Good will and hot soup

In Michigan’s tough economy, residents across the metro area have seen their share of ups and downs.

Despite many of us that are enduring hard times, there are some who are following the adage, “When your plate is full, get a bigger plate” and are giving back to those even less fortunate.

These amazing people are the local coaches and athletes that may seem like busy teenagers but are doing extraordinary things for families in need.

Take Madison Heights Lamphere student-athlete Tessa Maynard, who, while maintaining a 3.9 grade point average, is president of her class, captain of her volleyball team and manages to pack baskets for families in need every year before Christmas.

There’s also the Macomb Dakota girls basketball team, which for the past four years has volunteered at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, serving up generosity and hot soup to its patrons.

These are just two shining examples of teams that have giving back to those in need.

For more on teams that are spreading holiday cheer this Christmas season, check the Dec. 24 edition of your local C & G Newspaper.

While the holiday season looks bleak for those just trying to make ends meet, there are ways to stretch your generosity, even if you can’t stretch your wallet.

Those who are interested in giving back can still donate to good causes, even if you’re budget is tight. Here are a couple of more ways, besides the 20 or so listed in our papers, to give back:

• Gleaners Community Food Bank: donors can provide canned and/or nonperishable food items to a local drop-off center.

• Vietnam Veterans of America: Donors can set out clothing of all types & sizes (men’s, ladies, children’s, baby’s) in boxes or bags and the driver will look for donations from the street. Please put it out, mark it for Vietnam Veterans of America or VVA, where it is clearly visible. Contact (800) 775-VETS (8387) so VVA is aware of donation.

Happy holidays hoops fans

The official start of winter is still a few days off, but outside the window here at the office it’s snowing something fierce (at least it was when I started this), and inside gyms across Macomb County boys basketball teams are battling for respect.

So forget what the calendar says, it’s winter.

And in boys hoops in the Macomb Area Conference, the winter season is one of
uncertainty.

Like I wrote in my boys hoops preview appearing in various editions of our papers recently, there aren’t many sure things in the MAC this season.

The graduation of so many talented seniors and the realignments of the divisions have left things wide open — which should make for an exciting few months of crossover competition and intra-division clashes.

Sure, few teams have been tabbed favorites in certain divisions, and there are several talented players throughout the MAC, not to mention some promising young ones.

But the overall sense of uncertainty is something fairly new to the conference, at least in recent years, as the talent across the board seems to strengthen more consistently.

When asking MAC coaches for their thoughts on the top local teams, one squad was mentioned again and again — Utica Eisenhower.

The Eagles, big and talented, have been tabbed as favorites to take the MAC Red — lofty expectations for any squad.

And after catching Ike in action in its Dec. 9 season opener against Warren De La Salle, I’m convinced the Eagles could be the real deal.

I say "convinced" because although Ike lost, it was largely due to mental mistakes and errors that can easily be fixed. But how quickly and effectively the Eagles correct their shortcomings will play a major role in whether they can win out in the always-tough MAC Red.

As for De La Salle, the Pilots also looked a little rusty, but coach Greg Esler and his experienced squad are going to be a tough matchup for any team in the county come playoff time. If and when things start clicking on all cylinders, the Pilots could be headed back to the Breslin Center for the Division 1 final four.

But back to the MAC, here’s a few other teams that, after some dormant and doormat years, could also be in the mix for a division crown before the snow melts: St. Clair Shores Lake Shore and Madison Heights Lamphere (MAC Silver); Warren Mott and Sterling Heights High (MAC Gold); Fraser High and Eastpointe East Detroit (MAC Blue); and Grosse Pointe North (MAC White). Utica Ford II could be considered a dark horse in the MAC Red, but the Falcons aren’t unfamiliar to recent success — having shared the MAC White title the past two seasons.

As for the favorites, watch out for: Romeo High (MAC Red), Roseville High (MAC White), Warren Fitzgerald (MAC Blue), Warren Lincoln (MAC Gold), Center Line High and Clinton Township Clintondale (MAC Silver).

Lastly, here’s a few upcoming games that should hold over hoops fans as the winter break approaches (most varsity contests begin at 7 p.m., but contact your local school for game times): Center Line at Lincoln, Fraser at Clintondale, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse at Fitzgerald, Lake Shore at Sterling Heights — all on Dec. 18; and the big one — Eisenhower at Roseville, Dec. 19.

Cheers to Lancers fans

One of my favorite things about covering games during the boys basketball season is the support shown by student cheering sections.

