The Beerded Lawyer: Dunkin' Doug, Lions D, Trey Burke

Post numero dos…the one we all didn’t think would happen, well at least I didn’t. As Sean has pointed out in one of his most recent posts, it has been relatively quiet on the sports front. The lone exception being the countless number of rumors swirling and speculation flying concerning Tigers spring training and NFL free agency. So what to write about? Hmmmmm…

…roughly two weeks ago I shaved my beard. It was a moment of weakness for me.  Feeling unproductive on a Saturday morning, I set out determined to get something accomplished – so I shaved, and immediately regretted it. However, the beautiful thing about facial hair (besides the beauty of facial hear alone), if you are fortunate enough, it will always grow back.

So now that I got that out of the way, the following is what has been on my mind since my last post:

The Art of Dunking

After writing about the travesty that is the NBA dunk contest as it currently exists, here I am again writing about dunks. For me, there is something about a dunk that gets the blood flowing. No doubt that they are exciting, but it’s the following combinations that get me: graceful yet powerful, creative yet mechanical.  And there is one young man, playing for the mighty Titans, that does it better then most…Doug Anderson. For having a relatively common name, you probably have heard/know little about him.

All you need to know is captured below:

And since you are sitting at your computer reading this, you might as well search YouTube for some additional Dunkin’ Doug highlights, and I urge you to do so  - specifically some of those where he’s dressed in the Mott yellow.

Also, a follow up on the afore-referenced dunk contest: Magic Johnson agrees with me…

So…who exactly will be playing D for the Lions?

You will probably not recognize the faces on the Lions defense next year. And they may not be a good thing.  Here’s just a few names who might not be returning through free agency:

There’s little doubt Avril will be sacking QB’s next year, but not in the Honolulu blue.

Cliff Avril
Sammie Lee Hill
Kyle Vanden Bosch
Jason Durant
Corey Williams
Louis Delmas
Chris Houston
Lawrence Jackson

Add to the above that the Lions have roughly $7M to work with this free agency (pre-imminent @Staff9 restructure). Doesn’t leave a whole lot to work with, and leaves a lot to be desired. And if you are counting, that is six defensive starters and some huge (literally when talking about Hill) depth. And that is not all of their UFA either.

Now, if the Lions drafted well, this wouldn’t be as much of a concern…but not even the biggest Lions homer can have faith that they will be able to rebuild the D through the draft. So let me ask you this: How can the Lions be expected to be better on D? They were horrid last year and are primed to be even worse this year. You better hope they sign Bush and are able to score +35 a week, they are going to need it.

Wait…aren’t you going to write about the NFL draft now?

Poor Dee Milner…you don’t even know.

Nope.  Testament to how little faith I have in the Lion’s brass.  Add that April is a long ways off and between March Madness and all the speculation surrounding a Tiger’s closer…I just don’t want to think about the draft. Besides, if we trust in the NFL combine…don’t we already know who’s going to go where?

On a side note, look for a 2g1i post on the draft in an upcoming post – probably the week leading up to the draft.

…which brings me to the next topic: who in the name of Willie Hernandez will be the Tigers closer in 2013?

Don’t worry about Mr. Potato, he won’t be back.

Rondon.  Here’s all you need to know. It is March 9. It’s his first Spring Training.  We knew he had trouble locating the strike zone coming into this Pring Training. There is absolutely no need to panic.  If he fails when it counts (regular season) his replacement is already on our roster. The closer position is overvalued as it is. Look at what the Tigers were able to accomplish with a large potato for a closer. Don’t get me wrong, Valverde did great for the Tigs historically, last year, however, if you watched enough games, his collapse was inevitable.

U of M v MSU

What an ugly game. If you told me Michigan would win that game and not make a single three, I would have responded by inquiring what your illicit substance of choice is.

What this game came down to: turnovers and Trey Burke. MSU turned the ball over at an alarming rate. If they are going to go anywhere in March, Appling is going to have to play better.  Trey Burke was the best player on the floor, and quite possibly the best player in the nation.  People forget that he is playing with three freshman. Without Trey Burke where would U of M be?  The kid is special and going to make some noise at the next level.  Since I brought up best player in the nation, you are probably saying: “But Mr. Beerded Lawyer, Viktor Oladipo does it all, not just offense.”  If you thought this, ask yourself the same question I just posed about Mr. Burke…where would Indiana be without Oladipo?  Oladipo is their best player, and a top five player in the nation, but without him Indiana is still a top 25 team.  Michigan without Burke?  Not so much.

Appling probably hasn’t slept in awhile:

Also, Adreian Payne is the best player in the nation that no one is taking about. Length, athleticism,  high motor, and accurate from anywhere on the floor.  I fully expect him and the aforementioned Mr. Burke to be the two players from this game that will have the most success in the NBA.

Marlboro Hard Pack

If you don’t recall or didn’t read my first post, let me bring you up to speed: I love Jim Leyland. Here’s my Jim Leyland clip of the week:

2 Guys 1…Law Firm?

Wanted to take a minute of your time and congratulate Sean on his acceptance into the Gonzaga University School of Law.  No doubt Sean is going to do great things.  But most importantly, so long as he can cut it, isn’t the most logical sequence for Sean and I to form “2 Guys 1 Law Firm?”  I think so.

On a side note (or should I say “side bar”…haha, lawyer joke. Sorry.), Sean is going to have to take a long look in the mirror and determine if the man looking back at him is fit for Gonzaga Law.  I think not.  Therefore, it is my professional recommendation that Sean begin growing out his hair, smoking dope, and “grunging” up the wardrobe.

After Sean’s first year of Law School

Forecast picture:

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