Top Detroit Trades

Well, it's a slow day in the sports world. Duke beat Ohio State last night. Next up for the Blue Devils--the Washington Wizards (who, despite trying to lose, also got a win last night). To be brief, Coach K has got his team playing good basketball. They'll be fun to watch come March, as they normally are. On days when the headlines are as boring as monitoring the NHL lockout, one must find entertainment elsewhere. So I present to you my list of the top ten trades (in my lifetime, at least) in Detroit sports history.

#10-No More Mateen

The 2000 Michigan State Men's Basketball team was one of the greatest ever assembled. They had everything covered. They had guys who could shoot, they had guys who could pass, they had guys who could play defense, they had guys who could rebound...hell, they had guys who could probably start on the football team. And their coach, well, he needs no introduction. Tom Izzo is one of the five best, ever. I'll argue that one with anyone. Izzo is a mastermind, a mastermind who never had a leader like Mateen Cleaves (I love Draymond too, but he didn't raise the big banner). Mateen was the heart and soul of a team that captured everyone's heart. He was as entertaining as he was good. And then the Pistons drafted him?! A match made in heaven. Only problem is St. Peter was playing a joke on everyone, because Cleaves and the Pistons meshed about as well as oil and water.

If it were the Lions, they may have hung onto Cleaves, hoped he'd come around, and still now we'd be talking about what an awful decision it was. Instead, Joe Dumars pulled the trigger on a deal that sent Mateen Cleaves to the Sacramento Kings for fan favorite Jon Barry (and a first round pick). Barry went on to help the Pistons reach the playoffs a couple of times. And although he never won a ring with Detroit, Barry is recognized as one of the pieces that helped bring the team together. Mateen Cleaves went on to grace Detroit television with his presence, as he never did much of anything else in the NBA. However, Cleaves still is one of the greatest college players in Big Ten history, and one of the best leaders in NCAA history.

#9-Mister Fister

Doug Fister is one of those guys who will live in Detroit sports lore for years to come. His impact on the Tigers is similar to a guy like Dan Petry. Fister is a guy who isn't a number one starter, plain and simple. He's very, very good. He's very efficient and fun to watch. And the Tigers stole him away from the Seattle Mariners. Fister was traded for Charlie Furbush, Casper Wells, Francisco Martinez, and Chance Ruffin. Anybody know what those guys are doing these days? Me neither. Fister, however, has sparkled in the playoffs for the Tigers in the last two years. After joining Detroit on July 30, 2011, Fister went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in ten starts with the Tigers to close the 2011. Fister still has not been healthy for a whole season with the Tigers, yet somehow has managed to pitch brilliantly when it matters most.

#8-Cheli's Chili

For years, Chris Chelios was that guy. You hated him. You hated watching him, you hated the way he played, how aggressive he was. On top of it all, Chelios played for the Chicago Blackhawks. People in Detroit like Richard Nixon more than the Blackhawks. That didn't stop the best GM in sports from acquiring the gritty blue-liner, as Ken Holland sent Anders Eriksson and a couple of first rounders (eventually Steve McCarthy and Adam Munro...umm, who?) to Chicago for Chelios. What followed? Two Stanley Cups out of three trips to the finals, a great bar right next to Comerica, and a love affair with the city that Chelios now calls home. Winner winner, chili dinner.

#7-The Masked Man

Jerry Stackhouse was a good player with the Pistons. Nice player, nice game, a guy who could fill up the stat sheet (not with assists, though). Stackhouse's tenure in Detroit is best known for the trade that sent him away, as it should be. Another winner from Dumars, Joe D sent Jerry, former Purdue great Brian Cardinal, and Ratko Varda to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Bobby Simmons, Hubert Davis, and Richard Hamilton. Everyone else in the trade is irrelevant other than Stackhouse and Hamilton. Varda may have even been the dude in "Office Space"--Samir naga, naga, not gonna work here anymore, that's for sure. Hamilton, however, worked for the Pistons for quite sometime, becoming the second half of one of, if not the greatest backcourts in Pistons' history. Joe D and Isaiah may have something to say about that. Either way, both backcourts produced championships. Rip and Chauncey anchored the great Detroit teams of the 2000s, teams that went to six straight Eastern Conference Finals, winning a championship in the process.