Sure, other sports teams will have big crowds of fans behind them at various points in the season, especially late in the playoffs, but usually none are more consistent than those that appear during the boys winter hoops season.

But this year, all those student sections that pop up during basketball have a lot to live up to after the volleyball season, as the Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse students supporting their Lancers left some big shoes to fill.

Though it swelled to about 100 fans strong during the Lancers' season finale — a Nov. 18 quarterfinal loss at Grosse Pointe North — the L’Anse Creuse volleyball team got significant backing from its students all season long.

And just as the Lancers battled tough to the end on the court with the host Norsemen during the quarterfinal, the fans in their student section impressed to the end.

Even as their team fell behind, the group stood strong and let their voices be heard, encouraging the Lancers, and for the most part, avoiding falling into any negativity like some student sections inevitably do.

So boys basketball fans, the bar has been raised, I’m hoping you can match it.

On to Round Two

Last week, I attempted to flex my brain muscle and give us all an early look on how the first round of the football state playoffs were going to play out for our local C & G Oakland Activities Association teams.

Well, the numbers are in, and if I don’t say so myself, not too shabby, not too shabby at all.

So let’s take a look …

Livonia Stevenson 17; West Bloomfield High 6
I had the Lakers losing by 10.

Lake Orion High 7; Utica Eisenhower 0
My guess was the Dragons by eight.

Macomb Dakota 28; Troy High 10
I went out on the limb and had the Colts falling by 20.

Birmingham Brother Rice 28; Rochester Adams 21
This one hurt. I had Adams winning by 13 points.

White Lake Lakeland 42; Auburn Hills Avondale 7
This was another tough one. While I had the winning team right, I was 14 points off on the margin of victory.

Southfield High 16; Farmington High 0
Now, I was at this game, and it was even closer than the score showed. I guessed Southfield winning by seven, which was nine points off. But the Blue Jays scored on an interception with less than a minute in the game to throw my guess way off.

Bloomfield Hills Lahser 28; Redford Thurston 13
This one put me back on track. I had the Knights winning by 14, just one point off .

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 27; Ferndale High 13
This game didn’t go so well for me. I had the Eagles winning by 13; they lost by 14.

I was 6-2 overall, but the true genius (and I use that term loosely) is that I was only nine points off on the average margin of victory of each game. Perhaps not too impressive on the surface, but in three games I was one point off and in another, only two.

For this week there are only three C & G OAA teams left.

Division 1 Lake Orion High (9-1) hosts Romeo High (8-2) at 7 p.m. Nov. 7
If you take a quick glance, Romeo lost 17-14 to the same Eisenhower team that the Dragons just beat. But from what I've heard, the Eagles had their most success running right at the Dragons. With Romeo being a physical, punishing-style team, that doesn’t bode well for Lake Orion. I really think this game could easily go either way, but I’ll take Romeo by two.

Division 2 Southfield High (9-1) hosts Dearborn High (7-3) at 1 p.m. Nov. 8
Dearborn’s three losses came against teams with a combined three losses and by an average of six points. Southfield struggled early with a pesky Farmington team, but eventually their athleticism and defense prevailed. This time, though, I think they just simply run into a better opponent. I’m taking Dearborn by eight.

Division 3 Bloomfield Hills Lahser (9-1) hosts Lapeer West (7-3) at 7 p.m. Nov. 8
Lahser hasn’t lost since week one of the season, and except for their four-point win against Ferndale High, none of the other games have been closer than 15 points. I think the streak continues and the Knights win by 13.

All right, there you have it. The Knights can begin their regional plans, but for the other two, I think. unfortunately, this is all she wrote. Or at least I wrote.

Gridder stars in goal too for Huskies

As a pair of reporters searched for St. Clair Shores Lakeview goalkeeper Ryan Boren following a late October regional semifinal soccer game, a Huskies player wittily remarked, “Look for the big orange thing.”

The player wasn’t far off in describing his teammate in that manner, although he probably would have been wise to quickly look around and check that Boren wasn’t nearby.

The Lakeview goalkeeper, who was wearing an orange jersey in that game, is listed at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 235 pounds. Those dimensions are more often found on a football roster — which is where I got them.

Boren also played on the offensive and defensive lines for the Huskies' football team.

Built for battles in the trenches, Boren’s size didn’t hinder him on the pitch.

He helped lead the Huskies to their fourth straight district title and played well in the regional semifinal loss, keeping a talented team at bay as best he could in Dexter High (which later advanced to the state finals for the third straight season).

