IZZO TO COACH PISTONS?

IZZO TO COACH PISTONS?

I know it doesn’t look like it now, but I believe that MSU coach, Tom Izzo will be the new head coach of the Detroit Pistons next year.

In the middle of the college basketball season, the Spartans had a lot of injuries, but still looked like a team with a decent bench and one of the best in the NCAA. It was very stressful for Izzo to juggle the lineups and try to keep the team on a winning track. He looked exhausted, and it was probably one of his hardest coaching years.

I believe owner Tom Gores, of the Detroit Pistons, and who has owned the team since 2011 wants to turn his Pistons around desperately. He feels it has been too long already, and even though the Detroit team has improved quite a bit, it is still below average and losing the fan base weekly. After firing coach, Maurice Cheeks, and using interim John Loyer, the team has not improved much, although both coaches tried to do their best. Gores needs a big name coach, or one who will keep the fans calmed down while they get more players. Izzo is loved all over the state. He will have ample time to develop the Pistons into contender, basically by the draft and trades. He will have more time than any other coach that would get the job. 

Why do I think Izzo would ever leave Michigan State? Well, Tom Gores will spend whatever it takes to get a winner. He will offer Tom Izzo a offer that will be hard to turn down. Izzo will see a fresh start with a new team, and will not have to keep living up to his reputation as a college coach. He has achieved what most coaches only dream of, and with the Spartan’s future not that bright for the coming year, the time to leave is now.

The Spartans won’t have Appling, or Payne next year. Izzo has suggested to Gary Harris to maybe seek the draft (why?), and Dawson could be thinking the same way. The new arrivals from high school are very good, but will not make a big impact on next year. Will the MSU team even make the NCAA tourney next year? And let me tell you, that is really hard to even think about happening.

Izzo is on the last years of his college career, it would be a new refreshed start for him. He has the energy and the drive, and what an achievement it would be to turn the Detroit Piston team around. I say he will take the job.

Bob Camp

CLOWN SHORTAGE

The national unemployment rate for the month of December was 6.7 percent. It is on a downward trend, but it is way too high, and should be much lower. Even with so many people out of work, did you know that there is a national clown shortage? Yes, we are short on the number of clowns in this country, and it could get much worse.

As old clowns die, young people are not replacing them in the business. When is the last time you heard a young person say that they were going to college to become a clown?   Probably never, right? It is just not cool anymore.

Looking towards the future, clowns just might become extinct. That is, except for the politicians, overpaid sports players, and young female singers, who do weird things to get people’s attention!

Have you noticed that when you do funny things around people, they don’t say that you are a funny clown; they just call you an “idiot.” At least, that is what I get!

I hope that clowns don’t fade away. Most people love them, and I do too. As a kid, however, I was afraid of the next-door neighbor clown who always wanted me to come over and check out his many wigs and noses. I never did, because he had no balloons, and was away from home for long periods of time.

As a youngster, I might have become a clown, because I tripped over my feet a lot. I couldn’t take the laughter, and for that reason, I wear a Batman suit. The laughter is gone. 

So if you are looking for a cause to help, I suggest, “Clowns Are Us.”  

Thanks for your support.

Bob Camp

KANSAS CITY CHIEF'S TRAGEDY

The tragedy of the Kansas City Chief's linebacker, Jovan Belcher shooting himself and killing his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins is just too horrific to comprehend. Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact, that I love football, and it takes up a good portion of my life. However, yesterday I tweeted that the Chief's team should have delayed their game on Sunday with the Carolina Panthers to a later date. I feel that by playing the game it made the tragedy appear less significant for the families, the team, and the fans.
Is football so important? A young woman with a three month-old child is murdered. This to me is a story of shocking domestic violence, which was done by a NFL player. Any other employer would have closed up shop for a couple of days to let the families grieve, and get through the heartbreaking ordeal.
The NFL just goes on with business. Players and coaches all have said tender and kind words, but is that enough?
I am really sad that the NFL could not make up this game at a later date. May the two people who died, rest in peace.