From left: Rip, Tayshaun, Rasheed, Chauncey, and Ben photo credit: tumblr.com

#6-Say It Ain't So, Curtis

This trade ranks up there in terms of the most heartbreaking moves ever seen in Detroit. Curtis Granderson was as beloved a player the Tigers have had since Tram and Lou. However, from a baseball standpoint, he wasn't that good. Granderson hits home runs, sure. But if you hit left handed, you could hit home runs in Yankee Stadium too. He was a nice figure in a city that needed a representative. He was well-spoken, respectful, and enjoyable to watch. But the Tigers won in that trade, by a landslide. In December of 2009, the Tigers sent Granderson to the Yankees and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks. In exchange, Detroit received Max Scherzer, Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, and yes, unfortunately Daniel Schlereth as well. I can live with Schlereth if it means we got the other three. Coke, Jackson, and Scherzer remain integral parts of a Tiger team that will challenge for and expect to win a World Series in 2012 and beyond.

#5-The Dollar Menu

To me, this may be the greatest steal in sports history. That's right, not just Detroit, but all of sports history. On June 30, 1993, the Detroit Red Wings made a trade that may never have been covered if not for the work ethic of one man: Kris Draper. The Wings acquired Draper from the (old) Winnipeg Jets for future considerations. The trade was nearly forgotten until the two sides realized they needed to complete the deal. So the Wings bought the Jets a double cheeseburger, er I guess McDouble now, and sent the Jets one dollar. One dollar for one of the best penalty killers ever. One dollar for a player who would go on to anchor the Grind Line, the most famous line in Detroit hockey since the Production line. Draper won four Stanley Cups in Detroit, wore the "A" on his jersey at times, and always worked hard. What else is there to say?

#4-Did I Say I Like To Hit??

I know, it should be higher on the list. He won a triple crown for Christ's sake, how can this be number four? Simple--win a ring, and it gets higher. Miguel Cabrera is a talent that has not been seen in baseball in a long time. The only thing this guy can't do is speak English very well. Oh well, I forgive you Miggy. Just before the Tigers shipped Granderson off, they made a blockbuster deal, sending A-list prospects Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin to the then Florida Marlins in exchange for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Willis never panned out. That's okay neither did Maybin or Miller; both are now playing outside of Miami, with Maybin in San Diego, and Miller in Boston. At the time the trade was questioned. Miller was directly out of North Carolina, a fireballing lefty drawing comparisons to Randy Johnson. Maybin could cover more ground than a cheetah in centerfield and hit for power. The guy took Roger Clemens deep in his second game for the Tigers. That would be about all he would do, for the Tigers or anybody else. Miller is now in the bullpen in Beantown. Willis is out of baseball. And Miguel, well Miguel is good.

Miguel Cabrera photo credit: cbsnews.com

#3-Ball Don't Lie

The Pistons had been there. They had been in the Eastern Conference Finals and gotten swept by Jason Kidd's New Jersey Nets. They were playing uninspired, so Joe D again struck gold, and pulled the trigger on Rasheed Wallace. In a three team trade, Detroit acquired Rasheed and Mike James, shipping Chucky Atkins and Lindsey Hunter (they got him back anyway) to Boston, and Zelijko Rebraca and Bobby Sura to the Atlanta Hawks. Rasheed made an instant impact.

Wallace was the final piece in one of the greatest starting fives in NBA history. That's not bias, that's true. Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Wallace, and Wallace went on to win a title, play in two NBA finals, and three Eastern Conference finals, in three years. The same starters the whole time, before Ben Wallace sold out. Rasheed remains one of the most entertaining sports personalities to ever play in Detroit, and one of the best power forwards as well.

