This is the debut of a new weekday feature, the High Five.

The main idea is to link to that day’s five top stories relating to the Mitten’s teams. I’m defining “top stories” broadly: it could be an insightful column, a scoop about an injury, or an interview with a new starter; it could be video, audio or text; and it could come from national media, traditional media in Michigan or another blogger.

If you come across something you think I should include, email me at steve@sportsmittenblog.com or use the contact form.

The other piece of High Five is a schedule of the day’s games. On Fridays (like today) I’ll include the full weekend schedule.

Without further ado, Today’s High Five:

• The Godfather of Michigan Sports Bloggers, Billfer at Detroit Tigers Weblog, has raised the technological bar today with a live video segment on the Tigers’ offseason. It’s archived here.
• Michael Curry talks with Stoney and Wojo at WDFN about the Thanksgiving practice and calling out Tayshaun Prince.
• The Tigers are pursuing Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, according to the Free Press. I know Detroit needs a catcher, but it feels like the Tigers are just beginning to stock the system with pitching prospects again (Rick Porcello, Cody Satterwhite, Ryan Perry, Casey Crosby) and Texas would probably want an elite guy.
• Nuggets coach George Karl thinks Joe Dumars wouldn’t have traded Chauncey Billups to any team except Billups’ hometown Nuggets, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
• Two national perspectives on the MSU-UNC disaster. ESPN’s Andy Katz is writing off the Spartans, but Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman isn’t giving up on MSU’s Final Four chances just yet.

Weekend schedule:

Friday, Dec. 5

• NBA: Philadelphia at Detroit, 8pm

Saturday, Dec. 6

• College basketball: Duke at Michigan, 3:30pm
• NHL: Chicago at Detroit, 7pm

Sunday, Dec. 7

• NBA: Detroit at New York, Noon
• NFL: Minnesota at Detroit, 1pm
• College basketball: Bradley at Michigan State, 4pm