Here they are, great as always…

1. Carlos Pena - Will hit better when it warms up. Oh wait, this is
Michigan where there are two seasons……football and the rest of the
year.

2. Game 3 - Looking forward to watching the NBA Finals Labor Day
Weekend. Pistons by 10.

3. Baseball All-Star Game - Writers are just waiting to get here and
start ripping Detroit. Hope those same people are here in February for
the Super Bowl and it snows like crazy.

4. NHL Lockout - Who cares. Better clean the house because you may
have company in a month (NBA?).

5. Everybody Loves Raymond - Again, who cares. I’m told it was a funny
show. Never saw it.

If you want to let the Detroit Insider know what you think, you can always send him an email at norm@sportspig.com or post a comment!

Here’s some of today’s top stories…

Pistons will try to take advantage of playing at home - MLive article by A. Sherrod Blakely

Different looks await Wade - Freep article by Perry A. Farrell

Pistons thoughts: They will need big games out of Billups and Hamilton to turn this series back around. Both have struggled, but some home cooking could just be what they need.

Boras could play role in Tigers’ draft - Detroit News article by Lynn Henning

Ordonez not expected back until after the All-Star break - MLive article by Danny Knobler

Tigers thoughts: They are in a funk, to say the least. Look for some changes soon, especially at first base, where Carlos Pena is hitting .177. Chris Shelton is tearing it up at Toledo and could get a long look by the big club.

Laimbeer interviews with Knicks - Freep article by Krista Latham

Shock thoughts: Not the kind of distraction a team needs, but I don’t believe Laimbeer is a serious candidate for the job. He will eventually get his NBA shot, but not with New York and not this soon. The Shock are off to a strong 3-0 start.

You didn’t think it would be that easy did you? After the Pistons Game 1 dominance, you just had to know Wade was going to bounce back, and he did, single-handedly evening this series. He scored 20 of the Heat’s 30 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the Pistons and tie the series at one game a piece.

I still think the Pistons will win this series in 6, because Shaq is not nearly 100%. A healthy Shaq and this would be a 7 game series and a possible Heat series win.

Billups struggled in the first half and that won’t happen again. His 8 first half turnovers were very uncharacteristic and he will want to prove that was a fluke. He will!

Enjoy it now Dwayne, because it won’t be a fun trip to the Palace!

You can check out a Game Recap from Yahoo! Sports.

Dwayne Wade got a sure sign of things to come, Tayshaun Prince. Prince played the “D” everyone has been talking about that the Heat had yet to see this playoff season. The Pistons looked like the team we all remember from last season’s run to the title. Rasheed Wallace hasn’t looked this good as a Piston yet and it could be just in time. If Sheed plays like that watch out. This series could be over alot sooner than I expected.

Here’s some articles on Game 1…

It’s tough to Wade through Pistons’ muck - Yahoo! Sports article by Steve Kerr

Recap: Detroit 90, Miami 81 - AP article by Chris Sheridan

Big Diesel? Big deal! ‘Sheed sets the tone - Freep article by Michael Rosenberg

The Insider had a busy end of the week, so the Five are now posted!

1. Pistons/Heat - Pistons in 6. Shaq’s health will not be a factor one
way or the other.

2. Reggie Miller - Won my respect when the Pistons called a time out
before the end of game 6 to honor him. Heir apparent? Rip.

3. Maggs - Has been watching games from the dugout. Tigers need his
bat.

4. Steroids - It’s good that the government is getting involved, but
can’t they worry about something else like the price of gas or the
deficit?

5. Revenge of the Sith - Right after the losers in costumes are done
watching the movie, they can go right to the nearest fast food place and
either get a job or a Star Wars happy meal. I am going to go with the
latter.

If you want to let the Detroit Insider know what you think, you can always send him an email at norm@sportspig.com

The Pistons captured game six last night 88-79 to top the Indiana Pacers four games to two. In doing this they accomplished two major items, advancing to face the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and sending Reggie Miller to retirement.

I will talk about the Heat first. This is the series most basketball fans have been waiting for all season. It’s going to be a war. No one seems to know Shaq’s status at this time, but I know this, he is going to play and play well. Ben Wallace is preparing like he will be there and be 100%. That’s a good move. The only shot the Heat have is a healthy Shaq and I don’t even know if that’s enough to overcome Detroit’s depth and starting five. Every position is even or leans Detroit’s way except for maybe center (and I would take Big Ben over Shaq anyday). I think Rip can more than hold his own against Wade. Chauncey should dominate Damon Jones and that is going to be the matchup that will push the Pistons over the hump. Chauncey is playing better and will be the difference that sends the Pistons on the NBA Finals.

Reggie Miller. Just saying his name can bring up a hatred for him. But there’s also a deep respect for his career. I always love players who stay with one team their entire career (just one of the many reasons I am such a big fan of Tram and Lou). Reggie in his prime was a dangerous scorer and could take over a game at any time. He will ultimately be penalized for playing the majority of his career during the Jordan era, so he lost out on a couple of title shots. His highlights versus the Knicks will go down as some of the best clutch shooting ever. I am holding up my Diet Orange Sunkist right now to a Hall-of-Fame career and a happy retirement for him. He earned it, along with my respect.

I usually try to keep this blog to sports, but when my favorite movie franchise of all-time is opening, my attention switches from sports for a few days. I was able to sneak out of the house for the 12:05 AM show at my local theater and catch Revenge of the Sith.

The wife and kids were long asleep so I got my sister-in-law’s husband to go with me. It was great! Easily the best of the Prequels and in my opinion the 2nd best Star Wars film (I still am partial to Empire Strikes Back). Go see this movie, you won’t be disappointed.

As far as my review, I give it 4 stars! Lots of great action, special effects, and of course the introduction of perhaps the greatest movie villain of all-time.

A look at the upcoming Shock season. They should be one of the stronger WNBA teams and if Swin Cash can return to her 2003 form, they could capture the title. Here’s a couple of articles from the Free Press about the 2005 season…

2005 WNBA Shock Preview: Shock recharges as Cash rests knee - Freep article by Krista Latham

Team by Team WNBA Preview - Freep article by Krista Latham

I didn’t get to watch the game, but it’s exactly what I expected to happen. The Pistons are playing like champions again and this series will now end in six games. Give the Pacers some credit for making the Pistons (and fans) a little nervous, but it’s over. The real Pistons have finally shown up since their game 1 performance and have taken control. They now look like a team capable of knocking off the #1 seeded Heat.

Here’s some headlines about the game…

Detroit 86, Indiana 67 (Recap) - AP article by Larry Lage

Pistons are pounding again - Yahoo! Sports article by Dan Wetzel

Pacers couldn’t even stop a clock - Freep article by Mitch Albom

Here’s the Insider’s topics for this week…

1. Pistons/Pacers - Ask me on Monday if I’m worried. The Pistons love playing in Indiana………………

2. Ugueth Urbina - In the role he wants to be in. Don’t believe he likes being a set-up man………

3. Ty Law - They say you can never have enough good DB’s. Ok, then I guess the NFL is going to 12 men/side to accomodate the Lions if he signs here.

4. Wade/Shaq - Better than Shaq/Kobe when they are both on the court.

5. Michael Jackson - Good point guard at Georgetown when Ewing was there. Too bad he didn’t make it in the pros (HA HA HA HA).

If you want to let the Detroit Insider know what you think, you can always send him an email at norm@sportspig.com.

Here’s a few recent sports articles from my local paper, including news about Traverse City’s newest Minor League hockey team and a local football star’s attempt to make it in the NFL…

Stars, USHL vie for Madden [Minor League Hockey]

North Stars show off their new duds [Minor League Hockey]

Kaleita comes back ‘home’ [Detroit Lions]

MHSAA rejects playoff proposal [High School Football]

Supreme Court puts girls sports season switch on hold [Prep season switch]

Kingsley native Kaleita survives first test a Lion [Detroit Lions]

My view: “Hockeytown North” (a phrase I swear I came up with) misses it’s hockey. The T.C. North Stars should be a good draw. It’s always nice to see a local star do well. First it was Liz Shimek for the Lady Spartans and now Tom Kaleita is trying to capture a spot on the Detroit Lions. I wish him the best and I know all of northern Michigan is rooting for him.

Article from NAXCOM.com.

Lions Football: As it does every year, the NFL draft brings hope to the Lions
of returning to the playoffs once again. After a series of lackluster
seasons, this year’s draft has provided Detroit with the league’s
most potent wide receiver corps. Led by 1st round draft pick Mike Williams
and flanked by young stars Roy Williams, Charles Rogers and running back Kevin
Jones, this should be a breakout year offensively for the Lions. This is a
golden opportunity for QB Joey Harrington to show the Detroit faithful why he
was taken as a high draft pick in 2002.

Tigers Baseball: Showing signs of improvement, the Tigers are off to a
near-.500 start and have some big-name potential that could carry them into a
pennant race (hey, it could happen). Season highlights to date include Dmitri
Young’s team-high 5 HR’s and the pitching of Jeremy Bonderman, who
has big upside potential for the Tigers pitching staff.

My view: Usually the national collectors aren’t interested in Detroit sports stars, but Jeremy Bonderman could be an exception. He is looking like he is going to be the ace the Tigers desperately need. Billups and Wallace are starting to get some national attention from collectors as well. If the Pistons can repeat watch these two guys cards continue to climb. I have some Detroit sports cards up for auction right now, you can check them out here.

Here’s the Insider’s topics for this week…

1. Tigers Pitching Staff - Best starter on the team? Bonderman. Best
closer on the team? Bonderman.

5. Mr. Pita - going there for lunch today I think…………….

Of course if you want to let the Detroit Insider know what you think, you can always send him an email at norm@sportspig.com.

Article from DetroitPistons.com

Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons won his third NBA Defensive Player of the Year in four years as the NBA today announced him as the 2004-05 recipient. With this honor, Wallace joins Dikembe Mutombo (1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 2000-01), as the only players in NBA history to win this award on three or more occasions. Wallace received 339 points, including 45 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen finished second with 247 points and Denver’s Marcus Camby finished third with 168 points.

My view: He definitely deserved it. The best defensive player on one of the best defensive teams, he sets the tone for the Pistons. Congrats Big Ben!

“Ben Wallace to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Not been made official yet…”

My view: The Insider is usually right on, so it’s safe to say this is probably correct. No surprise from this Pistons fan. Ben is easily one of the MVP’s of this team.