Leelanau Sports Guy’s World at sportspig.com

By AJ Petronzi
In Play Magazine

The Detroit Red Wings gave up a two goal lead, but still managed a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabers in overtime.

Pavel Datsyuk scored only two minutes into the game tonight and Patrick Eaves followed suit less than two minutes later. Before the halfway point of the first period, Buffalo’s Jochen Hecht scored to make it a one goal game. In the second, Hecht tied the game. Nothing changed until 31 seconds into overtime when Brian Rafalski scored the game winner on the powerplay.

Detroit’s powerplay has goals in nine consecutive games, which ties them for the season best with Washington, and Detroit’s penalty kill hasn’t allowed a goal in five games, allowing only five goals in the last 46 times the Wings have been shorthanded. Detroit seems to be getting everything back in line after a season long struggle with injuries. Tonight’s win leaves Detroit in eighth in the conference behind Calgary, who has a tough game against Vancouver tomorrow before meeting the Wings on Monday.

In Play! Man of the Game: Brian Rafalski. Rafalski lead all players in minutes played, with just short of 26, and netted the game winning goal. He also had 6 attempted shots, four of which were on net.

By AJ Petronzi
In Play Magazine

The Detroit Red Wings spent their entire first shift tonight in the Minnesota Wild’s zone, something that never really changed in this crushing 5-1 victory in Detroit.

It didn’t take long for Johan Franzen to crack tonight’s score sheet open, scoring a goal less than two and a half minutes into the game. Later in the first period, Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg scored goals, both less than a minute apart. Minnesota then scored with only seconds left. In the second, Drew Miller netted his first career short-handed goal, followed in the third by Franzen’s second goal of the night.

Detroit had a lot of questions to answer after Tuesday, no one facing more than Zetterberg who played possibly the worst game of his career. The Wings came back and answered those questions tonight. Other than the top line, the bottom three lines got shuffled and that seemed to have solved quite a few problems.

Photo by Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine

In Play! Man of the Game: Henrik Zetterberg. Zetterberg played an excellent game, seeing time tonight on all four lines and scoring a goal and two assists.

1941 The Dodgers announce their players will begin to wear helmets when batting. The use of the safety headgear will not become mandatory in the National League until 1954 and the AL will follow suit four years later.

1951 J.Edgar Hoover , longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, declines the post of baseball commissioner. President Calvin Coolidge appointed him to 1924 and the nation’s top cop remained in the FBI until his death in 1972.

1963 In an exhibition game against the White Sox, rookie Pete Rose goes 2-for-2 in his first appearance as a Red .

1992 The Pirates trade pitcher Neal Heaton (3-3, 4.33) to the Royals for outfielder Kirk Gibson (.236, 16 HR, 18 SB).

1993 Sherry Davis becomes the first woman major league public address announcer when she is hired by the Giants to work at Candlestick Park.

1995 Citing the labor unrest as the reason, former Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan announces he is leaving baseball to return the NBA.

2004 When asked by Senator John McCain to renegotiate the major league baseball’s contract in regard to the use of controlled substances, Donald Fehr refuses to comply. Although the union boss condemns the use of steroids, he believes the players oppose random drug testing as a violation of privacy, an argument countered by the Arizona republican as unacceptable and promised congressional action if the status quo.

2005 Singling off Brad Thompson in a Cardinal intersquad game, former pitching prospect Rick Ankiel goes 1-for-2 in his debut as a position player. Historic wildness and injuries ended the 25-year old once very promising career on the mound.

2006 Jhonny Peralta (.292, 24 ,78) agrees to a $13 million, five-year deal which includes a club option for 2011. In his first full season, the Indians shortstop established himself as one of the top offensive players for his position.

2006 Shairon Martis throws the first-ever no-hitter in WBC history as the Netherlands rout Panama, 10-0. The 19-year-old Dutch hurler threw exactly 65 pitches, which is the Classic’s pitch limit, to accomplish the historic deed in a game which was called after seven innings because of the mercy rule; a 10 run lead after seven innings.

2009 At Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, the Netherlands WBC team, made up of mostly unknown players, upsets a heavily-favored the Dominican Republic club for the second time in four days to advanced to the next round of the World Baseball Classic. The Dominicans, considered to be an odds-on favorite, with a roster filled with major league All-Stars including David Ortiz (Red Sox), Hanley Ramirez (Marlins), and Miguel Tejada (Astros), are eliminated in the first round of the 16-team tournament.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Rodney Stuckey underwent a completely negative cardiac evaluation under the direction of University of Michigan’s (Fred Morady, M.D.), Cleveland Clinic’s (Thomas Dresing, M.D.) and the Detroit Medical Center’s (Luis Alfonso, M.D.).

The combined opinion is that Rodney may return to a progressive exercise program.

March 9

1897- The Cleveland Spiders sign Penobscot Indian Louis Sockalexis. Although the former Holy Cross star plays only three seasons due to alcoholism, the fans admire his outstanding skills and refer to team as the ‘Indians’- in 1915 the name will become official.

1943-The Dodgers trade first baseman Babe Dahlgren to the Phillies for outfielder Lloyd Waner and infielder Al Glossop.

1961- The Yankees announce the team will be leaving its spring training home in St. Petersburg to move to Fort Lauderdale by 1963. The Yankee owners also encourage new yet unnamed National League New York franchise to play its home games at the Polo Grounds and not to consider Yankee Stadium.

1979 -Fearing legal consequences, Bowie Kuhn gives access to female reporters to enter major league locker rooms. The commissioner’s unpopular ruling puts the players in an awkward position in their once all-male domain.

1994- Phillies first baseman/outfielder John Kruk is diagnosed with testicular cancer. After surgery, doctors expect a full recovery. 1961 The Yankees announce the team will be leaving its spring training home in St. Petersburg to move to Fort Lauderdale by 1963. The Yankee owners also encourage new yet unnamed National League New York franchise to play its home games at the Polo Grounds and not to consider Yankee Stadium.

1995- With a vote of 28-0, the major league owners admit two new teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The teams will be assigned leagues in January of 1997.

2005- Current and former big leaguers players as well as baseball executives are issued subpoenas to appear on March 17 by the House Committee on Government Reform. The eleven ‘invitees’ to the congressional hearing on steroid use include Sandy Alderson, Jose Canseco, Donald Fehr, Jason Giambi, Rob Manfred, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa and Frank Thomas and Kevin Towers.

2006- At Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan a “Down with Fidel,” sign, seen by millions of television viewers — including those watching the WBC contest in Cuba, creates an international incident. A Cuban official attending the game confront the male sign-holder, but Puerto Rican police quickly intercede take Angel Iglesias to a nearby police station where the vice president of Cuba’s National Institute of Sports is reminded that Puerto Ricans enjoy the right to freedom of speech.

2009 -Alex Rodriguez undergoes an 80-minute arthroscopic surgical procedure to repair torn cartilage in his right hip. The Yankees third baseman, who will need a more extensive operation in the offseason, expects to return to the lineup in May.

By AJ Petronzi
In Play Magazine

In a goal scoring affair, the Detroit Red Wings have defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in Chicago.

Chicago broke out to an early lead with goals from Duncan Keith and Andrew Ladd. Then, after a Chicago goal was called back, the Red Wings scored five goals from Brian Rafalski, Nicklas Lidstrom, Jason Williams, Valtteri Filppula, and Pavel Datsyuk. Chicago came storming back with a pair of goals from Ladd to give him a hat-trick, but they couldn’t catch the Wings.
This game was all Detroit after the goal by Dustin Byfuglien was called back because of incidental contact (A bad call that was almost identical to the goal called back on Detroit on Monday against Colorado). Detroit played a great game in the last 40 minutes, but the first 20 were terrible. Todd Bertuzzi left the game with a lower body injury in the second after an odd, but clean, check from Ben Eager.

In Play! Man of the Game: Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, although leaving with an injury, was the only Red Wing who played well in the first. He was also very active offensively, setting up three goals although he only was credited with two assists.

March 7

1903-The Giants trade last season’s part-time manager Heinie Smith to Detroit for second baseman Kid Gleason. Gleason is immediately sent to the Phillies.

1923-Commissioner Landis turns down the American Legion requests to discontinue major league morning games on Memorial Day.

1924-At the age of 48, Reds’ manager Pat Moran dies of Bright’s disease at spring training.

1955-Commissioner Ford Frick announces he favors the legalization of the spitter.

1956- Still seeking workman’s compensation coverage, the players accept the owners’ position on the World Series television deal and the proposed minimum salary structure.

1995- The Veterans Committee selects former players Richie Ashburn‚ Vic Willis‚ and Leon Day, and past president of the National League, William Hulbert, for induction to the Hall of Fame. Day, a Negro League right hander, who played in Baltimore with the Black Sox and the Elite Giants and with the Brooklyn and Newark Eagles, will be dead of a heart attack in less than a week after hearing the good news.

2001- Bud Selig upholds the January 14 Blue Jay and White Sox trade which sent Toronto pitchers David Wells and Matt DeWitt to the White Sox in exchange for pitchers Mike Sirotka, Kevin Beirne and Mike Williams and outfielder Brian Simmons. Although, upon further medical examinations, Mike Sirotka was determined to be ‘damaged goods’ prior to the deal, the commissioner used a ‘buyers beware’ policy stating the individual club must take responsibility for the information originally used in making the transaction.

