I am fortunate to know the George Blaha away from the microphone; the guy who enjoys after game drinks and chicken wings in a Manhattan Hotel. Or the guy stopping by his favorite Troy Coney Island for lunch.

I know the guy who loves Motown music and Sam Cooke. I know the guy who is friends with University of Alabama coach Nick Saban and usually makes it down to one Crimson Tide game a year.

Blaha is sidelined for the rest of the season as Pistons play-by play man after heart bypass surgery.

Over the past few years, broadcasters like Frank Beckman and Ernie Harwell have left the broadcast booth and the question lingers are we seeing the end of a great era in broadcasting? The answer is no. We still have Blaha, who is one of Detroit’s greats.

Blaha is no blowhard. He is an unassuming man content with being a part of the crowd instead of dominating a room or dominating a conversation. But if you get into a conversation about the Pistons, just hang on for the ride.

We will miss him for the remainder of the season. But hopefully when he returns next season, Blaha has more good news to report about a rebuilding Pistons team.

The issue with the Spartans Basketball

Turnovers are not a Michigan State basketball problem. They are a Tom Izzo problem.

I find it amusing that many believe turnovers are a problem that cropped up out of the blue for the Spartans. Careless play hampers MSU even at the best of times. MSU is averaging 13.1 turnovers a game this season, which is a little better than the 14.6 it averaged during the 1999-2000 season – the year the Spartans won their last national championship under the direction of point guard Mateen Cleaves.

Teams have found great success in pressing MSU late in games. That is why the Spartans have trouble closing out games. It’s time for Izzo to figure out why turnovers are a constant problem with his team.

More disrespect to Isiah Thomas

We have yet another stalled project in District Detroit. It was leaked three years ago that the Pistons would erect a statue of Hall of Fame guard Isiah Thomas. There are no signs of that happening. It is time because Thomas is one of the greatest athletes in Detroit history and helped bring two NBA titles to Detroit.

Matthew Stafford still showing love to Detroit

Detroit should not be offended by the Matthew Stafford/ AT@T commercial where he talks about trading in an old phone that he loved after 12 years for a newer model that is better fitted for him today. Stafford does not troll Detroit in the commercial. Rather, he is saying it did not work out here, which is true. He still loves Detroit, but Los Angeles, where he won his first Super Bowl, is better suited for him today.

Follow Foster on Twitter at TerryFosterDet.