The Drive with Jack
* Jim Stark, Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy
(upbeat music) - Jack, I believe you're my good friend, Matt Sloatt, grab a Volcomist, lots of excitement at the two dealerships. What's new with Chevy and Nissan? - Well, Jack, great question. At Nissan, everybody seems to be talking about interest rates. We're offering 0% financing on new vehicles, and we have the all new completely redesigned 2025 kicks on the lot and ready for delivery. It is fantastic. At Chevy, same thing. People are talking about interest rates. Guess what? We have 0% financing on new, and as low as 1.99 used. You gotta come check it out. - Great time to get a car and great place to do it. Grab a Volcomist. We're gonna stay right here, Rob, and welcome in Jim Stark, Executive Director of the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy, dedicated to the preservation of sports in the state of Michigan. Normally, we see Jim on Tuesdays, but up here for the game today, Jim, this wasn't what anyone expected. Michigan State, maybe as big a spread as they have all year, Western team that have really been struggling, and they only led by four in the second half. - Yeah, you know, Jack, it was one of those, you and I talked about it before, we've seen these Mac teams play this state. They get nothing to lose, and everything to win. They go out there, and they play their heads off, and they shoot those trees, and if they make a few threes, all of a sudden, they're in the game, and Michigan State did not shoot well early, and they didn't shoot well in the middle. But they fortunately shot well enough to win the game, but that's why I think playing Mac teams is always in the field, 'cause they got nothing to lose. - Yeah, if I had told you, coming into the game today, that Jackson Kohler, and we're not gonna have a basket, Kohler and Karra wasn't gonna have one until very late, but for more than 30 minutes, those three players, key players, we're not gonna have a basket. You needed somebody else to step up, and I don't think anyone figured it would be Carson Cooper day. - No, Carson Cooper played, I'd say he played, like a guy whose hair was in fire. He was getting rebound, he was boxing out, he was getting put back, one time, Jack, I have no idea how he got the ball from the Bronco. 'Cause he was at the ball, right from the Bronco, 'cause he was at the fire end, you know, you can't really see it quite well. All of a sudden, he reaches around him, 'cause of the ball and leaves up for a put back. But I still know how I got it, it was amazing. I thought the Bronco had like it down around his stomach, but somehow Carson got the hands in there. But yeah, he played a time as though kind of a game today, time as though love, Carson Cooper out there today. - So, Aiken's led the team in scoring, but what was Michigan State not doing that it led 59, or 49, 45 in the second hand? - They weren't scoring in transition, Jack. The Bronco was doing a good job getting back on the break and cutting them off, they weren't getting a lot of layup, believe it or not, a lot of their shots were from the sets and the plays. And they shot okay from three, but like you say, Jay Dake has had a good look at, he shot very well today. Booker did not shoot well, they gave me a two points, right? And that was on a swab dunk of a great alley. But he didn't shoot well, so they didn't shoot well from the outside, the guys they needed to, Aiken, they didn't score well in transition. - Yeah, and you look at the rebounds, that wasn't what people expect that Michigan State was plus seven, but it was even for a long time. And the one thing Michigan State has done great all, you're actually two things. They've done well all year today. We're not able to run as well, but they're number one in the nation in fast break points. But again today, at the free throw line, how about 20 out of 22, that's 90.9, 909 at the line. And they say if you can make 20 free throws a game, you got a great chance to win. And when you can make three more than your opponent's attempt, Western was just seven for 17. So that's plus 13 from Michigan State at the foul line. - Well, they didn't play inside very much. They really worked from the outside. You didn't see them driving a lot and go on fouls, but they had some length, Jack. They had three guys who were six foot nine or better. And a lot of times they had two of them out there are all three different times. That's why I think Rebound was more than we would have thought. But again, I get ways to use a lot of credit. He knows for Michigan State team. He coached his team to Michigan State today. That's what he did. And it almost worked. - Wow. So were you there when Duane was talking to Tom? I know before the game, they sat down together on the bench and reminiscing a little bit. - Yeah, I thought so, yeah. - What do you think that was like for those