2006- In their World Baseball Classic debut, Team USA blanks Mexico, 2-0. Home runs by Derrek Lee and Chipper Jones along with Jake Peavy and bevy of relievers combining to throw a four-hitter proves to be the difference as the United States defeat their neighbors from south of the border.

2008- With a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning off reliever Colter Bean, Danny Sandoval spoils the Braves bid for a spring training combined no-hitter. Atlanta uses seven hurlers beating the Indians at Winter Haven 4-1.

2008- The Cape Cod Times reports MLB has threaten to withhold their annual grant from from Cape League if the six teams in the 10-team circuit sharing nicknames with big league, such as the Chatham Athletics, do not purchase all future uniforms and souvenir merchandise from licensed vendors, a more expensive option. The deadline has been extended until March 21, to give league officials more time to resolve the issue.

by Steve St-Pierre

Pistons point guard Rodney Stuckey collapsed on the team’s bench at the 2:30 mark of the third quarter of Detroit’s loss last night in Cleveland to the Cavaliers. He was carried out on a stretcher with an oxygen mask and transported to Cleveland Clinic.

Tests came back negative, and the team says Stuckey should return to Detroit today. The 23-year-old guard experienced similar dizziness last season and wound up missing two games. He’s started every game for the Pistons this season, but should he have to miss time, veterans Will Bynum, Ben Gordon and Chucky Atkins would likely split the minutes at point guard.

It was an emotional scene following the game when both teams huddled and prayed for Stuckey and his family. Members of both teams admitted to be shaken by the incident and remained adamant that his health was more important than the game itself.

By Justin Cousineau
In Play Magazine

Spring training is underway and its time for everyone to breakdown the players. Everyone would like to think they know what’s best for their favorite teams lineup but when reality hits it’s what the manager says goes.

When you look at a player like Alfonso Soriano you think lead off hitter for the Chicago Cubs. This may have been the case in the past but manager Lou Pinella had change on his mind while is lead off hitter was batting a rough .241 avg last season.

Last season Pinella put Soriano in the sixth spot and that will be his home for the 2010 season as well.

With the Tigers lacking from production from certain individuals last season like the Cubs were I’m curious to see how Jim Leyland will fill his batters card.

Curtis Granderson is gone which leaves the lead off spot open but could already be filled with Austin Jackson. I can’t argue with the decision for spring training, but at the same time I won’t agree with it. It’s easy for us to wait for failure and say, “I knew he shouldn’t have been there.” Or if Jackson starts batting consistent and for average we’ll say, “I knew he was the guy.”

I’d like to see Johnny Damon fill that spot with his ability to hit home runs, doubles and steal bases. He’s a consistent player on both sides of the ball and a fan favorite where ever he goes. That being said Jackson could learn a lot from Damon and help use his youthfulness to get on base and let MagglioOrdonez and Miguel Cabrera do their job.

When looking at the first five players on the Tiger roster the top half of the lineup can do really well as long as everyone plays their role and stays healthy.

By Justin Cousineau
In Play Magazine

Starting forward averaging 29.6 PPG, 39.6 MPG, .478 FG%, .381 3P%, and a .884 FT%.

In case your wondering why a single players statistics fill my first sentence it’s because unless you look it up you’ll probably assume these numbers belong to Kobe Bryant, or the face of the league Lebron James.

Have you figured it out yet?

They belong to 21 year old Kevin Durant. Those are his stats for this years season.

Impressive? Let me remind you he’s 21.

I think we can all agree Durant is tearing up the NBA and unless your an avid NBA fan you’d rarely come across this information or see these numbers.

I’ve watched several Oklahoma City Thunder games and with a younger cast than most teams in a city that may not be NBA glitz and glamour this team has lots of talent and tons of potential either together or individually.

Durant had a streak end a few nights ago of 29 games with 25 points or more second youngest to Michael Jordan in 1986-87 with 40 games.

What bugs me the most is you don’t hear about this enough unless Lebron James ran out of baby powder to throw in the air, or unless the player’s choose to leave their guns at home.

At his age and his skill level it makes me wonder why Greg Oden would ever be considered over Texas alumni Kevin Durant. I think sports media should evaluate their coverage and show all the best highlights and not just teams with the worst NBA record in history and players kicking water bottles at fans.

Suttons Bay carries a 19-game winning streak into the Class C Districts next week at Traverse City St. Francis. The Norsemen capped the regular season with senior David Wheelock hitting nine 3-pointers as Suttons Bay topped Buckley 87-65.

