Professional football almost lost the meaning

I was very upset when I was younger when the professional baseball players went on strike and didn't play the World Series. I grew up pro union with both parents working for unions and I understand at one time they were necessary.
Football to me almost lost what I felt baseball lost so many years ago. There is only so much money a person needs and when it looks like they are becoming greedy than I think it is time to take a look at things and maybe change them up a bit.
If the National Football League had not worked something out I feel they would have slipped into that category. Have you ever gone to a game and had to pay all that money? I know I am talking to a lot of Detroit Lions fans and we know how hard it can be to stick with a team that has had so many disappointments.
I know because I have have been there and I have watched the ups and downs and hoped one day the team could get back to the glory of the 50s.
We shall see this could be the year. At lease now they will get a chance to try and do well. Good luck Lions and good luck to the rest of the organizations.

Are you ready for some football?

It's official.
The NFL lockout is over and there will be football this season.
Earlier today the players' executive committee unanimously approved the new NFL collective bargaining agreement.
The lockout, which lasted 136 days, was the longest work stoppage in league history. I have to say, I'm ecstatic about the news, as I just can't imagine a fall without the Lions. I know they haven't done much to impress us lately, but this could be the year of the Honolulu Blue and Silver.
If everything shapes up the way it looks it will, the Lions will open training camp on Thursday, with full contact practices starting on Saturday.

True meaning of sports

Everyone thinks the real reason that we play sports is to win. It may be the underlying reason but I believe the real reason is to learn and have fun
I have been on a lot of sports teams in my life and as much as I hate to say it most of them have not been very good. Granted we did still have fun most of the time but we didn't notch a lot of victories in the win column
In fact, I can remember playing a team in baseball when I was in junior league and literally losing something like 65-0. Keep in mind this was not football it was baseball and I can remember looking at the runners going round and round the bases for what seemed like hours.
High school was rough as well. Southgate Anderson was not known for track and we got crushed by such teams as Monroe, Dearborn Fordson and nearly everyone we played.
My best meet was at the old Taylor Center track when I ran against a kid in the hurdles and won pretty easily.
I knew at an early age I was no George Brett but I still thought maybe some day. We measure life in a lot of different ways and it is easy to use wins and loses but looking back I really think it is all about the memories and what you can take with you in every day life.

Toledo Mudhens games are fun.

People may think that the Detroit Tigers may be the only baseball team in town. Or maybe even the only tea worth spending any money on at all.
This couldn’t be more from the truth. The Toledo Mudhens have been around for years and it is just a short drive down the freeway to go and watch some up and coming ball players. Maybe you will even be fortunate like I was and get to see a player like Saline resident and Detroit Tiger Brandon Inge doing some rehab to get back to the majors.
Inge had been sick with mononucleosis and was down in Toledo last week when I was able to watch the Tigers’ AAA team play the Columbus Clippers. The game itself was a lot different than a professional game but I will say it is nice once in awhile to see that difference and get watch what these guys go through in order to make it to the majors.
They aren’t making a lot of money and I will bet you that Inge’s salary for one year is way more that what the entire Mudhen team makes. That being said the level of play at Toledo is nowhere near what you get at Detroit.
But, it is cheaper to go to Toledo to watch a game and you will get a seat that is probably better than what you will see with the parent club in Detroit.
They do all kinds of crazy promotions and things between the innings. One of my favorite has to do with picking a certain player from the other team and making them the goat of the game. If that player strikes out during the game a certain section gets free ice cream.
I couldn’t really tell if that pressure wore on the opposing batter but I will say he didn’t strike out at all. In fact, it appeared he had better game. Maybe when they play Columbus again they should pick someone different who may be more likely to strikeout.
Some of the players on the team like Fu-Te Ni and Clete Thomas have been up in the majors before and sent back down. Others like Andy Dirks and Brennan Boesch are up with the Tigers and may stay for awhile.
One player, Max St. Pierre has been with Toledo for years and never really gotten a chance at the majors. He is still holding onto that dream of getting up to the “Bigs” and having fun getting paid for doing what he loves. Although if he got into the majors he would get paid quite a lot more money.
His debut for the Tigers on Sept. 4th of last year made him the oldest Tiger position player to make the MLB since Mike Roarke in 1961. He got a hit during his first start.
The game is fun at any time but the minors tend to make a few more mistakes than the majors. You also get to see more pitchers. The Mudhens threw about five pitchers on the night I went.
I was also fortunate to see a fireworks show, which was fun I will admit but the most interesting part of the entire night was just watching the people and enjoying a very laid back atmosphere.
I would say run out and get season tickets buy season tickets but it might be nice for a change of pace or even a couple times a year. The game is fun and every player has a different story.
Some will rise to the top and end up in the majors while others may reach Toledo and that will be the highest level they ever play. Whatever the case if it comes to Detroit they will more than likely have to come from farm team down in Toledo.
So grab you mitt and put on your baseball hat for an enjoyable time down in the minors.
Check out the Mudhens Web Site at www.toledomudhens.com.
Dave Merchant is a staff writer for Heritage West Newspapers and can be reached at dmerchant@heritage.com.