two? - Well, I think, from what I, in the brief here, you've talked to coach a lot more than I have, but I think he's as proud of his coaching tree as he is of anything else he's done. The fact that he's able to help these young coaches learn to craft, learn a job and get these head coaches. I think that he was a proud popper as much as anything else today with one of his kids, a quote unquote, you know, coming back to play at the big house after with the overhead coaching jobs, right? That to me is what I saw, what I would imagine what was going on. - All right, I want to switch sports and move on to tonight in Santa Clara, California, the Lions against the Niners. And unless there's a bizarre situation where Detroit and Minnesota would have a tie game in week 18, tonight means absolutely nothing. So are you surprised that Dan Campbell's going to play everybody and treat it like the Super Bowl? - Well, no, why do you say it means nothing? You're saying, you know, what the end of tonight, if the Lions beat the Vikings next week, then no, they'll win the, - That's right. - Okay. - Well, Lions lose tonight and beat Minnesota. They're the one seed. If they win tonight and lose to Minnesota, they're the five seed. - Well, I tell you, I don't think Dan Campbell ever plays a game. He's a lot like coach, though. There's no such thing as an off-night, an off-game, an unimportant possession. And I think every game he plays, he plays the same way and has to win. Now, I think you saw that in some of the games earlier where somebody's got to, you might have liked that, seem to take him out earlier with some of these big, you know, 20-point leads. - You can do it though. He needs them in, and he wants to run the offense. He runs through it, but I'll tell you right now, they better score support tonight, Jack, 'cause they will not win in the defense. That defense the last three weeks has been just not very good. And it's because they've lost so many players. They got guys, they got off the bargain rack. And guys, I think we're tired coming out to play, but they've got to score a lot of points, Jack. They got out score because they will not stop. I don't think they won't. I think the four to an half score for sure, at least. - I understand the idea that you don't want to completely take your foot off the gas and tell guys to go through the motions. That's actually when a lot of injuries occur. But with a number of injuries the Lions have had, I would think twice about playing Jared Goff tonight. - I would, too, especially with the signing of Teddy Bridgewater. I mean, you know, and if you've got Bridgewater, you've got it for one reason. You've got it because you might even play him in the playoffs. - Right. - But why not give him some game experience 'cause you know, you have to play in the year, but he was down COVID in Florida, go to high school. So yeah, give him a half on the field. Let him get some in there. That's what I would do. But you know what? There's no, I think the A.K.N. will not believe. Even when they were up, Jack, they were up, you know, a couple of days, they're up 30, some points. He surely put, you know, took off out late in the fourth quarter. So I don't see him doing it for that. That's what I would do. I would want to get Teddy Bridgewater some game action. - All right, I want to switch cats and go to the Detroit Tigers. Glabor Torres, after seven years with the Yankees, I think he had four years where he had 20 homers and one season had 38. Has going to be the Tigers' second baseman, it seems. What does that pickup do for you? - Well, to me, it's surprising that signing, which I didn't see coming, is the move of Cole Keith the first base. And basically, you're telling, you don't have a job right now. That, to me, Jack, has as much impact as anything. This is a guy that was the number one overall draft pick three years ago. He's been here every day, Atlanta. Now, I think for the last two seasons at least. And you're saying, you have no job. That, to me, says an awful lot about A, the confidence at Cole Keith, but B, the lack of confidence is back to Torkelson. - Could Torkelson be there every day, DH? - Absolutely, he could do one thing, Jack. One thing and one thing only to be able to keep his job in this team and that's it. If he comes out in the spring training and starts hitting me and then it starts hitting me, he will absolutely have a job. There's no question about it. He's that kind of a hitter or can be. And the Tigers need a hitter, but they're not going to carry a guy hitting, you know, 180, 190 with a five or 600 OPS, especially when you get a, that's your power department, you know? I think one out of patience with Spectra Torkel, that's what that move tells me. But yeah, he can still play for him. All you've got to do is hit. - So do you think the Tigers are done in free agency? Or would you still expect to see Alex