Leelanau Sports Guy at sportspig.com

Girls Districts

Class C at Glen Lake
A-Traverse City St. Francis 62, Suttons Bay  34
B-Glen Lake 67, Forest Area  24
Traverse City St. Francis vs Kalkaska  3/2 – 6 pm
Elk Rapids vs Glen Lake 3/2 – 8 pm
Final 3/4 – 7 pm

Class D at Traverse City Christian
A-Traverse City Christian, Leland 49-31
Lake Leelanau-St Mary  vs  Grand Traverse Academy  3/2 – 6 pm
Traverse City Christian vs Northport  3/2 – 7:30 pm
Final 3/4 – 7 pm

Boys Districts

Class C at Glen Lake
A-Kalkaska vs   Suttons Bay  3/7 – 5:30 pm
B-Glen Lake  vs  Forest Area  3/7- 8 pm
A vs Traverse City St. Francis  3/9 – 5:30 pm
Elk Rapids vs B 3/9 – 8 pm
Final 3/11 – 7 pm

Class D at Traverse City Christian
A-Northport vs Traverse City Christian 3/7 – 7 pm
Leland  vs  Grand Traverse Academy  3/9 – 6 pm
A vs Lake Leelanau-St Mary  3/9 – 7:30 pm
Final 3/11 – TBD

The Detroit Lions have been the NFL’s doormat for quite some time but in 2010, they came back
to relevancy. No, they aren’t going to be a factor on the Super Bowl spreads either this year or next year, but they finally have a foundation that – at the very least – gives their fans optimism
going forward.

In previous year, the Lions would have been the one team that every opponent would circle as a
guaranteed win. That changed significantly in 2010 as the Lions grew into one heck of a scrappy,
feisty team.

It’s hard to actually fathom that the Lions finished the season on a four-game winning streak,
especially when you consider that two of those wins came with their No. 2 quarterback starting
and two came with their No. 3 quarterback running the show.

Even more important was the fact that they got the monkey off the back in regards to a number
of ugly streaks.

They hadn’t won a division game in 19 tries and they checked that off the list and they hadn’t
won a road game in 26 tries and they pulled that off two. As a matter of fact, they won two road
games and two divisional games in 2010 and should have added a third when they were jobbed
with a tough called on the road Week 1 in Chicago.

And what might be the best news of all for Lions fans is that they were finally able to overcome
key injuries. In many previous seasons, the Lions would be decimated by losses and that would
only compound their problems, or provide a cheap excuse for their continued failures.

In 2010, the Lions won games with three different quarterbacks, played three different running
backs five different middle linebackers, five different right cornerbacks and finished the year
with a backup kicker.

And they were still successful.

6-10 isn’t a big deal to most teams but to Detroit it is. Their four-game winning streak to end the
season will only provide more confidence and momentum as they head into the offseason. It has
taken a while but they finally have a foundation to work with.

Suttons Bay running back Noah Reyhl and linebacker Aiden Keilty were two big reasons the Norsemen went 11-1 and had another outstanding season. Reyhl rushed for 1,312 yards and 24 touchdowns as he earned his second consecutive All-State Team. Keilty registered 128 tackles and nine sacks to help Suttons Bay dominate opponents on their way to the Northwest Conference and District Championships.

Glen Lake’s Elliot Clark was named the all-purpose player as he racked up 1,181 yards and 17 TDs on offense, picked off four passes on defense, punted for a 38.5 yard average, and kicked three field goals. Clark helped lead the Lakers to the playoffs.

Congratulations to both of our county football teams on terrific seasons!

Read Snead headlines Div. 5-6 All-State team in the Record Eagle

Righthanded Pitcher Agrees to Three-Year Contract

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms with righthanded pitcher Joaquin Benoit on a three-year contract, a contract that runs through the 2013 season.

Benoit appeared in 63 games for the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2010 season, posting a 1-2 record, 1.34 ERA (60.1IP/9ER) and 75 strikeouts. He limited opponents to a .147 batting average (30×204), while he issued 11 walks.

“Joaquin is a solid addition to our bullpen,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “One of our off-season goals was adding an established late inning arm to our bullpen and Joaquin has had success pitching in critical situations late in the game and he fits that role for our club.”

http://www.inplaymagazine.com/blogs.php?blog=Detroit-Tigers

STATEMENTS REGARDING THE PASSING OF SPARKY ANDERSON

DETROIT – The following are statements regarding Hall of Fame Manager Sparky Anderson:

The following statement is attributable to Michael Ilitch (Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers
and Michael and Marian Ilitch are co-owners of Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings,
Olympia Entertainment and several other businesses):
“The baseball world lost one of its best today with the passing of Sparky Anderson. Marian and I and our entire organization extend our condolences to Sparky’s family and friends. Those of us who had the privilege to know Sparky personally know how much he loved American’s favorite pastime and how proud he was to be associated with baseball. His success as a manager, both with the Detroit Tigers and the Cincinnati Reds, was about far more than wins and losses, it was about the character of the man. He cared about his players, he loved the fans and he put his heart and soul into the community. He will always be a favorite among Tigers fans and an important and memorable part of this incredible sports town.”

http://www.inplaymagazine.com/blogs.php?blog=Detroit-Tigers

We just got an advanced copy of Bob Probert’s book that he was working on entitled “Tough Guy.” Will be reading and posting tidbits from each chapter. Just started reading but the prologue gives you a detailed first hand account of what happened July 5th, 2010, the day Bob passed away. VERY, VERY SAD!

