Morning Head: Rafalski retiring?

Julianne Hough who is almost enough to make a person start watching "Dancing With The Stars." Although, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, and instead just went online and searched for pictures and videos of Julianne Hough.

So, Brian Rafalski is retiring. Maybe (UPDATE: This is for realz, bitches). This could be a real problem for the Red Wings if the free-agent crop of defensemen decide to just head back to where they're comfortable and not test the waters. It could also be a problem because with Rafalski, you knew what you were getting -- a great power-play defenseman who could move the puck with the best of them, even if he wasn't always the best in his own end. While that last part isn't exactly something you want, Rafalski more than made up for that with his other qualities, especially in the Red Wings system. But, $6 million is $6 million. That kind of price could lure in any of the unrestricted free agents on the market, and with some money left over from Mike Modano's retirement and kicking Ruslan Salei and perhaps Jonathan Ericsson to the curb, the Wings could even make a legit offer to restricted free agent Shea Weber (which, holy shit, wow). If Nick Lidstrom comes back, this will probably be OK, because Rafalski can be replaced, even if that seems difficult. Lidstrom, of course, cannot be replaced. And trying to replace both of them would be shit-tastic. Now, and here's something I just thought of as I was typing, perhaps Lidstrom comes back for a year at a lesser price, and the Wings go after Weber who Lidstrom can mentor for a season. That's a win-win for everybody involved, except, of course, Nashville, which loses it's best player to a division rival. But fuck them. (USA Today)

I just did a Google image search for "Furbush fever" and sadly (thankfully?) it was completely safe for work. It is, however, not a very common search apparently. At least for now, because Detroit is about to catch Furbush fever. Charlie Furbush (yes, his name is Chuck Furbush) made his major league debut in relief of Phil Coke (who is off to the DL) and picked up his first major league win as the Tigers beat the Rays. He's good, and whatever the Tigers decided to do with him, he'll bolster the bullpen. He'll either be there himself, or he'll push Coke there, which will help. (DetNews)

The Boston Bruins won the always pivotal Game 5 Monday night in their Eastern Conference finals series against Tampa Bay, because Tim Thomas (I always type "Time Thomas," which is appropriate) is not human. I've come under the assumption that scoring chances in the East are not only more prevalent, but more deadly, meaning their goaltenders have to make more ridiculous saves. That doesn't mean their goalies are better, per say, but it does mean they have to make more highlight-reel plays. But honestly, the East is kind of booty, and outside of Thomas or Roloson/Smith standing on their head in the finals, the Canucks are hoisting the Cup in five. (Puck Daddy)

I turned off Game 4 of the Mavs/OKC series because I thought it was over and I wanted to play a video game that was made in 2005. Then Dirk happened. Nowitzki was outstanding down the stretch (even though Nick Collison was actually playing good defense on him) leading the Mavs to an overtime victory. Since all I care about in the NBA anymore is somebody beating the Heat, I spent the last few minutes of OT (I turned it back on, because my video game from 2005 stopped working) trying to figure out how the Mavs match up with the Heat. Someone with better basketball knowledge needs to help me here, because I kept coming up with Shawn Marion guarding LeBron and Jason Kidd guarding Dwyane Wade. (Dallas Morning News)

I had an opinion on the Ray Lewis matter, but Anthony Stalter got it across pretty well here. My first reaction was, "What the hell is Ray Ray thinking?" But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a sad, but probably accurate indictment of the NFL and not Lewis (although Lewis has proven in the past that too much free time can be an issue. He did kill someone, after all (allegedly (or not))). (Scores Report)

I'm watching the French Open on ESPN3 as I type this, and John Isner and Rafa Nadal are in the fifth set. That's why it will be about noon before you see this. Not sure why I told you that.

But really, you should really listen to Harold Camping this time. He's pretty sure he's got it right now, and we're about to be Raptured/sent to the depths of New Jersey on Oct. 21. Mark your calendars. (Huffington Post)

If you didn't think this was going to be the Amazingness this week, you're new to the blog: