Rushing to Defend Limbaugh and Hannity
Ask Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 01.21.2009/1:53PM
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Readers always write – and they’re right more often than wrong. Most of you don’t agree with my comments on Limbaugh and Hannity. That’s OK.
I’m getting the kinks out of my site’s e-mail system, so there’s a delay is answering some of your e-mails. I apologize to those I’ve missed, but it isn’t deliberate. I still try to fix most things with a hammer and curse words – and that combination doesn’t work well with computers.
Having said that, here we go:
From Swedishjeff, on Hannity and Limbaugh:
Well Mike, I served in the military and I am deeply sorry that I didn’t check it out with you while I was forming my beliefs and values. I happen to agree with most of what Mr. Limbaugh and Mr. Hannity preach. I would even go so far as to say I think Sarah Palin is a bright light in our future. I have enjoyed reading your columns for years, but now that you are aware of my dark side, would you prefer that I not visit your web site?
“Quite the contrary. I enjoyed your views when I was doing this for The News, and I still do and don’t consider it a dark side. I thought Sarah Palin was at her best when she was played by Tina Fey, but I wouldn’t call either one a bad American.“
From Dave, on Marty Schottenheimer:
Is there any chance Marty is a candidate for this so-called “Assistant GM position” while Brian could run Schwartz’s offense? That’s a winning hat trick in my book. Lastly, would Kurt Schottenheimer consider coming back here too or is he still under contract?
All these guys have strong ties to Gunther so I’m actually Very optimistic.
Talk to me chief. Get it? “Chief”—as in KC. Never mind my humor.
If the Leos mess up this off season I’m banking my season ticket money & seeking out my own lion website.
“First things first. Stay out of the website business. You’re funnier than I am, and competition would kill me. As you know, I’m a huge fan of Marty and think he would make the Lions win faster than other candidates. Having said that, I see no connection of him coming to Detroit. Brian is possible. Kurt, recently fired by Green Bay, has no chance.“
From Craig:
Just found your blog online and wanted to tell you that I’m glad
your voice is still in the Detroit reporting mix. Keep it up!
“Thanks, and keep writing. I want to hear your voice, too.“
From Robert, on Rush and Sean:
Stick to writing about sports. Your political preferences are of no interest.
Thanks, I enjoy your website.
“Hey, tear me down to build me up? Thanks for both.“
From Dan, on the media and Clear Channel:
Remember Clear Channel, an all Democrat hate-spewing radio station? It was the same as Hannity and Limbaugh however, nobody complained in the media because it was a hate Bush radio. I have never seen bias like this last election. It is very clear the media is 80-90% Democrat. We conservatives (fiscally) are 50% of an audience. We see the bias. It goes both ways. Usually in the press it is 80-90% slanted to the Democrats. Why do you think Fox news is smoking everyone in the ratings? I wish journalists would report the news without their bias and slanted facts. I can always sense when a radio show is slanted. Stoney and Wojo are both Democrats. You can’t tell what Jim Rome is?? Mitch Album total Bush hater! I could go on.
I agree that Clear Channel is wrong. Maybe the station should have been bolder in their everyday shows and taken some risk. I have been listening to 97.1 because it’s fresher and I got tired of Wojo bickering with Stoney every day. The marketplace will always change. I am sure you see it in the newspaper business.
I read your webpage daily and enjoy it!
“One thing I forgot to mention about the way Clear Channel handled the nationwide firing of its employees. They were called in around noon, just before the inauguration began, and it obviously was done so it wouldn’t be a major news event – getting overshadowed by the inauguration coverage. In my mind, that’s cowardice – not political.“
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Lions Finances, Panthers, Sproles, New Coach
Ask Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 01.7.2009/6:09PM
Sorry, gang, if I’m a little out of sorts today.
I just saw Gran Torino, and in one of the first scenes, a kid went to church wearing a Lions home jersey with No. 11 on the black. I didn’t see the name plate, but I assumed it was for Roy Williams, and not Greg Landry – who was the starting quarterback in 1977—the first full season I covered the Lions.
Landry also visited my company in Viet Nam, as part of a USO tour. I wrote a free-lance story about it for The Detroit News – and was paid $75. I was overpaid, even then.
But here we go, with a fresh batch of questions:
From Brendan:
I read that there may be a big tax issue with the Lions when William Clay Ford Sr. dies. Since he paid $4.5 million for a team that is now worth upwards of $700 million, it seems like this could be a LARGE tax bill as it iis passed on in the Ford family.