Chapter 9 – “Probe, I’ve had it with you. You don’t wash your underwear. You’re eating a hamburger, you’re not taking this serious, and I’ve just had it.” – Red Wings Assistant Coach Colin Campbell.

Wings dressing room…
Friend of Bob’s: “You’re the greatest.”
Campbell: “Why are you saying stuff like that to Probe? He’s a mess!”
Friend: “God gave him gifts. He’s the man”
Campbell: ” You’re right. God did make him, because no man could create such a piece of shit like this.”

So many great stories!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Play-Magazine/66828874928?ref=ts

New Deal To Keep Head Coach Behind Detroit’s Bench Through 2014-15 Season.  More here.

Here’s the details from the Big Ten Network…

My early thoughts, I like it alot. A little disappointed about Michigan State and Penn State not maintaining their rivalry, but all in all it looks good to me.

Post your thoughts in the comments!

Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Co-Founder sent me a link to his review of Wuerfel Park, home of the Traverse City Beach Bums. I’ve always enjoyed myself when attending a game and agree with much of what he says here. I wasn’t thrilled when they went to the turf, and it’s definitely a negative in Paul’s eyes. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Stadium Journey is…

a brand-new web venture. Our goal is to become a world-class community resource for sports fans, built around optimizing the experience of traveling to and attending live sporting events. We provide top-notch editorial content and reviews of sports stadiums. We rely on fans to provide tips and information about their favorite home stadium, or a first time impression. By sharing our knowledge, we can make every trip to the ballpark, stadium, or arena the very best it can be. Enjoy the journey!

I also found some other reviews of stadiums in our great state of Michigan, give them a read if you’re thinking of heading to a game!

Comerica Park – Detroit Tigers (My View: I love Comerica Park, but miss the closeness of old Tiger Stadium. You’re so far away from the action, but that’s how stadiums are built today.)

The Palace of Auburn Hills – Detroit Pistons (My View: I’ve had many great memories from games and concerts. Grant Hill vs. Michael Jordan was one of my favorites!)

Ford Field – Detroit Lions (My View: It looks great from the outside!)

Joe Louis Arena – Detroit Red Wings (I’ll always remember my first game at Joe Louis Arena. We were sitting in a suite of a friend’s uncle and we had a blast! Bob Probert had some monster hits and the Wings defeated the hated Chicago Blackhawks. I don’t remember the score, can’t find the ticket stub right now, but I know I didn’t leave the arena hungry!)

Photo courtesy of Stadium Journey

Detroit, MI… Chris Chelios, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time Norris Trophy winning defenseman, announced today that he will retire from the National Hockey League after 26 seasons. Chelios played for the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers during his illustrious NHL career. He retires having played the most games by a defenseman in NHL history (1,651) and as the only player in league history to play in over 400 games for three different teams (Chicago-664, Detroit-578, Montreal-402). http://www.inplaymagazine.com/blogs.php?blog=Detroit-Red-Wings

Here’s some videos from Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, Michigan State Football Coach Mark Dantonio, and Michigan Football Coach Rich Rodriguez from the 2010 Big Ten Football Media Day on the Big Ten Network.

Lots of great remarks and also features question and answer sessions from each. Lots of talk about expansion, a conference championship game, division alignment, and officiating from the Commish.

Coach Dantonio gave a nice preview of his team and talked about players to watch out for before answering questions.

Coach Rodriguez gave a quick summary of his team and jumped right into questions.

All in all, lots of great info, and more kudos to the Big Ten Network. I can’t get enough of this stuff!

One of my favorite memories with my Dad growing up was riding in the Leelanau Harvest Tour. It’s hard to believe I used to be able to bike 20 miles or more! Leelanau County offers many scenic roads that allow for amazing rides and views throughout the county.

The tour takes place on Sunday, September 19th, 2010 and starts at Glen Lake High School. Camping is available on Saturday night on the school grounds. The tour features 25, 45, 67 and 100 mile routes.

For cost, registration and more info, click the link below.

Leelanau Harvest Tour at Active.com

Denny McLain’s Detroit Tiger Report Denny’s weekly Tigers Report, brought to you by In Play! magazine.

http://www.inplaymagazine.com/broadcasts.php?audio_id=43

Michigan State Basketball Coach Tom Izzo has decided to turn down the Cleveland Cavaliers offer and stay at MSU. I had a feeling all along this would happen, but to finally have it confirmed is great news!