StooltimeCounseling's Blog

The reconstruction (or purging and resurging) of the Detroit Lions is underway. Some local people are offering their support. There will be more pictures to come as I take the banner on tour to different locations to meet local talent, various fans, celebrities and famous people. Please contact me if you're interested in jumping on the bandwagon.

Please check back periodically to view more pictures as they become available.

Thanks to Arizona, Nisa and the rest of the Hooters girls, who were kind enough to pose for the camera. The Charlies Angels pose and the Heisman trophy pose never looked better. Maybe by next year at this time, Lions fans, Lions management and Lions players can be smiling as brightly as all of you, based on a successful reconstruction process that results in a winning season.

Go Lions!

It keeps getting better and better.

In 1975, I won a contest to bowl on TV at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, MI. It was for a show called, "Bowling For Dollars", hosted by Bob Allison. If I bowled four strikes in a row, I'd win a brand new 1976 Chevy Corvette. For two strikes in a row, I'd win the accumulated jackpot, which was $280.00 at the time. I settled for $10.00 and dinner for two at the Rooster Tail for my spare conversion.

Fast forward to October 28th, 2008. I'm at the same house, Thunderbowl Lanes, but for winning a different contest. This time, it's a contest offered by Fox 2 Detroit. What is originally called, "Rollin' With Roy",  is eventually renamed, "Rollin' With Calvin", because Roy Williams no longer plays for the Detroit Lions. In this contest, six lucky Fox 2 Detroit winners showed-up to bowl a game with Lions wide receiver, #81 Calvin Johnson.

In 1975, I felt nervous being on TV. On October 28th, 2008, I felt thrilled and excited to bowl side-by-side with Calvin Johnson. It was no less a thrill to have Jennifer Hammond in the same room with us. While Hammer graciously hosted the event, using her expert interviewing skills in the process, six lucky bowlers including me, got to bowl with, in my opinion, a future hall of famer in the NFL, #81 Calvin Johnson.

I want to remember Terry D'Esposito, director of Fox 2 Detroit Marketing, and the two camera men, who completed the Fox 2 team to make the event a successful one. It will be one I remember for the rest of my life. 

While Terry and Hammer presented themselves as warm, organized, beautiful, professional and fun-loving, Calvin showed-up in a LARGE, but lean, way. I'm guessing 6'5'', 239 pounds and 5% body fat. Not only does Calvin use his physical presence to play football like a champion, his personality is a sign of a man, who carries himself like a winner!

As far as bowling skills, Calvin, you did better during practice, but let not your heart be troubled, young man. If you ever want to hook-up again, I can teach you what I've learned on the lanes through the years. In that way, the next time you and the team go out to bowl, with a tweak here and there, your finger-tipped-grip-approach will have more accuracy.

It was a pleasure to meet Calvin Johnson, the Fox 2 Detroit team, Kathy King (manager at Thunderbowl Lanes) and fellow contest winners with their families, who came to root for us. I'm glad my fiancee, Kathy, and her mom, Lois, were there for emotional support. By the way, Calvin, Lois has adopted you as her new grandson. You made her day with how you treated her. You are a true gentleman, who has a terrific sense of humor.

The pizza, chicken wings and pop hit the spot. The Fox 2 gear, including the coffee mug I asked Hammer to autograph, was a pleasant surprise. The autographed NFL Wilson football by Calvin Johnson was extraordinary. The four tickets to a recent Lions game were awesome prizes included in this contest, too.

"Bowling For Dollars" in 1975, "Rollin' With Calvin" in 2008. I wonder what's next? I feel more than fortunate. I would describe the Fox 2 contest experience, "Rollin' With Calvin", as providential! 

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/Sports/Deta
il?contentId=7743328&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=
VSTY&pageId=6.1.1

Thank you, Fox 2 Detroit!

Sincerely,

Mark Rogers.

What do you think, Detroit Lions fans? 

Here is the banner I am bringing to the game on 10-26-08, when the Lions play the Redskins. My goal is to get the attention of Fox Sports, Fox 2 Detroit and ESPN to promote the exorcism of the Detroit Lions on national TV.