“(Dexter) definitely had more shots than us, for sure,” Lakeview coach Nick Spano said. “Ryan did a heck of a job, made some real critical saves. It could’ve been worse if not for him.”

It’s impressive that Boren has the endurance, focus and skill set to not only play both ways on the football field, but to step in between the posts without much practice and perform well on the soccer field.

“I can say we wouldn’t be here if not for him,” Spano said. “He’s done a heck of a job since he took over.”

Boren spent most of his practice time with the football team, joining his soccer teammates mainly just for games.

“It was kind of hard at first,” Boren said about splitting time between the two.

Eventually it worked out for all the parties involved, which is great to see because more often than not student athletes who want to play major roles on two separate teams during one season are forced to choose.

This one's on me

I’m going to do us all a favor and save us a lot of time.

I’m going to tell you exactly which C & G local Oakland Activities Association football teams are going to survive the first weekend of the playoffs.

Now, if you’re a fan of prep football, like myself, this is your official spoiler alert. Don’t read below. You can thank me later.

Division 1 West Bloomfield High (6-3) at Livonia Stevenson (7-2) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
The Lakers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Its reward is a trip to last year’s state runner-up Livonia Stevenson. But fear not Lakers fans, I think coach James Thomas has a good thing going over there on Orchard Lake Road. But not that good … yet. Give me the Spartans by 10.

Lake Orion High (8-1) hosts Utica Eisenhower (5-4) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
This is Lake Orion’s eighth straight trip to the postseason, and its also won eight straight games. Coincidence? I think not. It’s a sign from the pigskin gods. The Dragons make it nine wins a row. I like Lake Orion by eight.

Troy High (6-3) at Macomb Dakota (8-1) at 1 p.m. Nov. 1
Good thing this one is on Halloween weekend, because it could be scary. I like Troy, but Dakota is huge … again. The two-time defending state champs average 275 pounds across their offensive line. In a word, "yikes." The Colts keep it close early, but the Cougars wear them down and win by 20.

Division 2 Rochester Adams (8-1) hosts Birmingham Brother Rice (6-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
Lake Orion has shown that Adams is beatable with their 34-28 week eight victory, but not by the Warriors. Adams is out for redemption this time around after losing by a touchdown to eventual state champ Detroit Martin Luther King in a semifinal last season. Rice has held only three opponents to less than 20 points — yes I know the Catholic High School League is tough. The Highlanders, on the other hand, haven’t scored less than 28 in a game yet. Give me Adams by 13.

Auburn Hills Avondale (7-2) at White Lake Lakeland (7-2) at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31
Despite seemingly being the only game that starts at 7:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. on Friday, this game is also interesting, with Avondale bouncing back after a winless campaign last year. It’s a nice story, but it ends in the first round. No disrespect to the OAA Blue, where Avondale made a run at a championship, but the Kensington Lakes Activities Association is whole different matter. Give me the Eagles by 21.

Farmington High (6-3) at Southfield High (8-1) at 1 p.m. Nov. 1
Farmington has won six straight games to punch its ticket into the postseason; Southfield has been stellar all year, losing only to Adams by two points. These teams have met before with Southfield winning 35-20 in week one. I think Farmington makes it closer, but I still like the Blue Jays by seven.

Division 3 Bloomfield Hills Lahser (8-1) hosts Redford Thurston (6-3) at 7 p.m. Nov. 1
Finally playing against teams that they should be playing (see blog “Sacrificial lamb’), Bloomfield Hills Lahser is going to be tough for any D-3 opponent, starting with Thurston. The Knights have a balanced attack and a defense that will smack you. I think the Knights begin the smacking Saturday night and win by 14.

Ferndale High (8-1) hosts St. Clair Shores Lake Shore (6-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31
Ferndale has advanced to the playoffs for the third straight year, a school first. But the first time two times, the Eagles were one and done. Lake Shore has been a little hit or miss this season, beating the likes of Warren Fitzgerald (8-1), but losing to Madison Heights Madison (5-4), a team that lost to Fitzgerald by four touchdowns. Put together Lake Shore’s inconsistency, Ferndale’s drive for a playoff win, and throw in the fact that the Shorians beat my guys from Clawson High week one, that’s three strikes and they’re out. I’ll take Ferndale by 13.

So there it is.

Check back to the blog next week to see how I did with my picks. I've seen and been a part of enough high school football to realize that anything can happen. Should be fun.

Let the games begin.

A closer look at Stanley's summer

In one way or another, we all have a job somewhat unique. Our daily tasks, hours and efforts all differ.

For some, work is just that, a way to pay the bills. For others, work is a story in itself.

