Detroit Finds

The easiest way for an NFL team to get younger is through the draft. You can get high-impact players at a discounted price and hold the future to that player’s potential.

But the Detroit Lions managed to somehow get more youthful and arguably more talented through free agency—a period in which teams routinely overpay for aging players nearing over-the-hill status.

As a result, the Lions’ defense is already much more youthful than it was at this point last year, and you can easily make the argument that it’s much more talented, too.

Take a look at Detroit’s starting lineup in Week 1 of 2018 and their age at the time:

Ricky Jean Francois: 31
Sylvester Williams: 29
Ezekiel Ansah: 29
Devon Kennard: 27
Jarrad Davis: 23
Christian Jones: 27
Darius Slay: 27
Nevin Lawson: 27
Quandre Diggs: 25
Tavon Wilson: 28
Glover Quin: 32

Average age: 27.7 years

Now let’s look at the Lions’ projected starting lineup in 2019 and the ages they’ll be on Week 1.

Damon Harrison Sr.: 30
A’Shawn Robinson: 24
Trey Flowers: 26
Devon Kennard: 28
Jarrad Davis: 24
Christian Jones: 28
Darius Slay: 28
Justin Coleman: 26
Rashaan Melvin: 29
Quandre Diggs: 26
Tracy Walker: 24

Average age: 26.6

The difference in one age may not seem like much, but look a little closer. Last year, nine of 11 starters were 27 or older. For 2019, that number is just five of 11.

Getting younger on defense has plenty of benefits. Younger players are still entering their prime, they bring more long-term value, and for a team attempting to build a new culture, younger minds are more accepting towards new ideas. And for players still on rookie deals, younger also means considerably cheaper.

That isn’t to say there isn’t value in older players. With a younger roster, there is an inherent need for veteran players capable of mentorship. The Lions haven’t really lost much of that. While Glover Quin’s loss will certainly be felt, Darius Slay and Tavon Wilson have been around long enough to provide wisdom in the secondary. In the front seven, Damon Harrison and Devon Kennard are both 5+ year veterans who are also still playing at the top of their game.

And even the Lions’ depth remains pretty youthful. Players not mentioned as starters, but will undoubtedly factor into the team’s defense this year, include Da’Shawn Hand (23), Romeo Okwara (24), and possibly Jamal Agnew (24).

The future for the Lions’ defense is bright, and the 2019 NFL Draft hasn’t even happened yet.

Hat tip to PFF’s Brett Whitefield for the inspiration for this post.

The music world is reeling from the murder of beloved rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle, who died in Los Angeles after he was shot in the head and torso on Sunday afternoon.

A candlelight vigil has been planned in Detroit to honor the 33-year-old Grammy-nominated artist and father. Campus Martius will host the vigil Wednesday night starting at 7 p.m., according to a flier circulating on Twitter.

Vigils honoring Hussle's life and legacy have been popping up across the country, including one such gathering that turned violent Tuesday after a panicked stampede ensued outside of the rapper's clothing store and the scene of his murder, the Marathon Clothing. Tuesday night also marked the arrest of murder suspect Eric Holder, who was captured following a two-day manhunt.

According to the Washington Post, Hussle was to meet with the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners and the city's chief of police to discuss putting an end to gang violence and how he could help kids avoid gang culture. The meeting was scheduled for Monday, the day after his fatal shooting.

"This doesn’t make any sense! My spirit is shaken by this!," Rihanna said in a Twitter post. "I’m so sorry this happened to you."

Drake took to Instagram to call Hussle a "real one" and a "man of respect."

"You were having the best run and I was so happy watching from a distance fam," he said. "Nobody ever talks down on your name you were a real one to your people and the rest of us."

"I am completely lost," Lauren London, the rapper's longtime partner and mother to the couple's 2-year-old son, Kross, said in an emotional Instagram post.

“I’ve lost my best friend, my sanctuary, my protector, my soul. We are lost without you babe — I have no words."

