Yet two yards ended up being a bit too much

What seems to be the problem Why can't the Generals string together wins, and more importantly, why can't they regain the competitive spirit that team had in years past.Jamie Schaafsma scored the lone Generals goal in the first period, cutting their deficit to just one goal. The Generals will need more production from number 26 in the future to add any type of potency to the line-up.The Dayton Gem offense managed to give Flint goaltender J.F. Labbe fits in the early goings, and Coach Jason Muzzatti was forced to pull him, opting for the highly touted rookie net-minder Rob Nolan (Michigan Tech). Labbe gave up three goals in the first period on just 15 shots faced.John Snowden and Joe VanCulin got the Gems started in the first frame, both lighting the lamp for Dayton in the first 20 minutes. VanCulin's goal came on the power play and Sam Bloom was awarded a penalty shot on which he successfully used J.F. Dayton was able to capitalize on one of their power plays, ending the night 1 for 4.There are some poignant questions being raised by fans, and why shouldn't there be Fans are questioning the coaching and direction that the franchise is taking, and need answers promptly. The Generals have lost five straight games and are falling further behind the pack with every loss. There needs to be some major changes soon if the Generals have designs on the playoffs.I took the time to ask IHL scorer Doug Bailey his thoughts on the turmoil within the organization, he simply stated "That's something that I can't answer", later adding "that's your guys' (the media) job".Flint ended up on the wrong of the ledger as Dayton skated past the Generals 4-1.The Generals will travel to Dayton on Sunday in an attempt to gain ground on the rest of the league and vindicate the four losses that the Gems have handed them in the last few weeks.

Muskegon will visit the Perani Arena on Wednesday, which brings up the question, "Can they win one for the fans". Almost a week removed from one of the greatest regular season games played in recent memory, my attention has turned to the media's treatment of Tom Brady after his Patriots fell short to the Indianapolis Colts, 35-34.Now, if you're sitting back and thinking to yourself that Tom Brady has little to be blamed for, you might very well be right.But that's not the point.I am not trying to argue that Tom Brady had a poor performance in his loss to Indianapolis; I'm simply going to illustrate the treatment Brady receives in comparison to the quarterback who did win Sunday's show-down.No, Peyton Manning wasn't criticized much for helping to complete an eventual 17-point comeback to win the game.Everything's better when you win.But I couldn't help but focus my attention upon Patriots' head coach, Bill Belichick.Now when it comes to Bill Belichick, we are talking about a man whom I have very little respect for.I have plenty of respect for his ability to coach his football team to that end, he might very well be one of the greatest to ever do so.My issue with Belichick is the ways in which he tends to carry himself, the ways that he treats opposing coaches and players when he leaves the field after a loss, and, of course, his willingness to break the rules to gain a competitive advantage.Yet while I could write a book about the "evils of Bill Belichick," I couldn't help but feel as though he was treated unfairly by the media after his decision to go for it on fourth down resulted in a turnover that led to a Colts game-winning touchdown.Kind of hard to feel bad for a guy who once decided to go for it on fourth down while being ahead by more than 40 points against the Washington Redskins back in 2007, but in this case, it wasn't greed that proved to be Belichick's undoing.When the Patriots failed to convert on fourth down, his choices were to either put the football in the hands of Peyton Manning or Tom Brady.The choice was obvious, for Belichick at least.He trusted his Hall of Fame quarterback to be able to gain at least two yards, not a tall order if we're talking about "Mr. Clutch" anyway.Yet Brady's offense failed to pick up the necessary yardage.The rest is history, Peyton Manning connected with Reggie Wayne for a game-winning touchdown which left only 13 seconds left on the clock.Not even Tom Brady could come through that fast.After the game was over, everyone in the media (besides a few loyal Patriots fans who rightfully defended their coach) began to fire shot after shot at Bill Belichick.But let's break this down, shall weYes, he did risk giving away fatal field position to Peyton Manning which we all knew would likely result in a touchdown, I get that.People say that Belichick didn't trust his defense or that he showed them some lack of respect by deciding to keep his offense on the field.Reality check: We're not talking about the 2003 Patriots defense any more.So what would be more likely, a solid (yet injured) Patriots defense stopping Peyton Manning from going about 70-yards down the field or "Mr. Clutch" Tom Brady picking up two yardsIf you can't trust Tom Brady to pick up two yards when he's throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker being covered by two rookies, then I think you have bigger issues than a lack of respect for your defense.Belichick's decision was logical, it just so happened that the Colts' defense stepped up and made a great play.It happens.Bill Belichick is not "stupid" for thinking that Tom Brady could pick up two yards.But we'll never see anyone throw any blame upon Tom Brady's shoulders, will weTom went 29 of 42 for 375 yards, throwing three touchdowns and one interception but when it came down to it, he came up a yard short.Does this make Tom Brady a chokerThink about it, all he has to do is pick up two yards and the Patriots would have likely won the game and been well on their way to securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs.Yet two yards ended up being a bit too much.Tom Brady a choker Of course not!He played an excellent game, but he just so happened to come up a bit short of what his team needed to win.The concept of your quarterback playing a good game of football only to lose anyway is a concept which his rival could certainly relate to.I assure you that if the positions were reversed and it was Peyton Manning's offense who failed to get two yards to win the game while Tom Brady threw a game-winning touchdown pass, we would here about why Peyton Manning is the choker and why Tom Brady is Mr.

Clutch.The bottom line here is that neither Bill Belichick should be blamed for this loss.True, if they made just one more play they would have won but nobody can be perfect in today's NFL.I simply wanted to point out yet again, the clear double-standard that exists between the treatment of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.. We all play arm-chair GM's on our fantasy teams or on our video games. So I thought to myself, why not be one on my blogSo what I decided the I would take three MLB teams, the Yankees, Dodgers and Brewers, and be their GM for a day.Here's what I would do if I were the Yankees GM for a day.The 27 time World Series champions have a few "needs". The Yankees need to add a starting pitcher or two and left fielder (or center fielder and move Melky Cabera to left).With the Yankees all that matters is championships, so money is not an object or an obstacle. First thing I would do is call Toronto and offer a package of prospects for Blue Jay's ace Roy Halladay.

Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos already said he has no issues trading Halladay with in the AL East. He would give the Yankees the best 1-2-3- pitching combination in baseball with C.C. Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Halladay. I would offer a package that would include Phil Hughes, catching prospect Austin Romine and pitching prospects Manuel Banuelos and Zach McAllister. I would consider top prospect catcher Jesus Montero, but my thought is a pitcher with MLB experience (Hughes) and three other top 10 prospects should be enough to land "Doc" Halladay.If the Jays wanted Montero, then I would exclude two of the Yankees top 10 prospects and add a couple "B" prospects.Next I would sign the 21-year-old left-handed pitcher and Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. The 6'4 lefty can hit 100 MPH's on the radar gun with good movement. He also throws a curve, slider, change-up and a splitter. Many scouts compare Chapman's ability to the number one overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft Steven Strasburg.