By Jim Vallet and Robert Perea
On his birthday every year, my brother justified his behavior by declaring, “It’s my birthday and I can do whatever the ##!! I want!”
As ridiculous as my brother’s declaration was, when you’re a sports fan, that’s exactly what you can do.
That message hit me while watching my beloved Detroit Tigers the last month or so. If you’re not familiar with the up-and-down saga of the 2025 Tigers, let me tell you that this year has gone from ecstasy to reality to rationalization to despair to relief to euphoria to giving up, only to return to euphoria by Wednesday. And, the roller coaster ride was being a fan of the Detroit Tigers, who cannot stand prosperity, yet refuse to give up this year.
Let me tell you, having been in both positions, it’s infinitely easier being a fan than being a coach. A coach stays positive, no matter how inept his (or her) team performs. When a hitter takes a pitch right down the middle and then swings and misses at a pitch in the dirt, a coach says, “See the ball, now”. A fan screams, “What the !!##, you stink!”. When a pitcher throws nine straight balls and then, finally, a strike, the coach says, “Now you’ve found it!” A fan gives the Bronx cheer. When the coach orders a field goal on 4th and 2, the fan boos. If the coach goes for it and doesn’t make it, the fan boos. When a QB throws an interception, the coach reminds him to go through his progressions. The fan boos. When a pitcher hangs a breaking ball and the batter swings and misses, the coach reminds his pitcher to release the ball in front of him, but the fan gets to cheer. The fan screams, “Get rid of this bum!”, but it’s the coach who faces the player and, and, while looking at tears in the player’s eyes tells him he’s letting him go. The fan can do any stupid celebration he wants, but the coach is supposed to be dignified while winning and classy when losing.
Yes, it’s way easier being a fan and I was reminded that I am now, officially, a fan while watching the Detroit Tigers for the last month.
When the Tigers had the best record in baseball and had 6 players selected for the All-Star game, I confidently stated that the Tigers had arrived. When the Tigers began to flounder some after the All-Star break, I concluded that they were an up-and-down team. When my beloved Detroit Tigers blew an 11 ½ game lead in September and only reached the playoffs by winning a tiebreaker, I sagely commented that the Tigers had too many holes. But, when Detroit beat the Cleveland In…ahhh, Guardians in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, I shrewdly observed that my team was back, which was reinforced when Detroit beat Seattle in Game 1 of the ALDS. But, then the Clowns (who used to be named the Tigers) lost two in a row and I jumped ship. I went from jumping ship to actually opening fire on the sinking Detroit Tiger ship when my used-to-be-beloved team fell behind 3-0 in a win-or-go-home Game 4. But, my once again beloved squad got back in my good graces, where they now reside (until the next game) after scoring 9 unanswered runs to force a series-deciding Game 5 Friday. Go Tigers!
With fans like me, who needs enemies?
Take Zack McKinstry, a Detroit Tiger utility player. On Tuesday night, he lowered his series batting average to .100 and inexplicably did not cut off a throw that ended up costing the Tigers a run in an 8-4 loss.
I sagely observed that McKinstry stunk.
Wednesday continued with more of the same, and when it looked like the Tigers’ season was over, I jumped all over McKinstry in several texts to my fellow baseball “expert” who also happens to be my brother in law. I also included Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch in my criticisms for being so stupid to even consider playing McKinstry, and for taking pitcher Casey Mize out of the game too early, and for pinch hitting for Parker Meadows, and for playing Javier Baez at all.
The fan spoke too soon. McKinstry, although he did cost the Tigers a run by getting picked off first base, ended up with 3 big hits. The replacements for Mize only allowed 2 runs over 6 innings. The pinch hitter for Meadows got a big double. Javier Baez made every play at shortstop and hit a big home run.
As a coach the players would have had me fired, and deservedly so. But, as a fan, I celebrated a big win, and called every Tiger fan who deserted the Tigers a “FINO”, fan in name only.
You see, a fan is always right because he can celebrate when my team wins and perceptively criticize when they lose. And, that is now me.
And no parents are calling me tonight, either.
Speaking of fan behavior, the versatile senior who is me is now back firmly entrenched on the Detroit Lions’ bandwagon, at least for as long as they win. Although disillusioned, I’m not yet ready to desert the Chiefs or the Ravens, although I won’t be betting on either team just yet. I think the only team that can beat the Eagles right now is the Eagles, and I would say the odds of that are 50-50. I counseled last week that Trevor Lawrence will never be a good NFL QB, now I think Canton will be calling. I’m not sure cement footed Joe Flacco is the answer to the Bengals’ quarterback woes, but I am playing both sides when I say he can’t be any worse than Browning. And, no matter who coaches them, the former just win, baby Raiders always seem to find a way to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.
