.839 --> 00:28:00.400 manager. But he seems very methodical and very very He keeps his emotion pretty 337 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:04.720 contained. I understand he got upset the other day when somebody said the Tigers 338 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:10.480 hadn't been competitive in the game. And I think that's too bad because he 339 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:15.160 limits you know, he limits the media access to his coaches. And if 340 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:21.599 you're the only part of the coaching staff and managing staff that you allow the 341 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:26.599 media to have access to, I think you need to show up and and 342 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:30.319 and not get and not get upset at the questioning. I don't think the 343 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:34.880 I know the big writers of the Tigers now, I know them well, 344 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:41.200 and you know they're professional. They're not gotcha They're not a crew that asks 345 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:47.000 a lot of gotcha questions. So I think media, I think a J. 346 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:51.359 Hinch has it has a nice situation here in Detroit with the media. 347 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.880 Yeah, well, I know some of those guys of the radio actually are 348 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:57.799 got kind of guys, probably the one that threw that question at him. 349 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:06.000 So is there if you're looking for a silver lining, if for the rest 350 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:11.319 of this year or just moving forward for the Tigers, what would you point 351 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:14.319 to you? You've seen so many, you know, the seasons and then 352 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:19.759 transitions and new general managers. And obviously the Tigers have Scott Harris who's just 353 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:25.839 in his second full season. He's a young guy with thirty six thirty seven 354 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:30.559 years old, but they've got a low payroll. Is there what would you 355 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:33.160 point to as a silver lining ahead for this team? Well, I do 356 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:37.680 think that they've developed some solid players within the lineup. I think Carpenter is 357 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:45.400 proving to be a good, solid hitter, and you know, they've done 358 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:49.319 a good job in picking up some of the pieces to fill in people like 359 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:56.079 Gabanya's and Urshela, and those are very important players that pick up a Brushel 360 00:29:56.319 --> 00:30:02.559 was I think quite important in Flaherty. Uh. You know, the pitching 361 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:07.200 staff has been to me, the starting rotation has been outstanding with Clarity and 362 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:14.400 and Olsen and they but I imagine they're getting a little bit impatient right now 363 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:17.960 because they don't get any runs to work with. You know, schoobl Is 364 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:22.160 school is going to be a star, and I think you could see that 365 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:26.240 a couple of years ago. He just has the stuff to win. And 366 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:30.400 but you know, I've seen flaerty uh pitching person a couple of times. 367 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:36.240 I know, I know he had problems a little while a while ago, 368 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:40.079 not this year, but in the past. But he's throwing very well and 369 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:44.799 I'm very impressed with him. So I think they're I think there are good 370 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:48.599 building blocks for the Tigers. They just don't have the core of that offense. 371 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:52.359 And the guys that are letting them down, of course, are the 372 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:57.359 young players Tork Wilson and Riley Green. Uh. You know, everybody likes 373 00:30:57.400 --> 00:31:03.759 the praise, right Riley and Duvis deservedly so, because he has a lot 374 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:07.319 of rod talent. Right now, he's not playing very well. Yeah, 375 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:12.599 is that right? We got Tom Gage with us for a few more minutes. 376 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:15.599 Tom, I want to go back. You know, you've written a 377 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:19.839 few books. You've got your fourth out right now, or it's going to 378 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:25.920 be out the Enchanted season. You wrote this with Lance Parrish about the nineteen 379 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:30.079 eighty four team. I've already referenced them a few times. Tell me a 380 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:37.160 little bit about you know, this this particular book and working with Lance. 381 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:41.599 What was it like. No, I knew Lance very well as a player. 382 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:48.839 I also knew that he was rather contained with his comments and his emotion. 