The American Freedom Network

Three Good News Stories from Detroit

    The Michigan State Spartans have defeated, in consecutive games, last year’s national champions (Kentucky), and two #1-seeded teams (Louisville and the U-Conn), one of which (Louisville) was the #1 overall seed.  They face North Carolina tonight at Ford Field in Detroit.  They’re underdogs, and UNC beat them soundly at Ford Field to start the season.  The Spartans don’t have six future NBA players on their squad, but I picked them to defeat UNC in my bracket, and I’m sticking with that.
    Speaking of Ford, the company for whom that venue is named announced that they are shedding 9.9 billion dollars’ worth of debt, which cuts their interest payments by $500 million annually.  They chose, in 2006, when everything was blue skies, to mortgage everything, including the Blou Oval, to secure cash reserves against bad times.  That move is paying off, as they, unlike GM, Chrysler and Toyoda, have not had to ask their governments for loans to stay afloat.  That is capitalism, and it would do Henry Ford proud to know that his company, employing fourth- and fifth-generation Fords, is steering clear of government control.
    The last good news story begins tomorrow and comes to the ballpark across the street from Ford Field this Friday.  It’s Tiger baseball.  Last year’s $138 milion dollar squad was picked to finish first, but finished last, as many of the big-name veteran players did not live up to their reputations and a shoddy defense made the pitchers look bad.  This year, picked for fourth or last by many in the sports prognosticator class, they feature an airtight defense, built around third baseman Brandon Inge, shortstop Adam Evrett, catcher Gerald Laird, and incumbents Chrtis Granderson (centerfield) and Placido Polanco (second base, and a previous Gold Glove winner).  Only Granderson is likely, of that group, to be considered for the All-Star team, but they all are plus defenders, and good defense is a pitcher’s best friend.  add to the mix that Miguel Cabrerra, last year’s AL HR champion, is looking much better at first base, after last season’s switch from third, his former home, and Gerald Anderson, just acquired from the Atlanta Braves, a burner who will open the season in left field, and the makings of a shut-sown defense are in place. 
    Pitching is 80% of baseball, and the Tigers have enough, in Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, Armando Gallaraga and rookie phenom Rick Pocello (age 20) to survive some of the veterans not being healthy or productive.  I stand by my earlier prediction of a worst- to-first-place finish for this team, a la Atlanta in 1991 and Tampa Bay last season.
     Heaven knows that Detroit needs some good news.  The Spartans, Tigers and Ford are providing it.  I hope that they have company soon.