Leelanau Sports Guy’s World

The Detroit Insider just emailed me…

“TSN is reporting that Chris Osgood is coming back to the Wings. “

My View: If this ends up being the case, I think it will work out. Osgood still has many fans in Detroit and helped he Wings win the Cup in 1997-98. As much as I love Manny Legace, I would feel better going into the season with Osgood as the number one. Osgood has been through good and bad, and seen just about everything in this league. He was 31-25-8 last season and posted a solid 2.24 goals against average. These numbers are very similar to what he posted in the 97-98 championship season as well. Hockeytown should welcome him back and hope he can recapture some of the magic to help the Wings stay among the NHL’s elite teams.

This was just emailed to me…

Inaugural Event August 12-14, 2005

The Native American Cup is a Native operated non-profit organization whose primary goal is to increase educational opportunities to Native Americans. The mission statement is, “To promote leadership and education through teamwork, camaraderie, and healthy competition.” The Native American Cup enhances leadership and educational opportunities for Native American students by awarding annual scholarships funded through golf tournaments, the sale of logo items, and other miscellaneous fundraisers. The signature golf tournament, the Native American Cup, will be held annually the second weekend in August.

More info:

Native American Cup at www.nativeamericancup.org

Notah Begay III at www.notah.com

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa: www.grandtraverseresort.com

This was just emailed to me…

Inaugural Event August 12-14, 2005

The Native American Cup is a Native operated non-profit organization whose primary goal is to increase educational opportunities to Native Americans. The mission statement is, “To promote leadership and education through teamwork, camaraderie, and healthy competition.” The Native American Cup enhances leadership and educational opportunities for Native American students by awarding annual scholarships funded through golf tournaments, the sale of logo items, and other miscellaneous fundraisers. The signature golf tournament, the Native American Cup, will be held annually the second weekend in August.

More info:

Native American Cup at www.nativeamericancup.org

Notah Begay III at www.notah.com

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa: www.grandtraverseresort.com

Leland senior plays throughout the United States
Record Eagle article by Mark Urban

Traverse City - A lot of high school athletes have hectic summers, playing in various camps.

Glass’ summer of activity began with team and individual camp in Leland June 26-29.

Read the entire article.

My View: Look for big things from Glass and the Lady Comets in both hoops and volleyball. This is her last chance to win a state title and she will be gunning for it!

Glen Lake grad earns trip to Turkey for University Games
Record Eagle article by Jeff Peek

Traverse City - It’s official.

“Just to be one of the 16 finalists is a great honor, so I’m pretty excited to make the team,” Shimek said Tuesday evening from the team’s camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. “It’s been a great experience so far. I’m just taking it day by day and having fun.”

Read the entire article.

My View: Next year at this time, we will be watching her play in the WNBA!

The Detroit Tigers on announced that they have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with second baseman Placido Polanco. The contract is good through the 2009 season. Polanco is hitting .358 with 22 runs scored, two home runs and 17 RBIs since his trade from the Phillies.

My View: AWESOME! This shows once again that players are starting to believe in the Tigers. Polanco could have played the free agent market, but decided he liked it in Detroit. That’s always good to hear. He is an offensive machine that can play multiple positions in the field. This was a great job by Dave Dombrowski to get a top-flight player!

Here’s the latest information on the Wings Training Camp in Traverse City.

Wings to return - Eighth TC camp scheduled for Sept. 13-17 - Record Eagle article by Mark Urban

He breaks down the schedules for both the Wings and Prospects Camp. At the end of the article he posted the ticket information, which is as follows:

The first ticket sale for the Red Wings Training Camp and the Prospects Tournament will be Saturday, Aug. 13 at Centre ICE from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can also watch the Centre ICE website for information at www.centreice.org.

University Games squad opens play Aug. 10 in Turkey
Lansing State Journal article by Ricardo Cooney

Liz Shimek needed a bit of a refresher course in geography on Monday morning in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Shimek, the Spartans leading scorer (14.8) and rebounder (9.1) last season for a Spartan team that earned a spot on the 12-member team that will compete from Aug. 10-19 in Izmir, Turkey at the World University Games.

Read the entire article.

My View: Congrats to Liz! This will be quite an honor heading into her senior season. The Lady Spartans should be a very good team next season and should continue right where they left off.

Here’s the latest information on the Wings Training Camp in Traverse City.

Wings to return - Eighth TC camp scheduled for Sept. 13-17 - Record Eagle article by Mark Urban

He breaks down the schedules for both the Wings and Prospects Camp. At the end of the article he posted the ticket information, which is as follows:

The first ticket sale for the Red Wings Training Camp and the Prospects Tournament will be Saturday, Aug. 13 at Centre ICE from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can also watch the Centre ICE website for information at www.centreice.org.

The media has picked their choices for the Big Ten title this upcoming season. There top three are Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa. Read about it in the Freep.

Here’s my picks and my short responses why…

1. Purdue - No Michigan or Ohio State on the schedule means the two biggest games are Iowa at home and at Wisconsin.

2. Ohio State - Their first and last Big Ten games are tough, but everything in between should be gravy for the Buckeyes.

3. Michigan - Michigan’s defense will be the key to the title, the offense will score plenty of points, they have to be able to contain the mobile quarterbacks.

4. Iowa - Also feature a young defense, but player of the year candidate quarterback Drew Tate will lead an explosive offense.

5. Wisconsin - They are my sleeper pick, with the announcment this is Alvarez’s last season as coach, the Badgers will want to send him out a winner.

6. Michigan State - It all comes down to Drew Stanton and his health.

7. Penn State - They have shown signs of turning their fortunes around the last couple of seasons, this year they will finally finish above .500 again.

8. Illinois - I think Ron Zook deserved better at Florida and he will turn around the Illini.

9. Indiana - Young players will need to step up if the Hoosiers are to climb out of the cellar.

10. Minnesota - A tough conference schedule, good offense and bad defense, equals 10th in the Big Ten.

11. Northwestern - Wildcats schedule is brutal, look at this six game stretch: Home vs. Wisconsin, at Purdue, at Michigan State, Home vs. Michigan, Home vs. Iowa, and at Ohio State.

Glen Lake grad vies for spot in World University Games
Record Eagle article by Mark Urban

Traverse City - Former Glen Lake standout Liz Shimek has already shown her basketball team is one of the best in the country.

Tonight she’ll find out if she made the 12-member squad that will travel to Izmir, Turkey, for the Games on Aug. 10-19.

Read the entire article.

My View: Shimek continues to amaze nationally, no surprise to Leelanau County fans, and is a finalist for the World University Games women’s team. She is continuing her amazing athletic career and will go down as one of the best (if not the best) Leelanau County athlete ever!

I admit that I am a dreamer. I dream of the day the Lions win the Super Bowl and the Spartans content for a national title in football. I also dream of the Tigers making the playoffs. In my opinion that dream is dead. A 1-5 road trip will do that to your dreams. Trading away your closer will also do that.

Although I do like Roman Colon, so the trade wasn’t all bad, but it weakens an already weakened bullpen even more. Fernando Rodney or Franklyn German will move into the closer spot now, so we will get a chance to see how far they have come.

The starting pitching is now struggling as the offense starts to pick it up. I think you can still look at next year as a chance to turn the corner, but now I think the TIgers need to do anything they can to finish at least .500. This will earn some fan’s trust and show that we are continuing to head in the right direction.