383 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:56.839 And when the publisher suggested this book for the two for the fortieth anniversary, 384 00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:00.319 I wasn't sure how how much I was going to be able to get 385 00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:04.759 out of him, but it was. It turned out to be a true 386 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:09.960 delight working with Lance because he tried so hard to remember the bits and pieces 387 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:16.759 and you know, the major things and even some of the minor components of 388 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:24.240 that season. So we would have a couple of conversations each week and as 389 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:29.920 we want through the different chapters. And again, I really enjoyed working with 390 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:35.680 Allance. He's a quality individual. And I want to stress again, Dennis, 391 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:42.400 he tried very hard to remember what nineteen eighty four was like and also 392 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:47.119 the other years of his career. You know, might still go with Ben. 393 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:53.839 Excuse me, what was that? No, I didn't hear you. 394 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:58.839 Oh yeah, I cut out for a second. Absolutely, We're good. 395 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:01.400 It was just right there at the end of you talking about Lance. That's 396 00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:07.720 good. You know for my generation. I was in high school, you 397 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:12.039 know, so they bless you boys. I had them. But you know, 398 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:15.960 growing up with every one of my uncles talking about the sixty eight team, 399 00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:21.279 you know, I knew everything like that wasn't a chant of team. 400 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:24.839 I knew all of it. And then it seemed like I was doing the 401 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:29.839 same thing with eighty four. And the Tigers had their shot obviously in six 402 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:32.799 and what twenty thirteen, you know, getting to the World Series. It 403 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:37.160 would have been great obviously if they would have been able to you know, 404 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:39.880 capture another one. But you do go back and now it's just, you 405 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:45.920 know, to reminisce about eighty four almost each and every player, just how 406 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:47.880 this thing was put together. But Tom, take me back to the forty 407 00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:52.119 gay mark. Are you sitting there and you're thinking, there's no way that 408 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:57.559 this team. Now we were talking about the Lions this morning about is a 409 00:33:57.680 --> 00:34:00.799 championship or bust? When you got to the point where it was the forty 410 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:06.359 gay mark, was it a realization that this team is going to win the 411 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:08.760 World Series? There is this going to be a major disappointment. Well, 412 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:14.199 when when he got to the forty game mark, and of course that was 413 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:17.599 in Seattle and they lost the you know, got swept to this series. 414 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:24.000 Here, I remember the team being just they weren't basking in the glory of 415 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:30.360 being thirty five and five. I mean, Sparky had that eye opening conversation. 416 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:35.679 The night before that, the last game in Anaheim before they went to 417 00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:40.760 Seattle. Sparky was at the team hotel and a guy from Dayton came up 418 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:45.480 to him and said, Sparky Anderson, boy, I'm from Dayton and I 419 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:49.599 remember your big red machine teams. By the way, what are you doing 420 00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:55.119 now? And Sparky said, here I was, I had the hottest team 421 00:34:55.199 --> 00:35:00.719 in the major leagues. And a guy who supposedly was a fan of mine 422 00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:04.719 comes up and asks me what am I doing now? And he said it 423 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:08.519 was a you know, it just put me in my place, and it 424 00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:15.119 reminded me that, you know, we were thirty four and five at the 425 00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:21.519 time, but they really hadn't accomplished anything. So Spokey had the mindset at 426 00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:25.480 thirty five and five that you better not let any grass grow under your feet. 427 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:30.679 You had to keep pressing, and the Tigers did for throughout the summer 428 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:36.840 I didn't play as well as they began the season. Toronto was on their 429 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:40.599 heels. They had to play hard and it wasn't really until September that they 430 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:45.760 put it away. But the summer was a great test for them and that's 431 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:51.000 where they proved the quality of the team. Oh and it came to Smarky 432 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:53.719 and I was thinking about eighty four. I think, if you know, 433 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:58.400 there's so many different things to talk about, but the audio of the World 434 00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:01.559 Series when they had Goose guys and uh it was it Dick Williams who went 435 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:05.639 out to the mound and they're having a conversation, and then you know, 436 00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:07.079 they showed Sparky and they got young Gibby, who's you know, he's the 437 00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:12.159 cage lion over there and he knew how to you know, poke and prod 438 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:14.639 them and everything. And they've got the audio. You know, they don't 439 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.880 want to walk you. And then of course he hits the home run, 440 00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:21.039 which is you know, so famous and it was so great. I think 441 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:24.519 the question here is is that how come we didn't hear more, whether it 442 