Cheer Up, Charlie Brown

Our Michigan blogger has the blues, which can only mean a much-needed pep talk from Buckeye Nation. Sorry to our readers for straying off topic.

"The Wings lost in the conference finals."

I don't care about hockey, But for those fans that do enjoy hockey and follow the sport the Red Wings are one of the NHL's elite teams. So they didn't make the Stanley Cup finals. In the last decade, don't you have three world championships to your credit? No other team has more. There's no reason to think you don't have a legitimate shot at a Cup every season.

"The Pistons have ushered in the next Jordan era. And they're done. And we will be either mediocre or rebuilding from here on out."

I don't want to dwell to much on this and jinx the Cavs, as I have some family members that would love to see Cleveland in the Finals. But this series is not over. Yes, LeBron's epic 2OT performance was one for the ages and pushed the Pistons to the brink. But weren't the Cavs up 3-2 last year, then lost at home and then got thrashed in Detroit? And how will LeBron really react, with everyone calling him Jordan the last 48 hours? It's tough to be coronated before the series is over. And hey, this is still Cleveland, home of some of the world's most heartbroken sports fans. I think it would be great for the NBA is LeBron made the Finals, since people might actually watch. And I think it would be great for the suffering fans of Cleveland sports. But the Pistons are tough, talented team playing a superstar and rags. They're not dead yet.

"The Tigers have probably seen the last World Series for a while. Maybe the youngsters will get to another a few years from now but that is a maybe at best."

Objection, calls for speculation. They have a very talented young rotation to build around. Yes, a World Series is always tough to reach, especially when you have to go through Boston and New York each year. But "maybe" is better than what the fans of Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Washington have each season. This is an upper tier team for the next 5 years, so you should enjoy it. And baseball remains the only sport you can passionately follow and enjoy without really considering the post-season. Revel in the hot dogs and summer bleacher seats. By the time your team is out of it, it's football season anyway.

"The Cowboys...maybe a 15% percent chance of a championship in the next two years. And that is probably optimistic."

Again, tough to feel for a team that won three titles in 90's. The NFL is a league of parity, and the Cowboys are playing in the weak conference. You have a decent shot for a couple years. If the team needs to be blown up at that point, no worries. It's not like rebuilding in the NFL takes forever, unless you have incompetent coaches or GM's. You take a year or so on the chin, collect high draft picks, and then make another run when you have the cake schedule. No on is ever out of it.

"Michigan basketball- Ha Ha"

At least you won't have the turtleneck to drag you down. It will only take one or two solid recruits to get Michigan back in the hunt. And Beilein is a good coach with an exciting system that's fun to watch. Why be down now?

"Kyle Busch- Not with Gordon and Johnson in front of him on his own team...plus with crashes every other week."

Sorry, I can't stomach saying anything nice about NASCAR.

"Michigan football- This is the year right? Yeah we'll see."

Jeez, you've got a fourth-year senior QB coming back. Two potential top ten picks in the next draft. You've got a great college RB and a dynamic WR. All of the preseason magazines will have you ranked at in the top 5. You get a rebuilding Ohio State team at home, Notre Dame is a joke and you own Penn State. You've already locked up one of the nation's top corners and have three solid linemen in the fold for your 2008 class. Why the long face?

"This is a good time to develop whatever area of life outside of sports you want to develop Michigan/Detroit/Cowboys/K. Busch fans. I fear the almost but not quite salad days are over."

If you start talking to me about your golf game, I'll hang up right away.

"On a positive note, at least the ridiculous amount of money I spent on '04 Pistons memorabilia was justified."

Honestly, there is no excuse for that many bobbleheads and all-star jerseys.