Looking at the title, most probably think this posting will be about the Super Bowl. You're probably sitting there thinking "how can he predict was hasn't been done?" or is this posting about the party tomorrow---neither. But it has been a great last couple of days in sports.
For one thing, our voices have been heard and the Spartan logo is NOT changing!
Always loved the slick, clean design and why were we changing it anyways? But nowadays with the internet, Facebook and Twitter, our voices were heard and the powers that be have re-thought their idea. Even if it wasn't a bad idea (which it was) isn't there more important things to be dealing with?
Then the next great event in the last few days happened today. Dick Lebeau, former cornerback of the Detroit Lions made the Hall of Fame. I know, I know, everyone is out there groaning "the Lions?" and I hear ya. But the Lions of the sixties and seventies weren't terrible, they were just stuck in the same division as the Packers and Vikings. Back before there was a "wild card" team the playoffs consisted of only division winners. The Lions played "second fiddle" many a year in their own division, never made the playoffs and no one ever knew they existed.
For years Dick was considered the second best cornerback in the league behind Herb Adderly---a Packer! Now with Dick making it, the stars from those teams have received their just due. Joe Schmidt, one of the greatest linebackers to never win a championship, was no brainer decades ago. In the last few years Lem Barney and Charlie Sanders have found their place in Canton and now this year Dick will join them.
I can't see anyone else from those great teams making it, but having four from that era says something, something very special. Too often I feel people "just" look at the numbers a player puts up. If they have great stats the next question is how many championships did they have? And you have to look at the era, the timing of their career. As stated before, the playoffs had not expanded to even ONE wild card team for most of these Lions' careers. But, it should be noted that the first year the NFL did add a wild card team, the Lions were there...losing to the powerful Dallas Cowboys 5-0! Yeah, FIVE, the awesome Cowboys did not score a touchdown against a defense that featured Barney and Lebeau.
One final note about looking past stats...growing up in the Detroit area I loved Al Kaline. Many people who knew baseball would talk how great he was, others would bring up his lack of championships. But again, as with the NFL, the playoff system had not expanded yet. In fact it was 1969 when each league devised an East and West division, to allow two teams play for the pennant. Up through 1968 there was only one winner in each league. It didn't matter if you were a half game out of first place or 20 games out of first, there was one winner and 10-11 losers. Yes there were some great pennant races in the 60's featuring the White Sox, Indians, Twins, Tigers and Red Sox---all ending up second fiddle to the Yankees usually. And all of those teams featured stars you may never know... if you just go by the stats.
Now I must leave and begin preparations for the big game tomorrow. For now enjoy the weekend, enjoy the game and definitely enjoy The Who! Take care and stay tuned.