The idea behind the banner is to encourage the Lions to free themselves of whatever has not been working since the 1950's so they can resurge to once again play like champions.

It may be as simple as getting a new logo to replace "Bubbles" the Lion. An emblem of Bubbles is on the helmet of each and every player. The Lions are not Bubble Heads. Bobble Heads are good, Bubble Heads are not good. I am recommending that Mr. Ford consider going back to the logo used during the 1950's, when the team was of championship caliber.

The exorcism or purging may be as complex as beating the curse of Bobby Layne, much like the Boston Red Sox beat the 86 year old curse of the Bambino to win the world series in 2004. 

The solution to the woes of the Lions might even be found somewhere else on the continuum between the simple and complex.

Lions players, management and fans will know when the purging and resurging is beginning:

• When the team adds up more wins than losses.
• When the players are asking more questions than they are answering.

In any event, it is time for an exorcism. Watch for the banner to show up on TV this Sunday afternoon. If Jim Leyland's brother, Father Tom Leyland (A Catholic priest) is at the game, I ask that he look for the banner and join me in section 101, row 34 at Ford Field. I'll need some help to start this exorcism. Purge And Resurge!

Go Lions!

(Thanks to Sign-A-Rama for putting my idea on vinyl).

What can help the Lions?

• Fire Matt Millen.
• Trade Roy Williams.
• Put Kitna on Injured Reserves.
• Prayers.
• Get rid of the logo named, Bubbles.
• Use the Lions logo from the 1950's.
• Exorcism.
• Be my guest, list others.
• Get rid of the slogan, Restore The Roar. 

Purge And Resurge!

You can't believe everything you hear. Such is the case with the Roy Williams trade to Dallas for 1st, 3rd and 6th round draft choices for next year.

Roy Williams has been saying he wants to play for Detroit. I heard him say it many times, the last of which was to reporters on Sunday and Monday, just 2 days ago. He even asked reporters to quit asking him the question about being traded. He verbally reinforced that he wants to play in Detroit. You really can't believe everything you hear during an interview.

As orgasmic of a trade it is to the sports talking heads, I am not happy right now. Who is going to take Roy's place in the Rollin' With Roy event on 10-21-08?

As one of the winners of the Fox 2 contest, Rollin' With Roy, I am hoping that the bowling part of the contest is not cancelled. In fact, once I collect my thoughts, I am going to e-mail Fox 2 Problem Solvers for some help.

As much as I appreciate the 4 Lions tickets to the Redskins game on 10-26-08, I was looking forward to bowling with Roy Williams on 10-21-08.

Can the Fox 2 Problem Solvers help me with this one?

Roy, it was nice almost getting the opportunity to meet you on the 21st. If you were happy playing for the Lions, a team in my opinion, that had you tagged to become their franchise player, you must be thrilled to be going home to Texas to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Besides, the Cowboys have cheerleaders! 

We will miss you here in Detroit, but good luck to you in Dallas!

The Detroit Lions showed they like each other during Sunday's game against the Vikings and they showed how they can fight for each other.

Here's some evidence:

• When Calvin Johnson caught the touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter, he handed the pigskin to Orlovsky, who slammed it to the ground to celebrate his first touchdown pass in the NFL.
• The defense was brilliant the entire game. Fans saw Lions players execute brilliant defensive plays, and there was a different hero almost every play.
• No outward expression of frustration by Roy Williams. [Please note, media: Roy wants to play in Detroit. Please quit asking him that question]. 

If this keeps up, it is going to translate into some interesting games for the rest of the season.

Thanks to the questionable officiating by some of the refs on Sunday, the Lions won a moral victory; however, like Dan Miller might say, winning the game is what matters in the NFL.

PURGE AND RESURGE!

 Primary Logo for the Detroit Lions, 1952-1960. ©

(Taken from Wikipedia's History Of The Detroit Lions and being fairly used to make the following point):

Change can be good.

Lets not stop with the firing of Lions President/CEO/General Manager, Mr. Matt Millen, for doing a poor job. This front office move made a lot of fans happy, but at the end of the day, Millen wasn't on the field making plays. 

