Just saw this on the Internet Movie Database

Although 98 percent of its viewers live in the United States, this year’s Super Bowl game was watched by more people than any other sports event in the world — some 93 million people, according to a study by media ad buyers Initiative. The study indicated that the UEFA Champions League Final game between Liverpool and Milan attracted 73 million viewers, scattered all over the world.(In even-numbered years, the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Football Championships typically attract more than 150 million viewers.) The Canadian Grand Prix (Le Grand Prix du Canada), which drew 51 million viewers, was the third-most-watched sports event of the year. All other sports events attracted fewer than half the number of viewers who tuned into the auto race. In an interview with Reuters, researcher Kevin Alavy of Initiative noted that while most regular programming is experiencing a declining audience, “some of the sports programming is becoming more powerful with every year that passes. … I would expect that for these sports programs, it will become yet more expensive to buy 30-second commercials.”

My View: Sports is king, especially with the lack of quality television shows. What little of TV I do watch, sports does make up the biggest portion, followed by news programs. There just aren’t many good TV shows that really demand my attention like sports or news does.

A look at the upcoming premiere of ‘Glory Road’, a film that tell the story of the 1966 Texas Western College basketball team, and the first all-black basketball team to win the NCAA national championship. Traverse City’s James Gartner directed the film, and it was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

Read ‘Glory Road’ Hits the Big Screen in the Record Eagle

I didn’t get to see much of the game because I was battling hard in a game of Pictionary, but I did see the last few minutes. Chauncey Billups had better be in the All-Star game this year, that’s all I have to say. Billups scored 30 and Rip Hamilton had one of his best games of the year with 25 points and 9 assists as the Pistons topped the Heat 106-101. The Pistons are playing very good team ball and anyone can take over on any given night.

Two things stood out for me, the first was Tayshaun Prince sliding over and guarding Dwayne Wade in the final minutes on a crucial possession and forcing a tough shot, and Rasheed Wallace hitting a big three that basically sealed it. The Pistons can beat you so many different ways and there isn’t one team in the NBA that has more options than Detroit.

Read Billups, Hamilton lead Pistons past Heat at Yahoo! Sports

Leland didn’t lose a game all day to claim the Leland Invitational. The Comets defeated Pellston in the final 25-3, 25-20. Alisha Glass finished the tournament with 49 kills, 35 aces and 11 blocks, while Jennifer Hecht added 14 kils, 15 digs and 16 aces. Suttons Bay (3-2), Glen Lake (2-3) and Northport also competed.

Read Leland cruises in own tournament in the Record Eagle

Punter Nick Harris and defensive tackle Dan “Big Daddy” Wilkinson were both honored for this performances this season by being named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team. The All-Joe Team “honors the overachievers, the overlooked, the ‘effort’ guys who don’t get invited to the Pro Bowl but without whom their teams might founder.” Harris led the league in punt-to-touchback differential, punts inside-the-10, and punts inside-the-5. Wilkinson dominated many games, and along with Pro Bowler Shaun Rogers, provided one of the best tackle combos in the league.

Read Wilkinson and Harris Named to USA Today’s ‘All-Joe Team’ at DetroitLions.com
Read All-Joe team led by guy named Jones in the USA Today

The TV was turned on just in time, the Saints kicked the go ahead field goal and the Lions looked headed to another loss. But something strange happened. Someone forgot to tell Joey Harrington, Roy Williams and the rest of the Lions that it wasn’t over. Sure it wasn’t pretty, how many Lions games really are, but it was just enough. It was nice to see the excitement from the bench and on the field as the Lions won their 5th game of the season, 13-12 over the New Orleans Saints.

If anything, what it did is show me that Joey deserves one more chance next season. A new coach with an offense that utitlizes what the Lions have, big, strong receivers. I still think Joey can be a solid quarterback in this league. He doesn’t quit, he can make big-time throws, and he has the competitive fire to be a leader. Sure he does make bad throws and decisions sometimes, but who doesn’t. Let a new coach build an offense around Harrington’s strengths, instead of making him adjust, and then see what he can do.

Jeff Gordon at Fox Sports puts together a list of the best games of 2005. It’s always hard for me to remember back throught the entire year, but I think he did get the best ones. Among them were:

Michigan State double overtime win over Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals and the Pistons loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to the Spurs. (This one still hurts…)

Honorable mentions went to Texas win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl and the Pistons win over the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

I would have included the Michigan State win at Notre Dame in college football, mostly because that was the high point of the season for my Spartans.