Which brings me to the latest installment of my series on jobs in sports, "A Chauffeur to Lord Stanley," a story that began running in most of our papers Oct. 22.

Mike Bolt is an individual you may have seen a time or two, especially this past summer. Maybe not in person, but you probably saw him on TV, in the newspaper or in any of the magazines that aptly depicted the Red Wings’ summer-long celebration with the Stanley Cup.

Bolt works at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, but he also has the distinct honor (called his job) to travel everywhere the Stanley Cup goes.

This job is detailed in the story, but if you want another look at just where the Cup has been and who has had the chance to see it, visit the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Web site at www.hhof.com and click on the Stanley Cup Journal link on the right side of the page.

The journey details a month-to-month and player-to-player schedule the Cup (and Bolt) endured over the summer.

Some of the entries will leave you shaking your head (Kris Draper), while others will show just how much of a celebrity the Cup really is.

Pitch problems and rank rankings

It’s been a busy month for me in and out of the office with soccer playoffs under way and the volleyball season wrapping up.

But here are a couple quick observations I’ve recently made:

First: Home-field advantage has taken on a new meaning in the boys soccer playoffs.

Imagine going to a volleyball playoff game only to find that your team has to play on sand.

Sure, the difference between sand and a high school gym floor may be a bit more dramatic than the difference of natural grass and the turf surfaces that have been popping up more and more steadily, but there still is a significant difference.

Soccer teams that are used to playing on natural grass for most of the season (which a little more than half of the teams I cover in the Macomb Area Conference do) often find themselves at a distinct disadvantage when they play a team that’s been on turf all year in a postseason game played on turf. And vice versa.

While I understand not every school and playoff host can have the exact some playing surface, it’s just too bad and a bit unfair when a team’s season comes to an end on a surface that they’re playing on for the first time.

Most coaches don’t like to use that as an excuse, but I know that was a key factor in the outcomes in a few district games in the area.

Second: I just saw the most recent volleyball rankings from the coaches association — and not a single MAC team (and just one OAA squad – Clarkston) is ranked. Not even an honorable mention.

Granted, I know there are some talented teams across the state, and more often than not those schools a bit closer to Lake Michigan tend to enjoy some decent success in the state tournament.

Apparently the MAC Red being even more competitive and balanced than maybe ever before — with five teams out of six still in the running for the division title with two games to go — is a negative for what many would consider the top division in the state.

I have a feeling that beating up on each other and facing top-caliber competition (whether other coaches around the state feel that way or not) all season long will pay off for teams such as Fraser High, Grosse Pointe North, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, Macomb Dakota and Marysville High once the playoffs roll around.

Planning, preparation pays off

Once the referee’s whistle blows and a soccer game gets under way, coaches are essentially left to watch their teams until halftime.

The sport offers few opportunities for change during a game, which is why the business conducted off the field — training and scheming — is so vital.

Preparation and the ability to improvise and adapt to opponents are especially key skills when it comes to the one-and-done postseason — you can’t go back and fix things if you weren’t prepared the first time.

During the recent Catholic High School League varsity boys soccer tournament, Madison Heights Bishop Foley’s John Pisacreta and Warren De La Salle’s Thaier Mukhtar proved they were more than up to the challenge of some late-season improv.

Pisacreta got two key goals from Foley forward Alan Wisniewski in the Ventures’ two CHSL Division CD tournament games – a 2-1 win over rival Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and a 2-0 decision against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard in the final.

The Foley coach moved the towering Wisniewski, who literally stands heads and shoulders above the competition at 6 foot 5 inches, up from the JV team late in the season. Pisacreta’s move and Wisniewski’s patience and hard work paid off for Foley when it needed it most.

The Ventures also decided to move one of their top players, Derek Rosiek, into a more complete defensive role. While Pisacreta noted Rosiek has solid playmaking skills, the need for his defensive abilities led the coach to move the player from the stopper position into the sweeper spot.

“I prefer not to play him back there, but because of the opponents that we play, that’s what we decided to do,” Pisacreta said. “And he was fine with that, as long as we win. And so far, we’ve won with him back there.

“I pride my coaching staff on scouting teams and determining what their best attributes are and what they do well, and us countering that with what we do well.”

Defensive changes also affected the Pilots of De La Salle, which won its second straight CHSL Division AB title over Novi Detroit Catholic Central.

Injuries kept a few key De La Salle defensive players off the field, yet Mukhtar and his staff had the reserves ready and more than willing to stand up to the challenge of keeping the Shamrocks' offense in check during a 2-1 win.