00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:30.800 was even in that World Series or anywhere. Sparky was omnipresident on TV back 443 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:35.000 in the eighties, I mean he would you felt like you knew him all 444 00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:37.920 the time. But just that audio on the field, I'd never heard anything 445 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:42.119 else. And but that clip was so great, you know, from from 446 00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:45.880 Sparky with with Gibby in the World Series. Oh it sure was. When 447 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:50.639 Gibson had to play betting Sparky ten dollars that he was going to take out 448 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:54.840 he was going to hit one off of Gossage and Sparky not believe in it. 449 00:36:55.360 --> 00:37:00.679 But you know, Sparky was in his form, he was Sparky Anderson 450 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:06.840 in his uh, away from the uniform, he was George Anderson. So 451 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:10.039 he was he was really two people in one. Uh. He he really 452 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:15.400 knew how to turn on the charm and the personality when he was when he 453 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:21.440 was in baseball mode. But when he was George Anderson, he was just 454 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:27.679 really still the kid from South Dakota. And that's what made him so interesting, 455 00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:31.239 you know that the two the two people in one. He didn't he 456 00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:36.639 didn't allow you to call call him George unless you were his friend or his 457 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:40.199 or a relative. I never called him George. I called him Sparky and 458 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:45.199 uh. But I really had great admiration for him, not just as a 459 00:37:45.320 --> 00:37:49.960 manager, but as a person, and you know, he did such great 460 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:54.559 things for Detroit with the charity catch and uh he really wanted to give back 461 00:37:54.599 --> 00:37:59.760 to the city. So uh, you know, he was just a very 462 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:06.360 memorable individual. A couple more minutes here with with Tom Gage. I loved 463 00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:08.440 you know, you've covered it all though, but it's just as a youngster, 464 00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:12.800 you'd always remember going to the game, you know here what Sparky would 465 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:16.400 come out or I think was did he have the nickname, uh Captain Hook, 466 00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:20.199 you know, to get his pitcher. But he would never he always 467 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:22.840 made sure that he would not. He had the superstition of not stepping on 468 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:29.079 the baseline. I said, have been the third baseline there at uh am 469 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:32.960 I right at Tiger Stadium, third base, and I remember it if they 470 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:37.360 were losing and the crowd was bullying, and he used to he used to 471 00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:43.199 stop on the way back to the dead note and let people get express their 472 00:38:43.320 --> 00:38:47.400 emotion because he thought they he said, they were paying customers. You know, 473 00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:51.239 we were sticking up the joint. They had it, they had the 474 00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:54.679 right to express their opinion. Tom, let me give you a couple of 475 00:38:54.719 --> 00:38:59.039 quick hitters. You know you're a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. 476 00:38:59.159 --> 00:39:01.480 I've been to one of those banquets. Those are that's an awesome time. 477 00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:06.400 But a couple of years ago, the Baseball Writers award you with the 478 00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:10.280 with the Spink and you're presented that at the Cooperstown of the Baseball Hall of 479 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:15.920 Fame. That's got to be at the very top of the list. What's 480 00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:22.280 it like for you as a long time baseball scribe to you know, have 481 00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:27.880 your name there at Cooperstown among all the greats, oh Dennis. It was 482 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:32.800 a thrill of a lifetime because that was before COVID, so they the Hall 483 00:39:32.840 --> 00:39:39.840 of Fame observed the would present the award at Doubleday Field right downtown, so 484 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:45.679 you had to have a big crowd there and the Hall of Famers would sit 485 00:39:45.800 --> 00:39:50.800 on the uh uh in the chairs behind you, and it was just I 486 00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:52.760 mean, you you really, I mean, you don't become a Hall of 487 00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:59.119 Famer just because you win the Spink Award. You're not inducted, but they 488 00:39:59.239 --> 00:40:01.960 treat you like a Hall of Famer. And again I was it was a 489 00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:07.760 huge, huge thrill, and I remember when I was done with my speech 490 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:13.639 and uh, you know, the Hall of Famers were congratulating me. And 491 00:40:13.800 --> 00:40:20.079 one man came across the stage and I said, oh, is he coming 492 00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:24.000 over to talk to me? And he did, and he was. He 493 00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:30.000 was the man who expressed the most I think sincere congratulations for the speech I'd 494 00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:37.239 just given and and uh uh you know it was Sandy Kofax, and you 495 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:40.920 know that was just a great, great honor. And I you know again 496 00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:45.880 meeting meeting the Hall of Famers, uh, and being on their bus and 497 