Leelanau Sports Guy’s World at sportspig.com

Here’s a list of things to do since you can’t watch the Wings.

1. Go see a high school or college hockey game. Players playing for the sheer joy of the game (and some scholarships).

2. Check out the Lions. They are undefeated and have a bright future ahead of them.

3. Rent Miracle & Slapshot. Enjoy a night watching some great hockey!

4. The Pistons are preparing to defend their title.

5. Watch your 2002, 1998 & 1997 Stanley Cup Videos.

Just in case you are still going nuts with no NHL (possibly for a long time) there’s lot of other great stuff going with Detroit sports teams.

I have looked at this site before, but am now exchanging links with www.detroitsports.blogspot.com. Some very good info and lots of links! Go check it out!

A nice preview of the upcoming game between MSU and Indiana. I don’t like the prediction, but the article is right on.
Read the Preview from theIndyChannel.com.

Here’s an article about the NHL Lockout from the perspective of Carolina Hurricanes (and Detroit businessman) Peter Karmanos.
Read the Free Press article.

Another NHL Lockout article, this time from former Wings coach Scotty Bowman.
Read the Article from Canada.com.

Of course I am very busy and I have to read all of my comments (sarcasm). I actually did get a couple and one I wanted to stress. This blog is not about being popular or anything. I just post stuff that I see as interesting, or that I like. I am not trying to be popular, so am not focusing on the design. I have had this site with various formats over the last 5 years. I get some traffic and try to post stuff so that if people stumble across it, might prove useful or entertaining.

If I come across more time, I might try to do more, but that’s about it for now.

Detroit Lions: 2-0! A great start. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Roy Williams is well on his way to Rookie of the Year. I am still waiting for Kevin Jones to explode and I think it’s going to come soon. A very tough matchup against the Eagles this week, but it’s at home, so they have a shot. I think the honeymoon is over, but they will keep it close.

Detroit Tigers: Some up and down performances as we wind down the season. The foundation is in place for a good future. They should contend for the division next season.

Detroit Shock: Sneak into the playoffs on the last day. The injury to Cash will prevent them from advancing, but getting into the playoffs showed some heart.

Detroit Pistons: Almost time to raise the banner.

Detroit Red Wings: Who?

Michigan Wolverines: A tight one against the Aztecs. Has the running game been found?

Michigan State Spartans: If Stanton is healthy this team can compete. Reaves is going to be good, just not yet.

From the Detroit Free Press.

ESPN’s “College GameDay” — the network’s popular college football show — is coming to East Lansing for Saturday’s game. That means analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Chris Fowler had better practice ducking.

ESPN’s college football crew members vowed after the Michigan-Michigan State game in 1997 that they wouldn’t return to East Lansing because beer bottles and other objects were thrown at them while they were on the air. They returned in 1999 for the annual rivalry game, but they broadcast from inside Spartan Stadium.

This time, the crew trusts fans will behave, and the three will broadcast from outside the stadium. The exact location hasn’t been disclosed.

This is very cool. Hopefully MSU can pick up their game a bit and knock off the Irish. Freshmen Stephen Reaves has been named the starter, and looks like he could be a good one. He has a strong arm and made a couple of big-time throws on Saturday versus CMU. Now if they can just find that pass rush, things might be headed in the right direction for the Spartans.

A bittersweet victory to say the least. The Lions were able to stop their record holding 24 game road losing streak by defeating the Bears 20-16. In the process they lost WR Charles Rogers for the year (broken collarbone) and CB Dre Bly for a couple of games (knee). Joey Harrington looked good, especially on the last drive. Kevin Jones didn’t have spectacular stats, but you can see the explosiveness. He is going to be very solid.

This was a game they easily would have lost the last couple of years, but Mooch is beginning to bring in the personal to fit his system. Dick Jauron did a solid job with the defense.

View a Game Recap from Lionbacker.com!

Draft Sharks (www.draftsharks.com has gathered Super Bowl picks from NFL analysts across the country this week. Here’s what the experts say.