Catholic Central’s lone goal came on a long free kick from standout Josh Gatt. The Shamrocks' star forward was otherwise shut out against the Pilots in three games this season.

De La Salle’s defense has been impressive this season, holding opponents to just nine goals (including three penalty kicks) all season (20 games).

Killer crossovers

Week six on the Macomb Area Conference football slate is a pretty good one, with games like 4-1 Macomb Dakota traveling to 5-0 Grosse Pointe North; Warren Cousino getting reacquainted with former MAC White rival and current MAC Red leader Romeo High; and the MAC's surprise team of the season, Warren Mott, at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley's homecoming.

Week six has rivalries like Madison Heights Lamphere taking on Madison Heights Madison and St. Clair Shores Lake Shore facing St. Clair Shores South Lake. The only people who could complain are sports reporters who have to pick just one game to be at (I chose the North/Dakota showdown).

What's the cause of this excitement — crossovers.

With the MAC switching from a five-division league to six in 2008, it created four weeks for crossover games.

It's not just week six, either. With all six league titles decided heading into the final week of the regular season, week nine could make week six look boring.

In week nine, Utica Stevenson travels to Mott in a possible postseason preview. Chippewa Valley hosts Cousino — one or both teams could be fighting for a playoff berth. Roseville and Eastpointe East Detroit end their year with one of the Eastside's most underrated rivalries. Center Line High hosts Warren Lincoln, and former Macomb Oakland Athletic Conference and Oakland Activities Association foes Madison High and Clawson High meet for the first time since 2003.

Speaking of the OAA, why would a league want to miss out on all this crossover fun?

With the OAA's current format of two eight-team divisions and one nine-team division, the teams lucky enough to be in the OAA Red and White get two crossovers, and those in the Blue have their league schedule account for eight of nine regular-season games.

To say nothing of fan interest, these schedules have teams starting their league play in week one, giving them no time to get rosters in order or account for any of the many inevitable early season roadblocks before competing for a league title.

I propose the OAA follow the MAC's lead (they've already switched from numbered divisions to colors) and move to five, five-team divisions. With five crossovers, the OAA could open it's league slate in week three, have an open date in the middle of the season for rivalries or other crossovers, and still have their final two weeks open for rivalries — games with champions playing other champs in a format like the Catholic League's Prep Bowl. Maybe they could go completely outside the league and play against corresponding champs from a rival league that may or may not have most of its constituency east of Dequindre.

Also, aligning a five-of-five format could take into account any number of factors, be they competitive balance or geography.

Here are two of a great many possibilities that might be fun. The first is the "geographic alignment."

OAA White: Rochester Adams, Rochester High, Rochester Stoney Creek, Troy High and Troy Athens.

OAA Red: Lake Orion High, Clarkston High, Farmington Hills Harrison, Farmington High and North Farmington.

OAA Blue: Bloomfield Hills Lahser, Bloomfield Hills Andover, Southfield High, Southfield-Lathrup and West Bloomfield High.


OAA Gold: Royal Oak High, Ferndale High, Berkly High, Birmingham Seaholm and Birmingham Groves.

OAA Silver: Auburn Hills Avondale, Pontiac Northern, Pontiac Central, Hazel Park and Oak Park

Now comes the fun one, the "competitive alignment."

OAA White: Adams, Lake Orion, Clarkston, Harrison and Lathrup.

OAA Red: Lahser, Southfield, Groves, Rochester and Stoney Creek.

OAA Blue: Troy, Athens, West Bloomfield, Seaholm and Oak Park.

OAA Gold: Ferndale, Berkley, Farmington, Pontiac Northern and Royal Oak.

OAA Silver: Pontiac Central, Andover, North Farmington, Hazel Park and Avondale.

Spread the word

If you've watched any football the past two weekends, either in the prep or college ranks, chances are you've seen the spread offense. You can recognize the offense by the quarterback in the shotgun, a single back, four receivers split wide — and the lack of any true grit.

My last point was a little sarcastic.

Granted, the offense doesn't produce a power game. But proponents ask why a power game is needed when you can throw the ball around or churn out yards on the ground with a single back. They'll have you believe that the days of 3 yards and a cloud of dust are over and that fullbacks are going the way of the dinosaurs.

Call me old fashion, but I can't stand it.

The spread has become the "go-to" offense in the high school and college ranks. No doubt you've had your fill hearing how the offense is going to take University of Michigan football into the 21st century. Since when did an I-formation and a 4-yard gain become unacceptable?