Braggman at third base? - Well, I don't know, I talked to Rob off, when we were talking to the phone earlier, I said, you know, I'm wondering, Alex Braggman is not getting his $220 million deal or he'd have it already. Okay? - Right. - So I'm wondering if the Tigers, what I'm hearing is the Tigers and Scott Ford are making progress. I'm wondering if they're going to front load the contract and say, okay, we'll pay your 35 million a year, whatever that top dollar is, but only for three or four years. So all we're on the hook for is $120 million and $30 million. We'll pay those four years, but we're not paying you for six or eight years and we're not getting that $200 million. That's what I wonder if it's happening. And more else can keep it, more else can keep it pride by saying, look, Scott, you know, Alex Braggman is getting paid. He's the highest paid third baseman connection, whatever it might be. That's what I'm wondering if it's happening right now, is it changing the way the contract might look, front load it and get him for a shorter period of time? Are you a surprise, Jim, that players seem to want these long-term contacts? Contracts is there at 30 or 31? Maybe they want to have this money guaranteed for a long period of time, but wouldn't you rather have the bigger money now? And then if you decide at 35, you want to retire, no one's going to have to hold a benefit for you. - Well, look at Otani. Most of his content was all delayed. - That deferred. - So I don't get why the teams want to have that kind of debt in their books. I don't understand that. But be like you said, if I'm a player, I'm getting paid in tomorrow's dollars, right? Why don't I get paid in today's dollars and let me have it now, and I'll do what I want with it, but that's why I don't see this being a deferred contract at all, but I just wonder if they actually are going to wait to front load it, pay him even more now, maybe they didn't even make me worth, but get out of that long-term five, six, eight-year deal and get me that $200 million mark. That's what I'm sure they don't want to get close to that. - Well, the Tigers definitely needed a right-handed bat and they needed some more pop. And they got someone who's got a bat at or near the top of the order. So, the Glabertorris and Alex Breggman are not that different. Maybe there's a difference defensively and a difference in terms of the position they play in the infield. But given the fact that they've added that kind of punch, would you rather see him take the money and try to help the pitching staff? - No, I don't think they have added enough, Jack. I think if you look at Glabertorris, he had a good 26, 28-home run season, but not in the last couple of years. His power's definitely diminished in these last few years. I don't see him being a 20-home run. I think he might be 18, six and eight, so the Tigers need a 30 to 35-year, a home and a year, a guy, somewhere. - Okay. - Well, he might be 25 and Torres is 10 or 12 or less. Maybe you add them together, but Torres alone does not fill the hole and the only guy in the lineup really has that kind of history is Corpus and he's out in the lineup right now. So unless he comes out in the spring training and really fixes whatever's the ailing him from the swing, the Tigers are still about 20, at least 20 home runs a year short in this lineup. - All right, I want to talk for a minute about the Red Wings and the Pistons and Todd McClellan taking over the Red Wings and he's supposedly the answer for this team and got to win yesterday over the Washington Capitals four to two. But what is it that makes people assume, okay, we got a new coach, we fixed the problem. When the guy who hired that coach is the same guy who hired the last coach. - Well, I'm not sure they've assumed the problems and fix. I think the problems that I identified, and it wasn't very long to take Todd very long to identify the problem. They aren't working hard enough. They're not playing as a team well. They're playing the separate players. He said, and apparently that's what he said to the whole, but he had one practice so far since he got the job before Sunday, before the game yesterday. And they played much better as a team. So I don't know if they saw that they've identified it, saw that he's up to the players as much as the coach. But I think they liked the fact that this guy has had the highest success in the NHL level, except for winning a Stanley Cup. And they didn't have that with the last couple of guys. I mean, they've had some good track records, but not at this level. So we'll see. But Steve Eiserman, hey, he's got a track record. He won in Tampa, and he's still Steve Eiserman. So he couldn't stand his hat, but he did make a change. The clones got a lot of NHL experience. He played one with a standard couple of the red wings the last time they won it. So there's