Lets not stop with the purging of the team's mental attitude on the sidelines, field and lockerroom that is probably a big part of a losing record. Where's the passion from the players during a game and during interviews with the media? Even frustrated people can show some passion!

In addition to those things (and others), lets change the logo back to when it represented championship caliber.

Lets go real deep with change, even if it's retrospective change, as the Detroit Lions get a face lift so they will once again be contenders in the NFL like they were during the 1950's.

Remember Detroit Lions fans, the lion is truly the monarch of the jungle!

Go Lions!

Jimmy Johnson, of Fox NFL Sunday, is so optimistic, one must question his credentials as a broadcaster. Aren't sportscasters supposed to be "critical" so that they can be viewed as "objective"? 

Given Jimmy's "hopeful" comment about the Lions during the 3rd game of the season, when the Lions lost to the 49'ers, 31-13, coupled with my pattern of finding something positive to say about the Lions each week, I felt compelled to bring in some reinforcements. This week, it's Jimmy Johnson.

Why would Jimmy Johnson make an attempt to be empathic with Lions fans, who keep waiting for the 2008 season to do a 180 degree turn rather than just be "good-time Charlie" fans?

All I know, when Jimmy Johnson said the Detroit Lions are "playing possum", it had Terry Bradshaw rolling his eyes during their half-time show on Sunday. Of course, we already know what Terry Bradshaw thinks about Detroit.

"Playing possum"  (taken from Wikipedia) :

"Playing possum" is a phrase which literally means "to pretend to be dead".

It comes from a characteristic of the Virginia opossum, which is famous for pretending to be dead when threatened. This instinct doesn't always pay off in the modern world; for example, opossums scavenging roadkill may use it in response to the threat posed by oncoming traffic, and subsequently end up as roadkill themselves.

"Playing possum" can also mean simply pretending to be injured, unconscious, or otherwise vulnerable, often to lure an opponent into a vulnerable position himself.

There are two weeks (next week is a bye-week) for Mr. Ford to do something different with the Lions organization if he doesn't want the possum to end up as road kill this year. Show Lions fans that the team is not really dead, and that it's just pretending.

It's your move Mr. Ford. Don't be the driver who runs over your own scavenging possum that's pretending to be dead, when it's really alive.

In addition to the team's win-loss record, one of the measures I'm going to use to decide if the team is becoming successful, is when I hear the team asking more questions than they are answering.

When people talk about religion or politics, the conversation can get very heated because both subjects evoke very personal thoughts and feelings. What happens when a conversation combines religion and sports?

We all have a cross to bear. The cross is a symbol for something that can weigh us down. The weight of a cross can be the burden that immobilizes us so we cannot move forward. What cross does the Detroit Lions bear? How can the Detroit Lions embrace their cross so they can move forward?

The Detroit Lions are a confused team. This, I believe, is their cross to bear. Should we run the ball or should we pass it? This can confuse even the smartest squirrel trying to cross the road as it goes back and forth, unable to make a decision. Take heart. Confusion is the first step to wisdom.

I challenge the Detroit Lions to use their confusion (cross to bear) as something positive. Embrace the confusion and learn from it. 

When someone is confused, the best case scenario is to start asking questions to get some answers on how to improve. Ask questions, get feedback and wise up!

Personally, I am embracing the Detroit Lions as my cross to bear. I have one request, though: Can my cross be made of balsa wood? I'm going to pray about it.

Lyrics to Gridiron Heroes
The Victory Song of the Detroit Lions

(Verse)
Hail the colors Blue and Silver let them wave.
Sing their song and cheer the Gridiron Heroes brave,
Fighting for fame, winning the game,
Dashing to victory as they go.

(Chorus)
Forward down the field,
A charging team that will not yield.
And when the Blue and Silver wave,
Stand and cheer the brave.
Rah, Rah, Rah.
Go hard, win the game.
With honor you will keep your fame.
Down the field and gain,
A Lion victory!

GO LIONS!

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Go Lions!!

Only one of these two lunch boxes will take the Tigers to post season. Which lunch box will the team take to work with them while there's still time to make a difference?

GO, TIGERS! 