“To play like that in your last home game, that’s pretty special,” Norse coach Todd Hursey said.

Wheelock was 9-of-13 behind the arc. Ben Walters had the previous record with eight 3-pointers.

Dwaun Anderson added 18 points, Stephen Wheelock and Chase Palmer 10 and Marcus Russell nine points and nine rebounds for Suttons Bay (19-1, 14-0), which finished the regular season with 19 consecutive wins.

Suttons Bay drew a bye in the first round of districts and awaits the winner of Forest Area and Elk Rapids on Wednesday night. Glen Lake (who finished the season 16-4) awaits the winner of host Traverse City St. Francis and Kalkaska. District Final is set for Friday at 7:00pm.

Read Basketball Roundup: School record set in win in the Record Eagle

Here’s an exclusive article re-posted with permission from TMZ…

Tiger Woods is golfing like a man possessed — hitting ball after ball after ball at the golf course near his home in Isleworth … and TMZ has obtained the first unstaged photos of Woods back in action.

Woods hit the course yesterday with 2 male companions and practiced his ass off from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM — working on everything from drives to pitches and putts.

We’re told Tiger’s session was uninterrupted — and he seemed completely focused throughout the entire grueling workout.

As we previously reported, sources in Isleworth tell us Tiger is dead set on competing for the Tavistock Cup — which will be held at the same Isleworth golf course where he’s practicing.

And with that news … Phil Mickelson probably needs a fresh pair of undies.

I heard on ESPN around the middle of February that it was okay to start talking and thinking about March Madness. Well, I’ve been able to almost make it to March, so now it’s time to start thinking March Madness Predictions.

Here’s my top five teams to watch during March Madness 2010!

Kansas – I had a hard time, picking between Kansas and Kentucky, but I went with Kansas because of the experience factor. The Jayhawks have been dominant at times this year with only one stumble, a loss at Tennessee in early January. Lots of weapons on offense and a defense that can apply shut-down pressure, the Jayhawks look like a lock for the Final Four!

Michigan State – Coach Tom Izzo is one of the best at preparing his team for opponents during the tournament. That being said, this year his team has been up and down and lacks experience on the frontline that has been a staple of Spartan teams in the past. I still like there chances and they are most likely looking at 3, 4 or 5 seed depending on how the rest of the season shakes out.

Rhode Island – Not alot of people know much about the Rams this season, but they are quietly putting together a terrific season. A couple of losses to top-25 ranked Temple have kept them out of the rankings, but they are right on the edge. A deep team with explosive offensive capabilities. A very possible 10, 11, or 12 seed who could make a run to the Sweet Sixteen.

Pittsburgh – I love the physical teams, but this isn’t your ordinary physical team. The Panthers can score points, lots of ‘em, and play that up-tempo style some physical teams don’t like to play. A well-coached team and battle-tested from the tough Big East competition, I think Pitt is peaking at the right time this year and has a successful March ahead of them!

Purdue – I know, I know two Big Ten teams? Are you crazy? The Big Ten was very solid in the tourney last year and Purdue might be better then any of those teams last year. A experience front-line and a team with great leadership, look for Purdue to match-up well with anyone they meet in the tourney and with their current 9-game winning streak, they are gaining confidence and momentum at the most crucial time of the year.

The Jack Nicklaus designed golf course The Bear will celebrate it’s 25th year of challenging golfers this summer on June 17, 2010. The Grand Traverse Resort has invited the public to participate by sharing photos and stories and offering special prizes and savings during the upcoming golf season.

The Bear was the first Nicklaus designed course in Michigan and helped pave the way for modern designed golf courses in northern Michigan.

The Golf Association of Michigan’s most recent review of The Bear measured it at 7,078 yards, and gave it a rating of 76.3 and slope of 148. In spite of its difficulty, it is fair. Landing areas are generous and it rewards good shots. And good golfers can score on it, as the Resort’s Head Golf Professional, Scott Hebert, who won six Michigan Open championships on The Bear, will attest.

“The Bear is the best golf course I’ve ever played and after 25 years it has not lost any of its bite! Every hole is different, which makes it unique, and to play it well, your game should be sharp,” stated Hebert.

Perhaps the best-known golfer to play The Bear was the winner of the 1990 Ameritech Senior Open, Chi Chi Rodriguez, who said, “(The Bear) is one of the great golf courses we play. The thing that makes this course so great is that it can be set up as tough as you want. This course challenges you on every shot. This is the way golf courses should be designed.”

For more information and details visit www.grandtraverseresort.com.

Photo of The Bear courtesy of Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

Pete Carroll tries to head to Seattle but is delayed by a USC superfan.