FanNation

There used to be a ball fan here.....

I love baseball but hate baseball at the same time. As I was growing up, I lived and breathed baseball. I played it, watched it, studied it and marveled at the history of the game. There is nothing better than the smell of a glove, the feel of a baseball in your hand, the crack of the bat that you know is a homer or the happiness when your team wins one. And the feeling of reverence at seeing the field when you walk out the tunnel is amazing. As a kid all I wanted to do was get outside and get a game going. I could rattle off stats and players like there was no tomorrow. Nothing could dampen my love for the game.

Then, in 1994 I lost my love for baseball. The all mighty dollar tarnished my sport for the last time. The players have always wanted more money and the owners have always tried to screw the players. This was a part of the game that was tolerated because of the love of the game. Yes, there have been strikes before and I’m sure there will be strikes again. But in 1994 when money cancelled the World Series, my heart broke. I still love the game of baseball and the history but I have not been to a ballpark or barely even watched an inning of a game in 13 years, even when my beloved Tigers were in the Series last year. I will once in awhile look at the standings, but that is about all. I hope to instill in my son the love of the game that I have, the true game of baseball.

Baseball to me is the greatest sport but for now I choose to remember it the way it was when I was a kid.

[MOH]Coach has a great blog in the same vein as this at http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/18623

Why do you like your teams?

I love my Detroit teams. Ever since I was a small child I can remember watching them and feeling that sense of pride when they won. This was at a time when the Pistons, Red Wings, Lions were terrible and the Tigers were an up and down team, the 70’s if you must know. No matter how bad they were I was always rooting for them. As a child it is always the local teams you cheer for the most but sometimes another team gets attention for the smallest reason.

The New York Jets became my other football team all because of one Christmas morning when I got pajamas that had Joe Namaths #12 on them. Although not a real fan nowadays, I always have a little part of me that still wants to see the Jets do well. I started liking the Baltimore Orioles something about those orange jerseys and that cartoonish bird just sucked me in. Even today if the Tigers are playing the Orioles I know it is a win/win situation because one of my teams is going to win.

I was fortunate that as I grew older my beloved Detroit teams started winning (except the Lions). I’ve been able to see The Pistons, Wings and Tigers win Championships. I still have hope before the season begins that this will be the year for the Lions, even though I really know it won’t but it just might.

Recently, I’ve started to be a fan of the 76’ers. After they traded Iverson, they could have folded up shop and played for a lottery pick. But they toughed it out and really made a run to try to get a playoff spot. That really made an impression on me and made me a fan. I will still want to watch my Pistons thump them but any other night I will be pulling for them.

I have always wondered what sort of things makes someone else a fan of a team outside of their area. Is it a certain player, a memory of a great play, or a childhood incident that just stuck with them?

Why do you like your teams?

What was Chauncey Billups thinking?

I am stunned this morning by the breakdown of the Pistons in the 4th quarter of game 4. I am especially confused as to what Chauncey was doing by taking a 3 point shot with under 2:00 to play. The shot would have tied the game but at that point 2 points would have been the smart play. He was off balance and tried to force the shot which clanged off the back of the rim. Forget the tie, get 2 and let the Cavs pick up their defense. Chauncey also throws a crappy pass that was intercepted by Gooden and then Chauncey runs over and fouls him! Still plenty of time on the clock. A bonehead pass followed by a bonehead foul. Someone needs to sit Chauncey down and find out what is going on in his head right now, it certainly isn't basketball.

Time for a rivalry that means something.

What a great Series win over the Bulls. Now this opens the door to another great era of Detroit - Chicago battles.

Not since the 80's and early 90's has the battles between the Pistons and Bulls actually meant something. This was a rivalry that was quite possibly the biggest and most heated in the NBA at the time. Both teams hated each other, the fans hated the other team and it seemed that the cities hated each other as well. If the Bulls can keep their young talent and pick up a couple key players and Detroit can keep its core, these teams are going to be killing each other for quite sometime.

On to the Eastern Conference Championship

For the 5th straight year the Pistons are playing in the Eastern Conference Championship Series. 4 wins away from going to the big dance. The Pistons finally got their act together and and put the clamp down on the Bulls. A great offensive effort in the 3rd and the stifiling 4th quarter defense showed the rest of the league and viewers that this is the Pistons team that needs to be feared in the Playoffs.

The Bulls really had no chance to win this game. The Pistons knew if they let this game go and needed a game 7, that they would never here the end of it. This win removes any doubt that they are here to play and win this Championship 

The Pistons should be able to get past this series and in to the Finals. Neither the Cavs or the Nets have what it takes to get past the Pistons. I think no mattter what team the Pistons play, the series will go 5 games maybe 6.