I understand the offense has its place and don't even mind that. But let it stay with the University of Purdue and Northwestern University, which brought the offense to the Big Ten because they believe it works as an equalizer against teams with more talent. Let it stay with Southfield High, which runs it to perfection at times. Even let it stay with Troy High, which utilized it all the way to the Division 1 semifinals.

But for the vast majority of the other programs using it, especially at the prep level where quarterbacks routinely don't make throws needed and receivers drop just as many balls, line up and play football.

Just because it's the new thing, doesn't mean it's the best thing.

Here's to 3 yards and a dose of dust.

The Pointe of rivalries

I covered my first Grosse Pointe North/Grosse Pointe South football game Sept. 5 at North.

I've been to Brother Rice/Catholic Central games, once in Pontiac and once in Hamtramck. Both of those trips were amazing exploits in preps athletics and seemed more like a Big 10 rivalry than a prep showdown.

I've also covered Macomb Dakota and Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, once in the regular season and once in the playoffs, and I could not get over how large of an event these games were. There were more people at those games than many of the Central Michigan University games I went to in college.

This weekend, though, I experienced something a little different from all the other rivalries I've seen, all the North and South fans were literally sitting next to each other.

I sat in the crowd between North and South fans, and I didn't even get a whiff of animosity.

I know there are probably stories of crowds getting out of hand in the past, all schools have a troublemaker or dark day in their history, but this experience was as much fun as I can ever remember seeing such a large group of rival fans have together.

With both sides sharing the same set of bleachers at North, there wasn't even a whisper of foul tempers in a game that was closely contested for over three quarters before the veteran Norsemen wore down a young Blue Devils squad.

Just as was the case with the vast majority of people at the Rice/CC and Chippewa/Dakota games, the GPN and GPS teams acted with as much class on the field as the fans did off it.

In today's age, where we are led to believe community camaraderie and goodwill toward our neighbors have eroded, it's nice to see parents and youths in a community prove all that wrong for a night and actually enjoy something as simple as a high school football game.

Kicking off with preps

When the dog days came to a end last week with the first official day of school, another budding season of preps began.

For me, another season means the smell of freshly cut soccer fields and the screeching of sneakers on the hardwood of a volleyball court.

That's where you can catch me — on the sidelines covering boys soccer in the Oakland Activities Association Red and Blue divisions , the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference and the Catholic High School League, and in the stands watching volleyball teams in the Macomb Area Conference White, Blue and Bronze divisions.

Here's a few teams to watch out for in both sports:

Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day's soccer team might be young, but the elite program returns to the pitch as the Division 3 defending state champions and ranked No. 1 in Division 3 by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association's Sept. 8 poll.

Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (9-0-0 overall) returned 12 players from last year's Division 4 state runner-up squad and aims to make another title run. Leading the squad is seniors Jacob Stanko on offense, Josh McKenna in midfield and Kramer Everett in goal. The Lancers are ranked No. 1 in Division 4.

Troy High (1- 1- 1 in the OAA Red and 2- 1-1 overall) was ranked No. 4 in the MHSSCA's rankings and comes in with a strong senior class, which hopes to capture the district title that Birmingham Brother Rice snatched from it last year.

Some volleyball teams were shifted around into new divisions this fall, while an entirely new division, the Bronze, was created to accommodate Clawson High, which joined the MAC this year.

Warren Cousino's volleyball squad (1-0 in the MAC White, 7-5 overall) packs a powerful punch in outside hitters seniors Kate Sak and Danielle Meyer. Coach Patti Hunter said this is the year for Cousino to break out and make a run in the state tournament.

The Blue Division welcomed two new teams in Sterling Heights High and Grosse Pointe South. While Utica High dominated the league last year (12-0), with Utica Stevenson (10-2) close behind, this year there's much more parity.

Warren Fitgerald returns as the favorite after winning the MAC Silver division last year. The Spartans, who are now in the Bronze Division, are guided by a senior-heavy squad that is aiming for league and district titles.

But the Spartans should look for a hard-hitting Clinton Township Clintondale squad and an energized Madison Heights Lamphere's team.

I remember you!

As I strolled up to the coaches at the Grosse Pointe North-Warren Cousino boys soccer game back at the beginning of the fall season, I was struck with two very different but strong cases of déjà vu.

First I approached North coach Chip Stencel. Suddenly the early season Macomb Area Conference crossover game I was about to watch felt like a regional or state level playoff game.

That’s because Stencel was one of the last soccer coaches I interviewed — back in the spring — as he led the Norsemen's girls team to the Division 1 state championship game.

