Summer is finally here!

The last couple of weeks in Meeechigan it's felt like football weather. 60 degrees, some sun, a lot of wind, not terrible, but not what you want in late May. This week it's warming up gradually. We broke 70 today and we'll be in the mid 80s by the end of the week.

I'm still amazed with how people treat sports up here. Granted, Dayton isn't really a sports town. There's UD basketball, and most people like the Buckeyes and the Bengals, but their homes are in other towns so Dayton isn't a real sports town. Detroit, however, is a serious sports town. All the talk's about the Pistons, on every local newscast, on every local radio show, they're everywhere. And with their hot start, the Tigers are starting to get some attention, which I'm happy about. I've actually watched several of their games on TV. Yes you heard me correctly, I've watched several baseball games on TV. The Tigers play hard and with passion, two things you don't see every day in pro sports. If you play hard and show some emotion, I will get behind you, it's infectious. So I hope the Tigers do well and one of these days I'm going to a game (maybe next week when the Yanks and Sox are in town).

I wonder what it will be like during Michigan football season? I'm kind of curious.

So I watched this whole American Idol thing from start to finish this year, first time since the 2nd season. I thought the top 12 were strong at the beginning of the finals, yet they turned out to be mediocre.

• There was Mandisa (I apologize for spelling errors), by far the best female vocally, except on country night, which gave the producers the excuse they needed to kick her off.
• And there was Bucky, how was he on for as long as he was. The Buddy Holly song he did was awful.
• I liked Lisa McGee, I think she was too young. The producers wouldn't have made as much money off of her record since her target audience doesn't compose of people with much disposable income.
• Kellie Pickler. I don't think she was putting on an act. She wouldn't be able to make a good pop record.
• Paris was awesome at the beginning, but she tried to be too much of a grown up at the end. I liked little girl Paris, not made up trying to be 25 Paris. Her audition was her best performance.
• Elliott has a great voice, but not the personality that's gonna make you buy a record, although I liked his competitiveness down the stretch. He knew he was the underdog and he came to play.
• And there was Chris, who should've won, but the producers went for intriguing TV. And something tells me Chris already has a record deal.
• So that leaves McPhee, who has an unbelievable voice, but no musicality. And by no musicality, she sings the song note for note perfectly, but there's no feel, no consistent emotion put into the song. When she keeps it simple like in Somewhere Over the Rainbow, she's dynamite. But when she tries to show off (I Believe I Can Fly), it's tough to listen to. But she can be made into a star, that's why she's still around.
• And there's Taylor. The feel good story from the hurricane ravaged South. He can sing Soul, he's popular, but can he sell a pop record? That's why I get the feeling McPhee will win because she has the most money-making potential. It worked with Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, but not with Ruben and Fantasia. They're all great singers, but Clive Davis & Co. want to make some money, and I don't know if Taylor can make them a lot of money.
• And do you REALLY think they count all of those votes?!?!?! It's all about TV, read the disclaimer at the end of the show. The producers can make whatever decision they want in the end, which means, in the words of Roy McAvoy (Tin Cup, played by Kevin Costner): DOLLAR BILLS!!!! I love the "close" vote last week, great made up totals.

And they're digging for Jimmy Hoffa not too far from here. Right now, the bill is around $500,000, trying to find a guy who's been dead for quite awhile.