Opinions on five current Detroit & national sports topics from yours truly…

1. Tigers - Clinging to a one game lead in the Central and alot of Tiger fans are feeling very nervous. Don’t be. The Tigers have the easiest schedule of the three remaining contenders and will start it off with a sweep of the Orioles. How do I know this? Because they are going to score some runs tonight!

The Tigers, though, may have a good opportunity to break out against Baltimore’s Hayden Penn (0-2, 36.82).

The 21-year-old right-hander lasted only three innings and was pounded for seven runs and nine hits, including three homers, in a 9-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday. Penn actually reduced his ERA from 108.00.

2. Lions - I listened to the first game off and on Sunday and came away like everyone else, impressed with the defense, and puzzled by the offense. Of course sure enough on the final game-winning Seahawk drive our “D” goes soft and gives up a couple of big plays in a row to give up the easy field goal. I can’t really blame them though, they single-handedly kept the Lions in the game. I think Kitna is a “huge” improvement over Joey and he will be able to direct the Lions to some wins. Sorry Roy, just not this week.

3. Red Wings - The Wings are in TC, and the town is buzzing with excitement. I was thinking about trying to score some tickets, for the games next week. I did go to training camp a few years ago and really enjoyed it. You get to be real close to the action and interact with the players in a casual atmosphere. If you are a big Wings fan, I would definitely check it out one of these years, there are some tickets still available this year as well!

4. Wolverines Football - The biggest game of the weekend as the Wolverines travel down to Notre Dame. I might have to just breakdown and call up the biggest Wolverine fan I know (the father-in-law) and see if I can come watch the game on his new HD TV. I have this funny feeling Michigan is going to pull off the upset, behind the running of Michael Hart. Before the season started I thought Michigan might be able to contend for the title, and I still see a battle of unbeatens when they meet Ohio State at the end!

5. Spartans Football - Not really sure what to expect out of Sparty. MSU has looked very good one moment and very bad the next. That won’t cut it against a quality opponent. If MSU can pull this one out, then I look for Notre Dame to be 2-2 after next weekend!

If you want to let the me know what you think, you can always send me an email at leelanausportsguy@sportspig.com or post a comment!

An interesting movie title? Nope, just the interesting world of Detroit and Michigan Sports!

Rogers pitches strong in Tigers win

For everyone that said Kenny Rogers was done, and is a bad second half pitcher, he sure is coming on strong.

Rogers (13-6) gave up four hits and walked only one over seven innings, his third straight strong outing.

That sounds like a pitcher I would want to have down the stretch run as my team was battling for a division title. Lucky for us, the Tigers have him.

Marcus Thames led the offense with a homerun and a triple, and Fernando Rodney pitched two scoreless innnings of relief as the Tigers took game 2 of a crucial 4-game series with the White Sox. The division lead is back up to 7 1/2 and the Tigers are looking like their current funk could be finished!

Read Tigers’ Rogers shuts down White Sox at Yahoo! Sports

Lidstrom to follow Yzerman as Wings Captain
It’s going to take a while to get used to seeing someone else with a “C” permanently on their Wings jersey, but it’s a no-brainer that the player should be Niklas Lidstrom.

This pretty much sums up why he’s the right choice…

Lidstrom, 36, joined the team for the 1991-92 season. He is the longest-serving member of the squad and arguably the Wing’s best player. In June he won his fourth straight Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman.

Read Just call him Captain Lidstrom in the Freep

The Fall of Smoker
Detroit News writer Lynn Henning has another book coming out called Spartan Seasons II that follows some of the ups and downs of MSU sports. The following article is an excerpt from his book about Jeff Smoker and the 2002 MSU Football team that showed lots of potential, but ultimately fell flat.

Here’s a description of the book…

All the key figures live and breathe, spar and parry in these pages. The great athletes and those who strived greatly. Coaches Nick Saban and George Perles. Bobby Williams and John L. Smith. Jud Heathcote and Tom Izzo. The MSU presidents, athletic directors, and University trustees who influenced the ups and downs of MSU sports. Henning sought them out for their versions of who said what and who took the actions that made for wins or losses on the playing field and put MSU again and again into the headlines.

Read Inside story on turmoil of an MSU star in the Detroit News
Order the Books

I am very excited for college football to start. I am even more excited about senior quarterback Drew Stanton and what he can do in the high-octane Michigan State offense.

Now he’s going to try to not do too much and instead rely on teammates more to make big plays in crucial situations. I sure hope that’s the case and if it is watch out Big Ten!

Read MSU’s Stanton takes a new stance in the Freep

Also coming soon will be my Big Ten Football preview…

It’s too early for my predictions (which are usually wrong anyway), but some of the top preview magazines are out and have their preseason Big Ten and national title picks. Check out the article below for a quick summary from the Detroit News and check back in August for my picks!

According to the experts, Michigan will most likely finish 2nd in the Big Ten (to Ohio State) and Michigan State anywhere from 4th to 8th.

Read Outlook is not rosy for U-M or MSU at the Detroit News

Seriously, that was the first and only word I said when I saw this…

Read Brown staying in draft, leaving Michigan State at Yahoo! Sports

I honestly thought Shannon Brown was coming back.

At least the Spartans have the #18 recruiting class according to Rivals.com and will probably need all three to have an immediate impact after the losses of Brown, Maurice Ager and Paul Davis.