While that game took place back in mid-June, it felt like barely a week had passed since I had talked to Stencel, not two months.

“The girls ended, and then it was a month and a half and we were right back in it,” Stencel said, referring to tryouts and training beginning back a couple weeks earlier in August.

While his summer vacation might have gone by a little too quickly, Stencel admitted it wasn’t a bad problem to have.

“No, it is what it is,” he said.

Stencel seems to have picked up where he left off, as the GPN boys began the season 4-1-0 overall, including a 1-0 win over defending division champion Utica Eisenhower to kick off the MAC Red campaign.

Wrapping things up with Stencel, I ask him about the new Warren Cousino coach, Anthony Sorrentino. The name was familiar to both of us, but we couldn't seem to place it.

So I headed over to introduce myself and began to recognize the young coach as I got closer.
I realized that Sorrentino played for Warren Woods Tower back when I was manning the left midfield spot for Warren Mott.

Putting the old rivalry behind me, I spoke with Sorrentino and can freely say he seems to have the same successful touch he had as a player as a coach. The former Division 2 All-State honorable- mention selection has the Patriots off to a hot start at 2-0-0 in the MAC Blue, 3-1-0 overall — with their lone loss coming that day to the Norsemen.

Sorrentino’s success was not a surprise to his former coach at Tower, Brian Bonkowski, who I caught up with a short while ago.

“It’s great to see one of the players that you’ve coached move into the coaching ranks,” said Bonkowski, who is still the coach of the Titans. “It’s good. He’s intense and he knows what he’s doing. He’ll do good over at Cousino.”

Teacher and student will meet up at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Tower for a late season MAC crossover game.

A day with Mario

As the fall prep sports season hits high gear, as college football begins another quest toward championship question marks, also known as the BCS, and as the NFL starts rocking and rolling (undefeated preseason anyone?), I felt it my duty to grab onto the that summer feeling and squeeze every last drop out.

With that in mind, I spent some time a few weeks ago with Detroit Tigers television play-by-play commentator Mario Impemba for the latest installment of my series of jobs in sports.

OK, I also did it in a selfish way as an educational tool for my career as a broadcaster. But anyway...

A Sterling Heights Stevenson and Michigan State University grad, Impemba, now a Macomb resident, showed me the ins and outs of a day on the job.

The story itself will begin running in our papers Sept. 10, but some of the highlights of my time spent with Impemba included the preparation he puts into each broadcast. By 3 p.m. any day of an evening game, he is already the booth preparing stats, opening comments and information to use that night.

We walked to and through the Tigers’ clubhouse, the opposing clubhouse, the back halls and hidden alleys of Comerica Park, all in a day's work.

This is the seventh year Impemba has brought Tigers games from Comerica to our television sets and still, even as a grown man with a wife and two kids, he said he is living out his wildest dreams.

The best way to describe my time with Impemba is, "refreshing."

He has a job he loves, a job he is very good at, a job he spent years in the minor leagues to get to, and still he gets a genuine kick out of coming to the ball park on a summer night and calling America’s past time.

Not a bad gig if you're lucky enough to get it.

Backyard camping

Who doesn’t love summer camp?

And who doesn’t love saving money?

With the economic squeeze continually tightening its grip on metro Detroit, extracurricular spending is bound to take a hit.

That’s why communities should consider themselves fortunate when local coaches host their own summer sports camps — a growing trend in the area.

For the most part, local camps are considerably much more affordable than ones hosted by universities.

And from what I’ve seen, there’s hardly, if any, drop off in instruction.

I attended a few sports summer camps at area universities when I was in school, and after spending some time recently at the Eastside Soccer Camp at Fraser High, I didn’t notice any significant differences.

The Eastside camp, directed by Warren De La Salle boys and Fraser girls soccer coach Thaier Mukhtar, was run in a very similar fashion to the camps I remember going to.

But with a fee of just $150 (including each camper receiving a Nike ball) for five days of training, instruction and competitions, local camps like the Eastside one can’t be beat — unless, of course, the camper wants to be crammed into a stuffy dorm room and feast on collegiate cafeteria food (which I suspect was all just leftovers from the school year) for a week.

How sweet it is

While most of his counterparts throughout the minor leagues are focusing purely on baseball and that coveted call up to the big show, you'll probably find Parker Dalton occasionally sitting back and just taking it all in.

Dalton, an infielder with the Great Lakes Loons — the Los Angeles Dodgers class A affiliate, describes carrying out his duties as a ballplayer as, "icing on the cake."

