Titus Young Just Doesn't Get It

Detroit Lions WR Titus Young.
(Photo: DetroitLions.com)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young spoke with reporters today following practice.  It was the first time since he has talked publicly since his most recent exile from the team for disciplinary reasons.  Head coach Jim Schwartz deactivated Young for the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game agains the Houston Texans and sent him home for the week to, basically, get his head straight.  Judging by this session with media, I'm not certain he got the message. But, I'm not in the Lions locker room, team meetings or the practice field with the guy.  What do you think?

(Video: WXYZ.com)

I'm so glad that the reporters didn't ask Young questions about anything but his situation.  Nothing else he has to say matters until he addresses his behavior and its effects on the team.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

GO LIONS!!!

It's Twilight for Twinkies

If your kids love Hostess Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Ho Ho's or Little Debbie's Banana Flips or peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches made on Wonder Bread, you had better stock up, NOW, if you can still find the products on store shelves.  Hostess Brands, which owns and has produced the iconic snacks and bread, announced on Friday morning that it is shutting down. According to the statements issued by Hostess Brands officials, the company is unable to continue operations and emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy due to an ongoing Bakers Union strike.  Here is the letter to customers posted on the Hostess website:

Dear Loyal Customer,

I must regretfully inform you that Hostess Brands has shut down all operations and will be pursuing   the sale process of all of our brands and Company assets. Many people have worked incredibly long and hard to keep this from happening, but now Hostess Brands has no other alternative than to begin the process of winding down and preparing for the sale of our iconic brands.

Election Day 2012

Did You?!?

Tyrann Mathieu's Phantom Menace

One week after I received and read the Sports Illustrated cover story on Tyrann Mathieu and his attempts to redeem himself for a possible return to the LSU Tigers football team, he faces drug (marijuana) related charges in Baton Rouge.

Several questions are now (in my best Herman Cain voice) "twirling around in my head" concerning Mathieu:

1. Is Mathieu destined to be just like his biological father, Darrin Hayes- also a talented football phenom in his day, but now serving a life sentence for second degree murder- with whom Mathieu has virtually no relationship?

2. Even if convicted, simple possession of marijuana is not going to earn Mathieu a life sentence in prison, but is this the next step down a path to a life sentence from football and, more importantly, productive adult life?

3. Are these things hereditary? Does Mathieu's family history wreak havoc on his psyche and prevent him from realizing he does not have to repeat his father's mistakes? 

4. And, considering Tyrann's demonstrated troubles to date, was it prudent for him to only spend a month, or so, in John Lucas' rehab program in Houston and then return to Baton Rouge and LSU with no real, on-site support structure to keep him strong in moments of weakness?

The whole thing almost plays out like Star Wars, to me.  The character comparisons are very clear.