Mike Valenti's Five Things

As much as I dog him, Dirk Nowitzki is ballin' out of control. We haven't seen an offensive playoff assault like this since Bird. Take it a step further; while bird was a better passer and rebounder, Dirk is superior on the offensive end. No championship…no change of heart for me. But it must be noted what he is doing from a scoring standpoint.

Phil Coke to DL. No reason to panic. For one, he was 1-5 headed into last night's injury shortened start. Secondly, it gives an opportunity for Mr. Oliver to prove himself. He has dominated in AAA this season and it's a no brainer to give him a shot at the back-end of the rotation and move Coke back where he belongs…dominant bullpen lefty.

Brian Rafalski is retiring, some people are celebrating. I say not so fast. While Rafalski is well past his prime and his pending retirement opens up more money for the Wings…who the heck are they going to sign? This free agent class stinks and the idea that guys like Kevin Bieksa are worth a 4 or 5-year commitment is silly to me.

Found a great new breakfast joint a few months back…and it's all local. Mae's in Pleasant Ridge. Screams Detroit, all scratch food, all locally sourced, really just a gem. Place is tiny so if you blink you've missed it. Chicken Soprano is a sexual experience.

Last point is actually a question. Do you guys really want a guide to Las Vegas? I seem to get a dozen emails a week asking about my opinions on Vegas eats, entertainment, hotels etc. It's no secret I love it there and visit several times a year. I'll put the time into a legit guide if people really show interest on top of what I get in my email.