Read The best games of 2005 at Fox Sports

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

from the Leelanau Sports Guy!

We don’t know much about him, but Lions rookie quarterback Dan Orlovsky works hard and knows how to win. That pretty much sums up what the Lions need. The quarterback of the future might be right under the Lions noses…

Read Orlovsky in high spirits…for now in the Free Press

One of my favorite Tigers growing up was Ron Leflore. He went through some very tough times in his life, but now seems to be back on track.

Read Ron Leflore Once More at BlackAthlete Sports Network

Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was named to the NFC Pro Bowl team. Here’s the complete rosters. Dré Bly was named first alternate at cornerback. Congrats to both.

Found this in Charles Robinson’s latest article at Yahoo! Sports…

“Teams seeking next season’s Derrick Burgess are expected to take a close look at Detroit Lions free agent defensive end Kalimba Edwards. While there is still a possibility the Lions will retain Edwards, he may choose to solicit other offers first, especially considering the thin free agent class at defensive end.”

My View: I would hate to see the Lions let him go, but they might not have a choice if he gets a big offer from someone else. Edwards has had a hard time staying healthy, but when he’s healthy he has shown flashes of very solid play.

This just in from the Detroit Insider…

“Joe Har will be starting QB for Saturday’s game. Orlovsky 2nd string, Garcia 3rd string.”

My View: He does give them the best chance to win in my opinion. I know Jauron thought Garcia did, but he was wrong and alot of people thought so. Joey now has a two game audition to win a couple of games and show he has what it takes to compete for a starting job next season.

Bellaire brought the defense and Leland couldn’t protect the ball as the Eagles cruised to a 81-37 win. Adam Houdek’s 11 points led the Comets. Leland returns to action on January 6th at T.C. Christian.

Read Bellaire shoots by Comets in the Record Eagle

Here’s the latest on the mess that is the Detroit Lions. Tom Kowalski talks about how the next coach will have to be able to deal with Millen, and the type of coach the Lions need. A name I keep hearing is New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett. He would be a good fit, he’s tough, and won’t take any crap from anyone. If he’s available will be the big question. I just hope that Millen, if he’s around, gets it right this time and interviews a few candidates, not just the guy he wants.

Read Next coach has to be able to handle Millen’s meddling at MLive

The Record Eagle has posted their preview of the Northwest Conference. Suttons Bay and Glen Lake will both have their hands full trying to compete in the tough Northwest Conference. Suttons Bay is led by junior center Ray Freund, who is averaging just under 15 points a game. Glen Lake senior Dennis Smith leads the 1-3 Lakers. Kingsley is the favorite, but Frankfort and Manton also field tough squads.

Read Stags favored in Northwest in the Record Eagle.

If you read Matt Millen’s bio at the Detroit Lions official site, I start to see why Ford would keep him around. Sure this was written by Matt Millen’s secretary or something, but it does show some of the positives he has done for the organization.

I have highlighted some of the good from Millen in the last five years…

“The 2003 draft has produced five starters (Rogers, Bailey, Redding, Davis and Holt) heading into the 2005 season.”

Shaun Rogers is one of the best in the game. Boss Bailey hasn’t stayed healthy. Cory Redding looks like he will be a solid player in this league for a long time.

“In April 2004, Millen orchestrated a draft-day trade that may go down as one of the best in team history.”

Both players have been injured, but when healthy have shown game-breaking ability.

“His recent drafts have been widely acclaimed among the best by national media. In fact, the Sporting News and ESPN.com rated his 2003 and 2004 drafts the very best in the NFL.”

How’s that doing a bad job?

“USA Today Sports Weekly rated the Lions’ off-season personnel moves (for this season) in the top five of all NFL teams.”

And once again injuries hurt Millen’s signings.

Sure there have been some bad, Charles Rogers & Joey Harrington come to mind, but the good has far outweighed the bad. I still think Harrington is going to be a good quarterback in this league, in the right system. Watch what would happen if say, Mike Martz got his hands on Joey.

Millen’s biggest problem is he hasn’t been able to find the right head coach. Granted that’s a big part of his job, but it’s not the only part. The Lions do need a disciplined, hard-ass, type of coach, who can get the attention of all of this young talent and focus it towards a common goal. They also need to win a few games to get some positive attitude in the locker room. If you look at the talent on the Lions it is there, but it does need some fine-tuning.

The bottom line is Ford likes that everyone is on the same page in the Lions front office and organization. It makes him happy. And so Millen stays.