Rays Push Red Sox to the Brink

The Tampa Bay Rays throttled the Boston Red Sox once again last night at Fenway Park, pounding knuckleballer Tim Wakefield for five runs and three homers in 2 2/3 innings en route to a 13-4 victory to take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series. Evan Longoria clubbed his rookie-record fifth homer of the postseason, and Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar also went deep for the Rays, who are within one victory of their first World Series appearance in franchise history. Andy Sonnanstine was steady again for the Rays, tossing 7 1/3 innings and allowing just three earned runs, while Carl Crawford went 5-for-5, scored three runs and drove in two to send the Rays to a comfortable lead in the series with Game Five on Thursday at Fenway.

Spring NFL football? League owners in St. Petersburg are reportedly discussing with commissioner Roger Goodell the possibility of playing exhibition games during the spring, much like colleges hold their spring games. Terrible idea. Doesn't the annual April NFL Draft provide enough media attention for these franchises? This idea will never come into fruition.

And finally, the Detroit Lions finally traded away disgruntled wideout Roy Williams, shipping him to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-, third- and sixth-rounder in 2009. The Lions will also give up a seventh-round pick in 2010. Of course, Jerry Jones then gave Williams a five-year extension worth around $45 million, including more than $20 million guaranteed, as Jones believes that Williams can be a game-breaker opposite Terrell Owens and Owens' potential replacement.

This could end up being a huge trade for the Lions' franchise. With two first-round picks, a second- and two third-rounders in the upcoming draft, a roster with holes at nearly every position could begin to be restocked by the incoming GM. This is a must-offseason for the Ford family and the Lions, who will be setting up the future of the franchise with their selection of GM, presumable new head coach and 2009 draft talent to go along with active pursuit in the free agent market.

It's Millen's Time...To Go

31-84. Since the start of the 2001 season, Matt Millen's first year as President and CEO of the Detroit Lions, the team has sustained at least nine losses in every campaign. 31-84. For three years, the team failed to win a road game, going 24 games without road success in a league where home field is not as advantageous as other professional leagues. 31-84. The Detroit Lions are unquestionably the worst franchise in all of team sports.

Yet Mr. Millen is the second-highest paid general manager in the league. The fact that he still has a job after admitting that the team's record under his command has been "beyond awful" is mind-boggling. Millen played 12 seasons in the NFL and played on four Super Bowl winners. He knows what it takes to win. He was a tremendous commentator, offering top-notch insight not often seen by today's analysts. But he can't put a winning team on the field.


Lions vice chairman Bill Ford said yesterday, "I think the fans deserve better, and if it were in my authority, which it's not, I'd make some significant changes." When asked if Millen should leave the team, Ford said, "Yes, I do." Ford, the executive chairman of the Ford Motor Co. and son of William Clay Ford, should have the power to dismiss Millen because his dad hasn't done anything to help the franchise since he took control in 1964. Why the senior Ford has consistently stood by his decision to hire and keep Millen is beyond me, but there must be change in Detroit if that team wants to ever sniff the playoffs again.


By the way, how did Shareef Abdur-Rahim average 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 12 NBA seasons?

And also, have the Chargers stopped scoring yet?