#2-The Goatee

In 1995, the Detroit Red Wings took the NHL by storm. Following the first of Gary Bettman's follies, the NHL returned for a shortened season of 48 games. The Red Wings went 33-11-4 in those 48 games, winning the Presidents' Trophy and besting the Chicago Blackhawks in five games before meeting up with the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Wings were heavily favored and the Wings got swept (sounds like another Mike Illitch owned team). The next year, the Wings won 62 games and tallied 131 points, again winning the Presidents' Trophy. They then lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the 1996 Western Conference Finals.

Just after the start of the 1996-1997 season, Kenny Holland pulled one out of a hat. He sent Keith Primeau, Paul Coffey, and a first round pick to the Hartford Whalers for Brian Glynn, and a player that would turn into one of the Red Wings' best: Brendan Shanahan. Shanahan was the Rasheed Wallace in Detroit before Rasheed got here. Shanny helped lead the Red Wings to Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998, as well as 2002. Shanahan immediately became a force in Detroit. When Shanahan retired, he had tallied 656 goals. He remains the only NHL player in history to record at least 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes, something that endears him to Red Wings' fans still to this day.

Brendan Shanahan raises Lord Stanley's Cup in 1997 photo credit: nypost.com

#1-The Fro

He was the best. He was the next Jordan. He was dominant. He could score, rebound, pass, defend, not to mention he played at Duke. Everyone loved Grant Hill. He was the face of the Pistons the minute he walked through the Palace doors in 1994. He won the Rookie of the Year award, sharing the honors with Jason Kidd, and became the first Piston to win the award since Dave Bing. Hill didn't love Detroit as much as Detroit loved him, though. When it came time for Hill to pursue the free-agent market, he wanted out. Thank God.

The Pistons granted Hill his wish, executing a sign-and-trade with the Orlando Magic in August of 2000. The Pistons would help Orlando become a hot-bed free agent market, a team that would eventually sign the likes of Tracy McGrady, immediately making the Magic a title contender. The Pistons got two scrubs in return: Chucky Atkins and some dude with big hair, Ben Wallace. Atkins was a perennial back-up in the league, and Wallace...well, Wallace was as offensively inept as a twelve year old. The two teams were heading in complete opposite directions of each other (opposite of what they thought, as well). The Pistons became the marquee franchise in the East, with Big Ben front and center. Wallace was phenomenal in Detroit, before he got greedy. You couldn't go in the lane without getting your shot blocked. And you were intimidated every single time John Mason announced Ben's name as you heard the original Big Ben chiming in the background. The Pistons won a lot with Wallace. Hill was never the same after he left Detroit. Bone spurs in the ankle diminished what could have been a hall of fame career. A shame, but not really.

Ndamukong Nation

Being someone's good friend entails a few things. First, it entails that you are probably going to go through a lot of bad things, as well as a lot of good things. You may not always agree with your good friend. You may disagree with them a lot more than you agree with them, in some instances. But mostly, it entails that you are going to stick up for them whether they are right or wrong, cause that's what you do for your good friends. It sort of comes with the job title.

The Lions are 4-7 this year. They are in last place in their division. Their chances of making the playoffs rival the chances that you are going to win that $550 million dollar lottery jackpot when the lucky number is drawn. Those (for the most part) are facts. What's NOT a fact is that Ndamukong Suh intentionally kicked Matt Schaub in the powerball(s). I don't know. You don't know. You can think he did, and you may be right. But the beauty of it is you will never know unless he comes out and admits it. And since it took him quite a while to admit he stomped on someone, something that seemed a little more blatant, it's doubtful he's going to admit to this, so you might as well live with it.

Since Ndamukong Suh joined the Lions, a number of things have happened. Amazingly, the NHL has proven it's leadership to be worse than the NFL. The Lions still have not won a playoff game. And Suh has dominated the Thanksgiving headlines, more so than his team. So much so that now people would love to see Suh traded for some draft picks, so the Lions can pick up Manti Te'o. That is just one of the many different scenarios I have heard while screening calls for 97.1 "The Ticket." Believe it or not, that makes more sense than most. I've heard everything from "drop his ass," to "he should go back to playing soccer with that kick." Or here's an idea. Maybe he could just stay with the Lions and get back to playing?

