My Sports Recap and Thoughts from the "D" and Beyond..

My weekly review post of Sports and My Thoughts as they pertain to the "D" and Beyond for the week ending Sunday 4.28.19 .  This was a week filled with all sorts of drama and ups and downs. In the "D":    
Lions: Detroit made allot of noise and splash in the NFL Draft with their taking of Players they drafted in regards to how these players fit the Lions schemes and not taking the best players that were available with each pick. The Lions made nine picks in the draft: Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (No. 8 overall); Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai (No. 43); Boston College safety Will Harris (No. 81); Clemson defensive end Austin Bryant (No. 117); Penn State corner Amani Oruwariye (No. 146); Old Dominion wide receiver Travis Fulgham (No. 184); Maryland running back Ty Johnson (No. 186), Georgia tight end Isaac Nauta (No. 224); and Arizona defensive tackle P.J. Johnson (No. 229).
I gave the Lions a solid B in GM Bob Quinn's 4th draft in the "D".  Many questions surround the picks the Lions made  to drafbut none more than Detroit's first 2 picks in the draft.  Fans are happy with the picks in round 4 - 7 but as we know later round picks usually do not pan out.  It looks like Quinn has used the "Patriots playbook" in regards to drafting players other teams would draft later on in lower rounds. Either the Lions are looking outside of the box and are geniuses or they have set the franchise back a few more years. On a side note, Detroit had a great off season via Free Agency and filled many glaring needs that will allow some of these draft choices a bit more time before being thrust into playing on the field. Lions are upgraded and improved over last seasons team..
Red Wings:  The Red Wings announced that former Red Wing Steve Yzerman is replacing Ken Holland as the GM. Many, including myself, agree Holland should of been replaced years ago.The team is still in the rebuilding phase and it will take a few more years before Detroit can be competitive night in and night out. 
Pistons:   The Pistons who were swept by Milwaukee have some tough decisions to make this off season. The team has very little cap room and a middle of the pack draft pick and unless something big happens via a major trade or somehow moving up in the draft, this team will be continue to be mediocre at best.
Tigers:  The Tigers are currently 12-14 and have been a mild surprise early on this season.  The team has struggled badly at the plate as they have for most of the early season. The team gives it all and hustles and plays hard but it is a few years away from even putting a competitive team on the field for a 162 game season. The farm system seems to be loaded with potential major league prospects but only time will tell. Tiger fans need to be very patient for a few more years.  It was a great thing that Comerica Park did in lowering concession prices the first hour that the gates open for every home game.
Spartans:  The Spartans basketball team had an amazing run in the 2018 season and made it to the Final Four before losing to Texas Tech.  The team and its fans have allot to look forward to as the 2019 season will have the Spartans as a top 5 team.  The football team has lots of questions to answer going into this season as HC Mark Dantonio shuffled his coaching staff up but left the one puzzling piece no one understands in why He continues to allow OC Warner stay in place.  The team has a great defense year in and year out but an offense that ranks towards the bottom on the Big Ten year in and year out. This will be a telling year for the Spartans and Coach Dantonio. 
Wolverines:  Michigans basketball program had another good season under HC John Beilein but were taken down in the Sweet 16.  Many of the teams top players are looking into whether they will stay or enter the NBA Draft. The football program will be back in the Top 10 this season under HC Harbaugh but the team also has many questions as the team moved to changing up the Coaches and Harbaugh relinquished some of his control.  Time to see if Harbaugh can win the big games and not continue to lose to his Big Ten counterparts. 

Sports beyond the "D":
NFL:  The NFL Draft is officially over and as always was filled with drama and surprises. Winners were the Bills, Jaguars, Redskins, and Titans.  Losers were Giants, Raiders, Cardinals. Also the NFL needs to suspend Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill indefinitely as a new audio video surfaced after the KC Police closed the case without any charges filed.
MLB Baseball:  The baseball season is just a few weeks old, but it is already plain to see who is the biggest surprise of the season so far and it is the Tampa Bay Rays.  Many record deals were signed this off season but none more than the 400+M the Angels paid to OF Mike Trout. Deals like this are getting more and more crazy and the only ones to suffer will be the fans.

NCAA:  The scandals continue to swirl around the NCAA as the fallout from the cheating admissions scandal and alleged claims of impropriety by Nike in regards to top NBA Draft Pick Zion Williamson and his Mother being paid by Nike.

NBA and NHL: 
        The NBA playoffs are in the 2nd round with all 8 top seeds still intact. Some teams have fired some Coaches and the biggest shock was the abrupt departure by Magic Johnson as President of the Los Angeles Lakers. Reports indicate that Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss and GM Rob Pelinka (Pelinka was hired by Magic) sent emails back and forth in regards to slamming Johnson and the way He did his job. It was also mentioned that Johnson was accidentally cc'd on these emails but I have no doubt that this was done on purpose.
        In the NHL, the Playoffs are into the 2nd round and both the Lightning and Capitals were eliminated in the first round as well as the Jets too.
     
PGA: Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer team up to win the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

NASCAR: Chase Elliot wins at Talledaga Super speedway.

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