I would have to think that the Ford Family tax lawyers have created ways to get around this sort of thing, but is this an issue or not, and if it is would it help explain their recent frugality.
The second issue is why nobody is talking about the potential for a lockout for the 2010 NFL season. From what little I have read, this seems to be a real possibility. If this is the case, I think the Lions are playing it conservatively (and dare I say smart), not hiring a high-dollar, high-profile GM that they would have to pay even if there was a lost 2010 season.
That being said, I don’t understand why with the salary cap at $123 million for the 2009 season and a player like Leigh Bodden owed a $8.6 million bonus, you would not pay an extra $2-$3 million a year for the best coach you can get.
A: That was two questions, and a combo question-comment. But in order:
1. I don’t see where the Lions have been especially frugal. They’re at the salary-cap max every year. They pay off fired coaches—$11.5 million to Steve Mariucci most recently, and Rod Marinelli certainly will get what’s coming on his last year. Cash flow, from Ford Field underperforming as a revenue-producer, and a bad economy are issues. The Ford family taxes are separate.
2. The potential lockout has been written about and discussed, but this isn’t the time to beat it to death. First, the Players Association has to pick a successor to the late Gene Upshaw. And there is a high expectation that there will be a new labor agreement before 2010, to prevent a lockout.
3. Leigh Bodden will not see that bonus in Detroit. Never. It doesn’t matter if they hire a coach for a dollar a year or a million bucks a game.
Also, the selling price on the Lions was $6 million, with $2 million in assets.
From K. Rink:
Now that we live in North Carolina, I have to ask – how far do you think the Panthers will go? Dave says it’s a good thing the Panthers don’t have to play the Eagles first and the Panthers get the Cardinals. Can the Panthers make it past the Giants?
A: What a name, K. Rink. Perfect for a hockey mom – or the governor of Alaska. I love the Panthers. They’ll demolish the Cardinals. They rate to beat the Eagles at home, but the Giants are another matter. Wait till we get to that game.
From Paul:
I
miss you on Fridays and Mondays on WJR. However, I don’t miss your somewhat bizarre calendar.
Columbus Day is and was October 12th, not the 24th. I am certain that more than one Italian has taken you up on that point.
Now, to the Lions.
If they get a new coach and coaches, then we have to go through another set of coaching X’s and O’s on the chalkboard. How many different systems on offense and defense can there that changes X’s and O’s to a degree that moves it so far up the ladder to be superior to everybody else’s X’s and O’s?
Another thing. A successful coach has to have the horses to make
him successful.
A: Maybe they should dump the X’s and O’s and switch to Roman numerals? Really, you’ve got a point. They need more talent, especially on defense. Mike Ditka used to call them Show Dogs. The Lions have brought home too many strays.
I fixed the mistake myself on Columbus Day. Heads will roll. I’ve fired three copy editors. Did that feel good.
And I’m still on WJR—38 states and half of Canada, as Steve Courtney says.
From Carl:
Quick comment about your recent “6 Pack” post and Darren Sproles.
Darren Sproles has been a stud since college. I was doing my Masters work at Baylor when he was at K State and watched him personally run all over the “mighty” Baylor Bears for two years. Not that running over the Bears is anything to make a big deal out of. However,, he ran circles around everyone else, too.
I don’t understand the idea that he’s not an “every down” back. Cliche. Millen-esque commentary. What about Warrick. Dunn, Barry Sanders and other “small” backs? He’s a weapon on the field. A devastating one at that.
The reason why he only had three good games in the past four seasons is because he’s been sitting behind Tomlinson, arguably the best NFL back in recent memory. Any team would be thrilled to have him and should already be—not just because of the playoff game.
This is all, of course, in my humble opinion. Who knows, maybe I’m just still riled up from the 2005 draft when he was passed over by everyone (the mighty gridiron gladiators that don the Honolulu Blue and Silver on Sunday (shock, I know) until pick #130.
A. Forget about any comparison to Barry Sanders. He was short – 5-8 or 5-9 – but not small. He played at about 202 and had huge legs. Sproles is a terrific second back – a change-of-pace back. That was a great ’05 first four for the Chargers—- Merriman, Castillo, Jackson and Sproles. Still, I don’t see him as an every-down back. Too much pounding.
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