Bob

SOMETHING BORROWED

I am obsessed with many things. Sports, computers, flying, and anything Batman, to name a few. Over the past month I became captivated by a movie. Yes, a movie! I have watched it five times already, and I have a feeling I can't stop. I am getting to the point where I can say all of the lines by heart.
The movie is "Something Borrowed," from a story by Emily Giffin. It stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, and Colin Egglesfield to name a few. It is a light comedy, love story that is fast paced, which brings tears and laughter in almost every scene.
I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of movies over the years, and even the best ones, which I love; I have not seen more than twice. Rarely do I watch a movie for the second time.
Why do I want to watch this movie so much? At my age, am I starting to develop mental problems? What is the fixation to this story? It is surely enjoyable, but it wasn't even up for an Academy Award.
For weeks I have been thinking of this, and now I think I may have found the answer of why it is pulling and drawing me back to it.
I believe the characters, Rachel and Dexter are so in love with each other that it is hard to describe to others what it is like. My wife, Gisela and I were the same way. We truly loved each other with all our hearts. This movie brings these memories back to me and it is hard to explain to someone who has never known true love. So many lines in the movie mirrors much of what we said to each other over the years.
Lines like:
"I never thought someone like you would want someone like me."
"I love you, and I have always loved you."
"You are all I think about."
There are many more tender words in the movie, which the actors and actresses do so well performing. When I watch this movie, so many fond memories come back to me, of my beautiful wife, who passed away 6 months ago. I guess that is why I will have to watch it many more times. I love it and I give it 5 stars.
Bob Camp

GREATEST PISTON FAN?

I thought that I was one of the biggest Michigan sport fans around. Over the years I have always lived and died with my Motown, and state college teams. From the Wings, Pistons, and Tigers, to Michigan State and the Wolverines. Even when a couple of them were not having a good year, I stood by them through thick and thin, rain or shine, good and bad...you get the point! (Here is where my granddaughter would say, "Okay, Grandpa, we get it!")
Last week I had to give my hat off to the best Piston fan ever. Seriously.
About 10 days ago, Judie Kolloen, 65 years old, got out of her car in the Palace parking lot to see her favorite team, the Detroit Pistons. As she was getting out, a relative (I think son) started driving off, catching the lady's leg underneath the car. Needless to say, she was badly hurt, and the Piston medics had to attend to her injury immediately. They suggested that they transfer her to the hospital, but she refused. She had come to see the Pistons play, and she wasn't going anywhere until she saw the game. She sat through the whole thing, had a great time, got signed souvenirs, and to make it even better, the Pistons who had been struggling of late, won the game.
After the game, and after much prodding, she decided to go to the hospital, and there she found out that she had a broken leg. Now is that dedication or what?
So as of today , I have placed myself as the second greatest Detroit fan ever. Judie, in my book, is number one.
Bob Camp

REST IN PEACE, JOE PATERNO

Now that Joe Paterno has passed away at age 85, many stories will be coming out about the good and bad of his life. Much will be written and talked about, and more now than when he was on the sidelines of the football team he loved so much. Sadly, only the past six months changed his whole reputation and life's work. he had been looked up to, and praised by all who knew him. He was a pillar of the college football world, and arguably the best-known coach in the country.
Many people can attest to all the great things Joe did for Penn State and the State of Pennsylvania. His donations were unparalleled. He was admired, it seems, by everyone. The duration of his tenure was and is unbelievable.
Now all of that is tarnished. The scandal by his assistant coach, Sandusky has changed Paterno's stature in a flash, and made him somewhat of a now "just average Joe."
I feel sorry for Joe Paterno, but the mistake, or mistakes he made, put him in this terrible position. I believe that if Joe would have had the chance, he would have changed the events that led up to his situation. But now it is too late. By trying to protect his beloved Penn State, he ruined his whole life's career and the penalty he got was enormuous.
As far as we know, Joe was not completely innocent in this whole matter, and it is still possible that something in the future will change that. Until then, his life's work will have a terrible stain.
The penalty, in my opinion, does not fit the crime, even though I feel so sorry for the young victims involved.
Rest in peace Mr. Paterno
Bob Camp

DANGEROUS TO BE A FAN

This past weekend, three people were shot at the Oakland Raider and San Francisco 49er's preseason football game. This incident got reported because it was not only severe, but undoubtedly because many more fans were beaten up or abused at other NFL football games that same weekend. Most had gone unnoticed and did not get publicized. Fans wearing visitor's shirts or team logos have always had to be on guard for threatening home town fans who being, in the majority have had too much beer or alcohol to drink and cannot control their emotions. I have heard terrible stories of visiting fans that have been beaten by mobs during half time or at the end of a football game. The worst has been stories of the Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints. I can safely say, that I would never wear an opposing team's jersey to anyone of these stadiums, and there are probably more sport towns that are just as dangerous. As a Detroit Lion's fan, I always enjoyed seeing fans from other towns visiting Ford Field, and I thought it was great fun that they had traveled quite far to root for their team. It showed that we all loved the same sport, but just loved and followed a different team. I always wanted to wear my Detroit jersey to a competing city and joke with the fans, but I never had the nerve to do it. I marvel at the people who do, especially the ones who come alone and are not with a group of supporters. What a shame that for a few bad apples, everyone has to change the way we live and function. I am sure, since the violence has gotten worse that changes will be forth coming at most of the stadiums. More rules and restrictions will be laid out, and more changes will be coming. What a shame.