I'm not sure Detroit has ever seen as controversial a player as Suh, in any sport. The only comparisons I can come up with are Gary Sheffield (wasn't here long enough), and everyone's favorite, Rasheed Wallace. Sheffield is a hall of fame caliber player who likely won't make it to Cooperstown because of the era in which he played. Rasheed is still screaming "ball don't lie," and still getting technical fouls for it. Suh has a chance to be better than both of them, something that everyone in Detroit seems to forget.

Let's set the stage. December 5, 2009; Texas and Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship game. In an offensive shootout, the Longhorns, led by Colt McCoy, clipped the Huskers, led by Ndamukong Suh, by a final score of 13-12. Very rarely is a college football team led by a defensive player. Many teams have great players on defense, but it's rare when a good team's number one association is with a defensive player. The last two examples (other than Suh) I can think of are Michigan's 1997 National Championship team, led by Charles Woodson, and this years Notre Dame team, led by Te'o. The point is the ability that Ndamukong possesses is off the charts.

Ndamukong Suh brings down Colt McCoy for one of his four sacks. photo credit: trepanddoc.wordpress.com

In that Big 12 championship game, Suh had a game (not team) high 12 tackles...for a defensive tackle. 12 tackles? Are you freaking kidding me, for a defensive tackle? He made the Texas offensive line look like they were emulating Billy Bob from "Varsity Blues" (Mack Brown does kind of remind you of Jon Voight, doesn't he). You know what, that's not even accurate, cause Billy Bob actually blocked someone. The dude had four sacks...in one game. And you want to drop him cause he's a bad influence? Stop.

If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to watch Billy Corben's 30 for 30 documentary titled "The U." In short, it tells the story of a culture of football created by a coach. Jimmie Johnson led the Hurricanes, and they flat out stomped opponents. Just ask Brian Bosworth. Not only did they stomp you (um, no pun intended, sorry Evan Dietrich-Smith), but they told you about it after. And then they told you again, and again, and again. Their trash talk would make Rasheed proud. Nuns are still rolling in their graves thinking of those teams. But you know what, they won...a lot.

It seems everyone thinks Ndamukong Suh is too dirty to play for the Lions. He's not the kind of "character" guy that we want when building a franchise. The problem with that is simple. You build your franchise with players of Suh's caliber. "Nice" defensive tackles are as prevalent as mean kickers. Accept it, embrace it, do whatever you have to do to live with it, but just know that if you let this guy go, it's going to be one of those moves that you look back on and compare to trading Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin for Miguel Cabrera, except you would be a Marlins' fan. Man, that would suck.

Am I advocating Suh's behavior? Yes and no. I don't think it's right to stomp on someone's arm. But if he kicked someone in the groin that may or may not have been intentional? Who cares? It's football, do you know what goes on at the bottom of those piles? It's not players asking each other how their wives are doing. It's a game where grown men push each other around. The harder you hit someone the more money you make (or lose, according to Commissioner Rog). There are bigger issues with this football team than Ndamukong Suh. He needs to play better, yes, absolutely. He needs to find that magic that he had his rookie year. But the D-Line is not losing the Lions games. That would be the secondary, when late in the game, it seems that Charles Barkley could get open, and not for a jump ball.

The ball is in the Lions court. Their coach seems to be accepting it and defending his players, and I applaud him for that. Suh's antics are not causing distress in the locker room, otherwise he'd be Titus Young-ed right home. He doesn't have a plethora of personal fouls this year. And the most aggressive suspender ever to call the Commissioner's office home didn't even care about his kick. So give the guy a break. He gets a bad reputation for doing dumb things, and maybe he's earned it. But if you're going to be a Lions' fan who lives in the past, well you might as well get ready to lose.

Ndamukong Suh makes contact with Matt Schaub's groin area. photo credit: thenewsportsguru.com

The Lions need Suh just like you need the Lions. You've watched them for years. I know, so have I. You've stuck with them when everyone else hasn't and you'd like to see a little return on your investment. You can even call the Lions one of your good friends. You hang out with them every Sunday it feels like. So be a good friend, and support them, whether they are right or wrong, whether Suh is right or wrong. That's what good friends do.