#18 Michigan State Spartans
Raymar Morgan SF 6-7, 210
Tom Herzog C 6-11, 215
Isaiah Dahlman SF 6-6, 175
Think quality and not quantity when it comes to the Spartans’ incoming freshmen. The three-man group is led by Raymar Morgan, the nation’s No. 11-ranked small forward and center Tom Herzog, one of the nation’s top shot blockers. Three-star small forward Isaiah Dahlman is a polished prospect who has the ability to earn minutes right away as well.

You can read the entire article here.

Liz Shimek has had amazing high school and college careers and now looks to add a pro basketball career to her resume. The 2006 WNBA Draft is set for 1 PM today and Shimek is expected to go in the late first round. Shimek scored 9 points and grabbed 6 boards in 20 minutes of action at the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp on Monday.

Follow the 2006 WNBA Draft at WNBA.com
Read Liz Shimek’s Draft Profile at WNBA.com
Read Shimek awaits draft call in the Record Eagle

Shimek also was named an honorable mention All-American for the second straight year.

Read Liz Shimek Earns Honorable Mention All-America Honors at MSUSpartans.com

I don’t like Duke and I am betting Leelanau County fans don’t either, after the Lady Blue Devils eliminated Liz Shimek and the Michigan State Spartans 86-61 in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Shimek had a rough day only taking 5 shots and scoring 5 points in her college finale. Her and Classmate Lindsay Bowen helped put MSU women’s basketball on the map and will be missed.

Shimek finished her career as MSU’s career leader in points, rebounds and field goals. Congrats to Liz on a great career, and here’s hoping it continues in the WNBA!

Read Shimek-Bowen era has come to an end in the Detroit News
Read (1) Duke 86, (4) Michigan St. 61 at Yahoo! Sports

MSU’s two senior stars Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen share some of their thoughts on friendship, Michigan State and the NCAA Tourney. They are getting ready to lead the #4 seeded Spartans into battle with Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Shimek is MSU’s all-time leading scorer and Bowen is second. Something I thought was great is they have both started every game (128) since they have been at East Lansing.

Read MSU’S HIGH-SCORING SENIORS: They changed the game in the Freep

On paper it looks tough, but the Michigan State women did end up in a good bracket with a chance to advance. The Spartans earned a #4 seed and a first round matchup with Horizon League champ Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A second round matchup with Kentucky looms.

If the Spartans advance to the Sweet 16, they would most likely face #1 Duke, and if they go to the Elite 8, probably UConn. A daunting road to say the least, but not impossible.

Michigan State played a tough schedule this year to prepare them for the tournament. They are healthy and should be ready to go. I know I will be watching to see how seniors Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen lead the Spartans and fight to get back to the Final Four!

View the 2006 NCAAW Bridgeport Regional Bracket at Yahoo! Sports
Read Dance card set in the Freep
Read Spartan women draw No. 4 seed in the Lansing State Journal

Michigan State was given a #6 seed in this year’s NCAA Tourney. I like it. Sure it could have been higher, but it’s a good spot to be, plus they are in the week half of the bracket.

I watched the win over Illinois and that’s the Spartan team that is capable of playing with anyone. They ran out of gas against Iowa, but will have a few days to recover and should be able to make a nice run in the tourney.

They should get by George Mason easily, or at least as easily as MSU gets by someone. 65-59 seems about right. That would set up a 2nd round matchup versus the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Heels are young and dangerous, but I think MSU is the perfect type of team to beat them. Well coached and led by veterans, the Spartans should advance. No teams in the other part of the bracket are scary. Tennessee is the #2 seed and in my opinion, the weakest of the 2’s. MSU will have no problems getting to the Elite 8. But that’s where the fun stops as a game against #1 seed UConn awaits.

Another run to the Elite 8 would let the seniors leave on a good note and will give Shannon Brown just enough March Madness taste that he wants to do it again next season. At least I hope so!

Liz Shimek did all she could, but it wasn’t quite enough as Michigan State lost in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals to Ohio State 68-64. Shimek scored 23 points on 10-17 shooting, but the rest of the team struggled. In the two Big Ten Tournament games Shimek averaged 27 points including a career-high 31 in a win over Iowa. The Spartans finished the regular season 22-9 and await the NCAA Tournament selection show to see where they are seeded for March Madness.

Read Shimek carrying load on offense in the Detroit News

Former Glen Lake Laker Liz Shimek keeps adding accolades to her hoops resume. Her latest is being named first-team All-Big Ten. She is the first player in MSU history to score over 1,500 points and grab more than 1,000 rebounds.

Read MSU women rake in Big Ten honors in the Lansing State Journal
Read Shimek is first team All-Big Ten in the Record Eagle

Sports Dude, I just can’t win!

Read Horton, Michigan upset No. 11 MSU 72-67 at Yahoo! Sports

Liz Shimek keeps setting records and recently became the first Spartan woman to reach the 1,000 mark in both points and rebounds.

Read Making her mark at the Record Eagle

Maurice Ager and Paul Davis stepped up. They knew they had to and both delivered. Ager scored 28 points and Davis had 23 points and pulled down 10 boards as MSU defeated No. 9 Indiana 87-73 to earn the Spartans their first Big Ten win of the season. Next up for the Spartans is a road trip to No. 19 Ohio State.

Read Michigan State’s big two get first Big Ten win at CNNSI.com