By Mummy Grace 
Detroit sports fans have a lot on their plates right now — from the fallout of Michigan’s 2023 sign-stealing saga to the return of the Detroit Lions and a surprising slump from the Tigers. On a recent episode of Morning Edition on Michigan Public Radio, sports commentator John U. Bacon sat down with host Doug Tribou to unpack the latest headlines.
Let’s start with the Wolverines. Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti recently told the NCAA he believes the conference has already done enough in punishing Michigan for its 2023 sign-stealing scandal. That three-game suspension of then-head coach Jim Harbaugh? According to Petitti, that should be it. But the NCAA isn’t obligated to take his advice — and it looks like head coach Sherrone Moore will still sit for two games this fall for his role in the mess, including reportedly deleting text messages with staffer Connor Stalions. Bacon summed it up perfectly: “This is not Watergate,” he said. “It shouldn’t be this hard to figure out.” Yet here we are, in late July, still waiting for an official ruling.
As for the Lions, training camp is officially underway, and with their early preseason start in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31, the team is already in go-mode. After a historic regular season that ended in playoff disappointment, expectations remain sky-high. But changes on the offensive line and the addition of new offensive minds — like coordinator John Morton and passing game coordinator David Shaw — could lead to early growing pains. Bacon says the real key this year will be staying healthy down the stretch, something the team failed to do last postseason.
And finally, the Tigers. After dominating much of the summer with gritty, close wins, the team has hit a rough patch. A six-game losing streak stretched across the All-Star break, and they were just swept by the Pirates. Despite being top-10 in both pitching and hitting, Detroit’s recent skid has fans wondering whether the magic is gone or if this is just a bump in the road. As Bacon put it, “They know how to win one-run games and lose by five. That’s how they stayed on top with those stats.”
One thing’s for sure: the drama in Michigan sports isn’t slowing down anytime soon — on the field or off.