Anyway, last week was not good, but as a fan and politician, I refuse to accept responsibility for my foolish picks. I guess what is foolish is that I’m trying again. Lines are from espn.com on Wednesday Oct. 8.
Cleveland Browns (+6 ½) at Pittsburgh Steelers: The Browns will be able to run the ball, and have a really good defense that their offense consistently puts in bad spots (can you tell they’re my fantasy team’s defense?)
New England Patriots (-3 ½) at New Orleans Saints: The Saints won last week! This week, they won’t.
Los Angeles Rams (-7 ½) at Baltimore Ravens: Can you imagine betting this at the beginning of the season?
Seattle Seahawks (+1 ½) at Jacksonville Jaguars: Do you think Trevor Lawrance can get up twice fast enough again?
Carolina Panthers (+3 ½) vs Dallas Cowboys: It’s perfect for the Cowboys…a team they should beat, coming off a bye. That’s why they’ll lose.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2 ½) vs SF 49ers: Bucs find a way to get it done
Detroit Lions (+2 ½) at KC Chiefs: The line moved from Chiefs -1 ½ to Chiefs -2 ½. The fan in me says REALLY??!! The coach in me says you never know…
Chicago Bears (+4 ½) at Washington Red..ahhh, Commanders: Off a bye with (I think) a good coach and better players
Last week 3-3
Season 16-14
Robert’s picks
Iowa (-3) at Wisconsin: Iowa had a chance to beat Indiana two weeks ago, but missed a 42-yard field goal with 2:05 left, then gave up a 49-yard touchdown pass. Wisconsin has lost three in a row and the season is on the verge of getting away, with Ohio State and Oregon next up on the schedule. Iowa’s defense is stout as always, and the Hawkeyes will extend Wisconsin’s misery.
Clemson (-14) at Boston College: Clemson has been widely considered one of the biggest disappointments in the country, but to me that’s an expectation, not a Clemson problem. I’ve told friends more the last two years that Cade Klubnick isn’t what the pundits think he is, and that Clemson is a pretty good, but not great team, so I’m not at all surprised at what everyone else considers their struggles so far this season. But their defense is still elite, and this is a BC team that lost at home to Cal and at Stanford. Clemson is still plenty good enough to control matters in this one.
Georgia (-3 ½) at Auburn: In conference play, Auburn has scored 17 against Oklahoma, and 10 against Texas A&M. They’re going to need more than that to beat Georgia, but they don’t average less than 175 yards per game both passing and rushing. Georgia’s weakness defensively is against the pass, but Auburn QB Jackson Arnold hasn’t show the capability to carry an offense, either this year or last year at Oklahoma. This game will be a battle, but Georgia should be able to win by at least this margin.
Browns (+5 ½) at Steelers.: This week offers several scenarios of teams in situations that I’d like to bet against, but many of them are playing against each other. The Patriots as a road favorite off an upset win in Buffalo, against a Saints team that was gifted a win by five Giants turnovers. A 49er team with both quarterbacks injured and their top four receivers out, but facing a Buccaneers team that scored twice in the final minute to beat the Seahawks. The Browns having to play on the road after playing in London last week, but facing a Steelers team that seemingly plays every game down to the wire. Ultimately, I trust the Browns defense, and I trust the Steelers to be the Steelers, so I expect this game to come down to a kick.
Buccs (-3) over 49ers: The schedule is everything in the NFL. I don’t believe the 49ers are any better this year than they were last year when they were 6-11, even though they’re 4-1. I was completely impressed with the effort against the Rams last Thursday but it wouldn’t have been enough if either Kyren Williams didn’t fumble, or Sean McVay didn’t outsmart himself. The 49ers have too many shortcomings to pull it off on the road two weeks in a row.
Chargers (-4 ½) at Dolphins: The Dolphins blowing a 17-0 lead and then giving up an 83-yard game-winning drive to a team quarterbacked by Bryce Young blows my mind. No they get a Jim Harbaught team that’s lost two in a row. I like well-coached teams coming off consecutive losses.
Last week
College 3-0
NFL 1-2
Season
College 10-9
NFL 9-7
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