a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that maybe you might add up to more of a positive. But I don't think anyone's saying the problem solved yet. I think they want to see it get solved, but guys play it better. - All right, Jim, last thing for you. Did he try to piss us off? - Before, yeah, I did my research check. - Yeah, yeah. - When we asked me about, is there any NBA coach where I would say he's more a first time person? - Yes. - The only guy I think, maybe there's three. I mentioned both of their day. I'm gonna add great pop of it to that list. However, if you look at his record the last five years, he struggled to get the 500. He was phenomenal before that. So maybe he's past his prime. And I would maybe put Steve Kerr on that list, except for Steve Kerr, the only place his coach really is in gold face. And he's an amazing team. So I'm not sure if he's a great coach or he's got a great team. And then maybe I'd throw out their top pivot all made. There aren't many other coaches I would say I would pick and say he could be my team and beat his team and then vice versa. But pop, I would say pop of it's Kerr and probably Spolstra are my three. - All right, how many championships has Spolstra won? - Was it two or no, I think it's three and pop of it's just five, I think. - Okay. - Well, yeah, pop, we know it. Yeah, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and yeah. - Yeah, yeah, so, but he won with different crew, and he won gold medal, you know, so he's got a, but I just think maybe he doesn't maybe relate to today's players like you'd like, but Spolstra's only 54 and there are not to me, a lot of great NBA coaches right now, at least with a long track record. Carlisle's probably got the longest. - Yeah. Yeah, all right, what happened to the Pistons now that they have, until last night, a better record than the Red Wings and have matched their entire win total from the previous season, they had as many wins 14 in the first 31 games as they had in 82 games last year. - Well, part of the reason they play better is they've addressed the three-point shooting lag. If you look at the stats, you know, certainly the starters are shooting better as a team, at least to some level, some degree, but that was one of the biggest problems they had last year, Jack, and we talked about it before. The best teams have multiple players who can shoot from three, not just two guys. And every time you see that the South explains, everyone can shoot three, right? So they have, but I think they've made some progress. K Cunningham is shooting about 37%. J-90, he's shooting almost 39%, and Malik Beasley is shooting 41%. And they really are taking most of the three. So those three guys have helped the three-point presented immensely. Device Harris has not played as well and that shot as well. After that, it falls off pretty quickly. You get a little bit from Tim Hardaway and Simone upon Techno, but after that, you know, Ron Holland and all the content, they got nothing. Nothing. So they've addressed it a little bit, but they took a long way to go, if they're gonna be NBA caliber three-point shooting team. - All right, sorry I missed you today, but I'll catch up to you early in 2025. - I was honored to stick in the, in the ebbling media seats. They're at Breslin, it was an honor. - All right, Jim, happy new year. We'll talk to you next year. - Maybe you and Melissa, then we'll talk to you next week. - Hey, Spartan fans. When you want the largest and best selection of Spartan gear, Alumni Hall is your ultimate shopping destination. Come get your officially licensed gear. Nike, Champion, Columbia, Yeti, new era hats, tailgating gear and more. MSU students, faculty and military receive 10% off in store every day. And you can earn cash back with their Hall Pass rewards. Alumni Hall, located at Eastwood Town Center near the Apple Store, or shop anytime at alumnihall.com. 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MSU students, faculty and military receive 10% off in store every day. And you can earn cash back with their hall pass rewards. Alumni Hall, located in Eastwood Town Center near the Apple Store or shop anytime at alumnihall.com. For the ultimate Spartan shopping experience, it's Alumni Hall. - To everyone who craves a sweet treat with a little something special, let us tell you about our concrete mixers at Culver's. - There's so many reasons I love fresh frozen custard. It's so rich, so creamy. It's the perfect treat. But when I handcraft it with all of your favorite mixins and see your smiles after every spool, it's clear. What makes our concrete mixers so special to me is making them just for you. - From Wisconsin with love. - Welcome to Delicious. - Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros brought to you by Florin de Corle Littleton. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. 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