When Pudge got traded to the Yankees in late July, Detroit Tiger's manager, Jim Leyland, said something like this: 'Pudge won't be the reason we make it to the playoffs, neither will Inge. How our pitching staff does will determine if we make it to the post season'.

That assessment led to the re-acquisition of relief pitcher, Farnsworth, who pitched okay during his first two outings. I look forward to seeing more of Farnsworth doing his thing on the mound. It was nice to hear how he wants to help the team make it to the playoffs.

I don't know if the Tigers are receptive to hearing ideas on how to improve the team from the fans. Yes or no, here's one to help upset the applecart:

Since it has been decided that the pitching staff is the deciding factor to make it to the post season, try something different with them. Rather than begin each game with the starting pitchers, use the relief pitchers first. Start a game with Todd Jones (after he feels better) or Fernando Rodney or Kyle Farnsworth or Fossum (to name a few of the relief talent). Use starters like Verlander or Miner or Rogers or any other starting pitcher to pitch in the late innings. Lets see what happens. The current pitching rotation (who starts, who relieves) is not working.

To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, 'Doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results, is insane'.

Last football season (2007), I blogged quite a bit about our Detroit Lions. The first 8 games really had us fans going, they were 6-2. Their record for the last 8 games was 1-7, rather dismal and disappointing. Take heart Lions fans! A new season is upon us.

Pre-season games start next month. The Lions are playing the 2008 season with a clean slate. I, for one, am looking forward to even a better year than last, despite Sporting News' prediction of only 3 wins. [Some people just don't know about learned optimism]. 

To help fuel my fire, to keep me emotionally invested in the season, I placed a $60.00 bet on the Lions to win the superbowl at 70:1 odds. I am in the city of Lost Wages, I mean, Las Vegas, right now. A guy really needs to know where to place a bet to get the best odds. The sports book at Fiesta Henderson has the Lions at 50:1 odds, but the Flamingo has them at 70:1.

I agree, the Lions are a long shot, but not as long as the Falcons, who are at 200:1. I also know that nobody can predict the future, crooked refs aside. We'll see what happens this year.

Well, as Huel Perkins would say, "Let It Rip", fellow sports fans and bloggers. Am I all wet or am I all wet? [No typo]. 

One of my jobs is at Easter Seals so I had the opportunity to volunteer to work the main gate at Warwick Hills on Sunday, June 29th, 2008 for the 50th anniversary of the Buick Open. Denise Durkee from Easter Seals helped coordinate some of the behind-the-scene jobs at the tournament. I invited my future father-in-law, Rob, to join me. We both had a blast mingling with Buick Open staff and many of the people who came to the event (23,000 pairings brochures were printed and distributed for round 4 on Sunday alone), despite Tiger Woods not showing because of a bum knee.

Congratulations to the winner, Kenny Perry (19 under par) and runners up, Woody Austin and Bubba Watson (both 18 under par).

Rob and I nicknamed the 18th hole the "voodoo" hole. It was either "voodoo" or that darn gopher from the movie, Caddy Shack, playing tricks with all the putts made by the golfers. We sat in the stands at the 18th hole after our morning shift of collecting tickets and checking bags at the main gate.  The 18th hole was not friendly to the golfers. Other than Scott Verplank, who shot a 40 foot, 6 inch putt, and somebody else who sank a 31 footer, other golfers found the hole very tricky.The 18th hole looked like a 2 or 3 putt hole for most of the golfers, and every extra putt meant less money for the pros who shot them. 

Sunday morning started out rainy, but as the day progressed, the sun began to show through the clouds making it a very nice day to play golf and watch it as the pros showed off their skills. I'd like to thank Easter Seals for giving me the opportunity to volunteer to work at the Buick Open, Rob for joining me and all the people who walked through the main gate while I worked. I realize it wasn't always pleasant to either check in your cell phone, cameras or other electronic equipment at the gate or walk them back to your car because they were not allowed on the course. We had to check the sleeves on all folding chairs, too. It wasn't always well received by the guests even though doing such things at public events is now a common practice, based on homeland security policy.

Sunday was an awesome day at the Buick Open, especially for the winner of the tournament, Kenny Perry.