John Clayton (ESPN) – Kansas City over Philadelphia
Len Pasquarelli (ESPN) – New England over Philadelphia
Joe Theismann (ESPN) – New England over Seattle
Tom Jackson (ESPN) – Kansas City over Carolina
Merril Hoge (ESPN) – Baltimore over Seattle
Sean Salisbury (ESPN) – New England over Seattle
Randy Mueller (ESPN) – Kansas City over Green Bay
Mike Golic (ESPN) – Philadelphia over Indianapolis
Mark Schlereth (ESPN) – Kansas City over Philadelphia
Eric Allen (ESPN) – New England over Philadelphia
Sal Paolantonio (ESPN) – Kansas City over Philadelphia
Todd McShay (Scouts Inc.) – Philadelphia over Baltimore
Russell Baxter (PFW) – New England over Seattle
Dan Pompei (TSN) – New England over Philadelphia
Gary Horton (TSN) – Kansas City over Washington
Vinnie Iyer (TSN) – Philadelphia over Jacksonville
Carl Moritz (TSN) – Kansas City over Philadelphia
Arnie Spanier (TSN) – Kansas City over Minnesota
Ron Borges (MSNBC) – Seattle over Indianapolis
Vic Carucci (NFL.com) – New England over Philadelphia
Boomer Esiason (NFL.com) – Indianapolis over Carolina
Gil Brandt (NFL.com) – Seattle over Indianapolis
Pete Prisco (CBS) – Indianapolis over Minnesota
Clark Judge (CBS) – Seattle over Kansas City
Don Banks (SI) – Tennessee over Seattle
Peter King (SI) – Denver over Seattle
Lenny Pappano (Draft Sharks) – Philadelphia over Cincinnati
Marty McDonald (Draft Sharks) – Kansas City over Philadelphia
John Miller (Draft Sharks) – Seattle over New England

Here’s my pick: Philadelphia over Indianapolis

A nice Mitch Albom article below. If you are a Lions fan you will be thinking I have done all of these things he says.
www.freep.com/sports/lions/mitch10e_20040910.htm

On a side note, the Stanley Cup will be at Centre ICE Arena at the Prospects Camp this weekend.

The Tigers got rocked by the Royals 26-5 in game 1, but bounce back behind 8 strong innings from Jeremy Bonderman to win 8-0. This day was typical of our Tigers. They still can look impressive one game and horrible in the next. Until they find that consistency they won’t be a .500 team.

An exciting weekend in sports:
Lions at Bears
Michigan at Notre Dame
CMU at MSU

Have fun!

Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall and Jiri Hudler are two of many good young hockey players that will be in Traverse City this weekend at the 6th annual prospects camp. Also on the Wings roster are goalie Drew MacIntyre, defenseman Derek Meech, and forwards Todd Jackson and Eric Himelfarb, that the Wings will be watching closely.

The 2004 Prospect Tournament will be held September 10-14 and include young players from the Wings, St. Louis Blues, and defending Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning. The daily action includes morning and early afternoon practice sessions, which are free to the public, and a round-robin tournament of five games. Game tickets are $5 each, or $20 for all five games, and can be purchased at Centre ICE.

This is a great chance for Northern Michigan hockey fans to see some great players up close and at a very inexpensive price.

For ticket info and more information visit www.centreice.org.

Sweet, they put it online after one day of selling print copies!

www.freep.com/sports/footballguide2004.htm

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The mother of Detroit Tigers pitcher Ugueth Urbina was kidnapped by four unidentified men disguised as police officers, police said Thursday.

The men took Maura Villareal from a house owned by Urbina in suburban Caracas on Wednesday, said Joel Rengifo, director of the country’s anti-kidnapping police force. The men have not contacted family members, he said.

The Tigers said Urbina had left the club to go to Venezuela, and the team is working with major league baseball and its Venezuelan contacts to assist the pitcher.

My prayers go out to Ugueth and his family.

The 2004 Detroit Free Press Football Guide is available today in print copies of the Free Press.

Here’s the online link advertising bit and giving a little hint to what’s inside, but that’s about it.

I’m not happy it’s not online, but will still walk down and pick one up.