SPORTS

Lions get some love on World Series broadcast

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Matthew Stafford

Allen Park – During the fifth inning of Game 2 of the World Series, Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Buck promoted the weekend’s slate of NFL games on the network. He highlighted the 9 a.m. matchup between Cincinnati and Washington in London, as well as Seattle traveling to New Orleans and Fox’s game of the week, Green Bay at Atlanta.

As Buck turned his attention back to the game, color analyst John Smoltz, a Michigan native, prodded Buck for more on the upcoming NFL games.

“I thought you were going to do it,” Smoltz said. “I thought you were going to read the second line, there.”

Buck took the hint.

“The Detroit Lions take on the Houston Texans this week,” Buck said.

“Wow, does that feel good,” Smoltz interjected.

“The red-hot Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford, who snatched a victory from defeat against the Redskins last week,” Buck said. “(He’s) playing great, got them over .500 now.”

Stafford mania continues to run wild, folks. The Lions quarterback has been mentioned as an early-season MVP candidate, after leading game-winning drives three consecutive weeks. For the season, he’s completing 68.1 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

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The Cubs went on to win the game, 5-1, tying the series at one game apiece. That’s welcome news to Lions coach Jim Caldwell, who great up a fan of the team.

His fandom began while playing youth league sports in Beloit, Wisconsin. During the summer, the kids would take field trips two hours south to Wrigley Field.

“They’d take a bunch of kids on a bus and we’d go watch the Cubs, we’d go watch the Brewers,” Caldwell said. “We’d be fairly high up, but nevertheless, you’d be in the stadium and it was a lot of fun.

“That was during the days of Billy Williams and Ernie Banks, that whole group,” Caldwell said. “I’ve been following them for some quite time. That was a lot of fun and I’m glad to see them doing well.”