00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:51.159 and having a breakfast with them. Uh. There's so many of them that 498 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:54.800 are going now. You know, my good friend l. K Line and 499 00:40:55.360 --> 00:41:01.800 Jim Bunning and little Brock was especially great, gracious, and you know I 500 00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:06.840 missed them all, but it was really great to know them. Well. 501 00:41:06.920 --> 00:41:10.199 Tom the great story there with Sandy Kofax and everything else. We are out 502 00:41:10.239 --> 00:41:13.159 of time. I want to thank you. You know, I always treated 503 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:16.119 like broadcasters like me. You know, I could have been a long time 504 00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:19.679 writer, and you're always really gracious with your time, just like you are 505 00:41:19.760 --> 00:41:22.239 today. I want to tell everybody the Enchanted season. I went on my 506 00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:25.360 phone where I buy my books, and I saw it right there. I 507 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:30.440 could order it up. So I encourage everybody to do that Tom, thanks 508 00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:32.719 so much for your time, continued success. Always great to talk with you. 509 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:37.440 Well. Thank you, Dennis, and I really enjoyed being on your 510 00:41:37.480 --> 00:41:40.519 show. All right, take care. There is Tom Gage, the long 511 00:41:40.599 --> 00:41:44.519 time Tiger Beat writer. Talk a little bit about the current Tigers, and 512 00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:50.079 of course going back to nineteen eighty four. I want to thank Ben and 513 00:41:50.280 --> 00:41:53.280 Zost for turning all the dials, doing a fabulous job here, everybody else 514 00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:57.880 for listening, Matt Shepherd for letting me pitch it. I'll do it again 515 00:41:57.960 --> 00:42:00.280 in June if he'll have me back. Take care, everybody, Axes and 516 00:42:00.320 --> 00:42:06.000 Bros. I'm Don's fifthy in here. I'm a Michigan Sports Network. Friday, 517 00:42:06.119 --> 00:42:09.920 July twenty sixth, that's Soaring Eagle Casino in resort The Offspring Rudy Fly 518 00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:15.519 for What, same show, same night, Simple Plan plus special guest Huma 519 00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:20.400 Stang. Part of the Soaring Eagles Summer out Door Cosser series. Ticket says 520 00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:23.400 low as twenty six dollars and on Salem now at the Soaring Eagle box office 521 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:29.519 or online at detics dot com. Party Hard Rockharder, The Offspring, Simple 522 00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:34.039 Plan in Hubus Dang, July twenty sixth showtime seven pm. Details at Soaring 523 00:42:34.079 --> 00:42:38.400 Eaglecasino dot com. Went played golf yesterday with my son, and I look 524 00:42:38.440 --> 00:42:45.360 at my bag and I realize running low on ts golf glove is a little 525 00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:51.239 worn and you can always use some new golf balls. Not buying them at 526 00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:57.599 the pro shop way too expensive. Not going to a golf specialty store too 527 00:42:57.679 --> 00:43:04.199 expensive. You know where I'm going go to Meyer. They've got all kinds 528 00:43:04.199 --> 00:43:08.480 of golf products sold at Meyer for much much better deals. Look, you're 529 00:43:08.519 --> 00:43:13.440 gonna go there anyway. You're going there anyway because you want to make sure 530 00:43:13.519 --> 00:43:16.760 you get your certified Angus beef there. You're gonna get your produce there. 531 00:43:17.119 --> 00:43:21.800 You're gonna get the things that are the best you can get anywhere. Meyer 532 00:43:21.880 --> 00:43:27.119 butchers have I in every state cut and grind the fresh beef every day that 533 00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:30.639 are certified Angus beef. Folks, only three and ten cattle meet the highest 534 00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:36.599 standards to become certified three and ten. That's it. That's like that's a 535 00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:39.760 Hall of Famer in baseball. You've got three hundred in baseball, you're probably 536 00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:43.079 getting into the Hall of Fame. That's what they say. That's the same 537 00:43:43.159 --> 00:43:45.079 thing with certified Angus beef and where do you find it? You find it 538 00:43:45.159 --> 00:43:47.800 at Meyer. So you're going to be there anyway, getting your produce, 539 00:43:49.119 --> 00:43:53.159 getting your certified Angus beef, getting your knickknacks for your home, and now 540 00:43:53.639 --> 00:43:59.239 for you and me, golfers who love the game but could use a little 541 00:43:59.320 --> 00:44:02.239 help with the few things in your bag. Meyer is the place to go. 542 00:44:02.760 --> 00:44:07.960 Check them out today for everything that you need. Meyer your friend and 543 00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:13.000 don't forget. Don't forget. Meyer has the tenth annual Meyer Classic. It's 544 00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:16.360 coming up in the middle of next month at Blayfield Country Club. We're going 545 00:44:16.400 --> 00:44:20.960 to be there, hope you can too. The Freddy the Pizza Man Foundation 546 00:44:21.320 --> 00:44:25.559 is dedicated to providing support to families and Michigan schools touched by autism. We 547 00:44:25.719 --> 00:44:30.679 invite you to join us in supporting these families and schools by making a donation 548 00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:34.480 at Freddie thee Pizza Man dot com. With your donation, you can help 549 00:44:34.519 --> 00:44:38.320 provide essential resources that can make a real impact. Visit Freddiethepizza Man dot com 550 00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:43.320 to make a donation and to learn more about the foundation's mission. That's fr 551 00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:46.119 ed I the Pizza Man dot com. Together we can make a difference. 552 00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:50.320 What's up, Michigan. I want to give some love to Ben Glaze producing 553 00:44:50.360 --> 00:44:54.960 another great SHEP broadcast, Superflies producer My show later today at three, The 554 00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:57.840 Huge Show on the Michigan Sports Network,