Not So Fast, My Friend

Pre-season rankings are about as relevant as NASCAR. There are some people who will absolutely swear by them, while the rest of the country sort of looks at it like, “eh…did Danica Patrick pose for Playboy yet?” Unfortunately, no, she has not, to my knowledge at least. Heff needs to work some magic on that one. Pre-season rankings…right. Take football for example. Notre Dame was unranked to begin the season, and look at them now? Irish eyes are smiling (cheesing would be a better term) as hard as ever. Michigan and Michigan State were both pre-season top fifteen in the country. Michigan went 8-4 in the regular season, and Sparty, well, yeah. No one ever knows if pre-season rankings will turn into post-season results. So let this message be very clear to Michigan basketball fans: slow down.

It’s been a long time since the Wolverines were in a Final Four: 1993 if we are being technical, but those banners (like Chris Webber’s pride) are gone. The latest college basketball polls have the Wolverines at the number three spot in America. That is, simply put, too high.

Chris Webber photo credit: besombebody.blog.com

Michigan has a good basketball program. Years of inconsistent coaching and play have seemingly been erased by John Beilein. He has brought stability and talent to a program whose most notable alum in the last fifteen years is…uhh…Robert Traylor? You get the point. Michigan has been bad for a long time now. Finally it seems those days are behind the Wolverines. But again, be very wary of what others tell you, particularly when they tell you how good you are.

It’s easy to buy into hype, especially when there hasn’t been any hype since the Fab 5. There are plenty of Michigan fans out there who, with this latest ranking, are ready to declare a return to the Final Four for Big Blue. And while that may happen (no one knows), it isn’t advisable to bet on just yet. There are plenty of hoops and ladders to go through for the Wolverines. I’ll tell you what I’ve told anyone who is willing to listen. While I don’t think they are good enough to be number three in America, I also don’t think they will get touched before the B1G starts conference play.

Tomorrow, the Wolverines face their most formidable task before the conference slate begins: North Carolina State. The Wolfpack are a team similar to Michigan, in that they both were ranked too high to begin the year. Unlike Michigan, however, NC State has already proven they are not as good as their ranking. The Wolfpack lost in last years Sweet 16 to eventual national runner-up Kansas. It was a great game, decided by three points, thus jolting them into immediate conversation regarding this seasons powerhouses. Michigan, however, lost in the opening round to Ohio. Rather different results from rather similar teams. That said, I believe Michigan is the better team, and should win tomorrow.

The Wolverines have the easiest road to an undefeated start of all the B1G powers. While it may be a down year in college football for the B1G, the same cannot be said for basketball. There are four potential national champions in the conference. That is not a typo. Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan all have the ability to cut down the nets this year in Atlanta. Michigan is the second highest ranked out of those four. They are also, in my opinion, the least likely to win it all.

The fact is Michigan has just not been there. They don’t have the experience. Sure there are counters to that argument. Take Kentucky for example. They’ve won consistently with freshman who have never been there before. But their coach has. And let me ask you this: Is John Wall or Anthony Davis suiting up for the Maize and Blue anytime soon? No. Michigan has good players that, when they play together, can challenge anyone in the country. But they are mighty young, with very little big game experience. That will change by years end, and it starts tomorrow.

Trey Burke (left) and Tim Hardaway Jr. photo credit: mlive.com

You win in college basketball with great guards. That has been established, disputed, and proven over years and years; it’s not a small sample size. Michigan has very good guards. What’s separating them from being great guards is a little hardware (no, the pre-season NIT does not count). Burke and Hardaway Jr. are as good as any backcourt in America. They haven’t gotten a lot of chances to shine on national television. They’ve got one tomorrow. Michigan will go as they go, so watch them tomorrow. See how they handle themselves. See if they’ll get in the lane and take a charge, or if they’ll argue with the refs on what they think is a blown call (insert Daniel Horton joke here). See if they play unselfishly, and give up an open shot for a good shot. And most importantly, if they are to lose, see how they act. You can hate losing, absolutely, but you have to learn how to lose before you learn how to win. Hopefully that will stir some things up.