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Game Final

WP: Tyson Ross (1-1)

LP: Brad Keller (1-1)

SV: Shane Greene (7)

Game Summary

Detroit’s Offense

Picking up where he left off Saturday, Christin Stewart vaults the Tigers (7-3) to a series sweep against the Royals (2-6) Sunday afternoon. Another quality start by Tigers’ starters and big league defense leads Detroit to their fifth straight win.

The Tigers were victorious Saturday by way of Stewart’s first career grand slam. He was at it again Sunday as the Motor City Kitties won 3-1, sweeping the Royals in the three game series. In the bottom of the second Stewart launched a 2-0 fastball into right center scoring Candelario, who reached by a walk, for a triple.

Embed from Getty Images

Stewart later scored on a Gordon Beckham groundout giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Nicholas Castellanos put Detroit  back in the scoring column in bottom half of the sixth when he doubled, scoring Stewart who singled earlier. Stewart finished the day going 2-4 scoring a run and 2 RBIs.

Detroit’s Defense and Pitching

Detroit’s defense was the difference today as they played shined behind Tigers righty Tyson Ross. Acrobatic plays by infielders Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison, catcher John Hicks throwing out two Royals attempting to steal second, were highlighted by an outfield assist by Niko Goodrum as well as a diving catch in shallow center to end the game.

It was a perfect combination of defense and starting pitching as Ross went seven quality innings, allowing one run on five hits striking out eight on 91 pitches improving to 1-1. Reliever Joe Jimènez pitched a scoreless eighth and Shane Greene picked up his seventh save of the season.

Today was a great Tigers win sweeping the Royals and remaining on top of the AL Central highlighted again by Stewart’s heroics. Despite this, the team only managed five hits and three runs.

What’s Next

The Tigers will need more stellar pitching and timely hitting to match the Cleveland Indians, who are tied with the Tigers in the division, before they come to town Tuesday, April 9 for a three game series.

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Related

U.K. post-punk stalwarts Gang of Four returned to Detroit on their 2019 tour to promote their
new album,” Happy Now” on February 16 at El Club in Detroit. The tour also celebrated their
40th Anniversary of the stellar debut album “Entertainment.” This was the second time back
with the current lineup and the show drew old fans as well as new who have never seen the
band before and now had a chance to experience their live musical assault.

They wasted no time bringing on their musical attack as they struck the opening chords of the
song “Anthrax” from the 1979 EP “Damaged Goods.” Guitarist Andy Gill proceeded to whip
his guitar onto the stage floor they launched into an epic 17-song set covering many early
songs from their catalog that had the audience in a frenzy. The new songs from their latest
releases, “Happy Now” and “Complicit” sounded right at home with the old classics. They
knew what the audience came to hear and delivered the damaged goods! The encores of “I
Found That Essence Rare” and “He'd Send In the Army” had singer John “Gaoler” Sterry
meet his match with a very unfortunate microwave oven that he attempted to smash into
smithereens.

The new album, “Happy Now” continues to explore this electronic fare, but still retains the
signature edgy guitar sound. It was released via Pledge Music and follows the April 2018
release of the EP “Complicit,” their latest recording since their return with the new
configuration of the band back in 2015.

For more information on the band, check out www.gangoffourofficial.co.uk

Source: http://motorcityblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/gang-of-four-returns-to-detroit-on.html

We are slowly but surely creeping closer to glorious summer nights & warmer temperatures! This makes it all the more essential to check your daily water intake to make sure you are prepared for increased activity in the heat.

We live in a state surrounded by fresh water and in a country where it’s rarely not within reach. With superfluous amounts available, it can be easy to overlook it’s primal need. However, without water, the human body would wither and perish quite rapidly, as every single cell (approximately 30-40 trillion) requires water to function properly.

I always love to tell my clients that drinking water is one of the most intentional habits we must cultivate; once you feel “thirsty” you are already dehydrated! This means you have to consciously make the choice to drink water before any feelings of being parched arrive.

A simple rule of thumb to follow is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 160 lbs, you would need to drink 80 ounces of water as your baseline. Depending on the temperature, amount of time spent outside, altitude, and your activity level, your body may require more water on a given day.