Don’t get the wrong impression. Dalton isn’t a lazy athlete along for the ride.

One of the first things the 25-year-old Houston native mentioned to me when I was talking to  him about the Loons for my summer series about minor league teams around the state was about how hard he and his teammates work to impress fans and scouts alike.

But after a bout with cancer, Dalton knows playing baseball isn’t the number one focus of his life anymore — living it is.

“One of the things I realized was you have no control of your life, your baseball career, anything like that,” Dalton said.

Preparing for his senior year at Texas A&M University, Dalton was diagnosed with malignant melanoma — a serious form of skin cancer. Fortunately, he was able to overcome it through treatment.

While there is no trace of cancer left in his body, it did leave Dalton with a stronger sense and grip of humility, spirituality and awareness.

“They could have found more, and that could have been it,” he said. “It was a lesson early in life that you don’t have much control. Playing baseball now is a gift.”

“When you think about it, when you remember, ‘Hey, you almost never got to do it again’, it really makes you cherish it.”

Dalton’s perspective of simply enjoying the game and realizing how privileged he is to play it was refreshing to hear.

It was one of the many examples I came across during my baseball excursion that truly encompasses the passion surrounding the sport, its players and its fans — regardless of the level.

And, for a few days this summer, I was glad to be apart of it, too.

A change is coming

In the past week, I got to see firsthand how one woman is bringing change to the male-dominated sport of sailing by encouraging women to take the helm.

By hosting a women's only sailing clinic Aug. 1 at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Dawn Riley — a St. Clair Shores resident and world-renowned sailor — hopes that women will find confidence to brave the waves on their own, sans the men in their lives.

Riley began sailing with her family when she was a young girl. She said by the age of 13 she was "obsessed" with the sport and was ready to captain her own ship. Since then, she has manged to become the first woman to captain an America's Cup sailing team and race on three America's Cup teams and two Whitbread Round-the-Word Race teams.

While all that may seem daunting for a novice sea gal, Riley said sailing is not an exclusive sport. If you're interested in trying it out, Riley says there are always boats looking for crew. To get involved, she said just get to a local marina or club and ask around.

“All you have to do is show up,” Riley said. “Even if you don’t know ( how to sail), they’ll train you.”

Riley's clinic welcomes women of all skill levels to participate. By learning some basics — and a few tricks Riley has picked up during her travels — the next time you're out boating, you can surprise your friends (and yourself) by taking the helm.

Down at 'The Corner'

The seemingly endless "efforts" to save Tiger Stadium have seemingly ended.

Barring a multi-million-dollar miracle before the end of July, Detroit will be a lesser city with the total destruction of the old ball park.

With that in mind, a handful of friends and I went down to The Corner July 14 to soak in the nostalgia.

I snapped some pictures and marvelled at how well-kept the field seemed to be from behind the security fencing. But the best part was being there with my high school friends Doug Belles, Mike Weathers and Dave Luedtke.

They are just a few of the friends who shuffled down to Tiger Stadium in the lean years, when we were in high school and college.

From when we got our driver's licenses in 1995 to the parks closing in 1999, we went to what at the time seemed like too many games and now feels like not enough.

Those years, while we complained about the team, were amazing. It sounds sappy, but I fell in love with baseball in those four years.

I had played Little League, but growing up the Lions and Pistons were my teams. I cared little for the Dead Wings of my youth, and beyond 1987 never really paid much attention to the Tigers.

From seeing the Tigers take on the NL East in the first years of inter-league play with (hot dog) vendors selling fresh, hot "Bobby Bonilla's" as the Tigers played the would-be World Series champion Florida Marlins, I found an experience at the ball park rivaled by few things in the world and grew to appreciate seeing a home-team win.

Those years of 'Fan Stand' tickets and 'Dollar Day' smorgasbords made experiences like seeing Magglio Ordonez's pennant-winning home run all the more exciting. Knowing I was one of the fans who had truly been there when it was the worst made the best times amazing.

Even beyond that, though, the memories I have with friends — like Andy Melitz, who I will forever be grateful to for getting me a ticket to the final game at the Corner — are of the most value.

Whether it was sitting in the bleachers as Mark McGwire shelled the left-field roof in batting practice, or sitting in the right- field overhang to see the eternally-expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays, those memories are where Tiger Stadium will always stand, and there's nothing the Detroit City Council can do about it.

Star impressions

For the most part, the focus of minor league baseball is to develop young players so they can reach their full potential, and ultimately, the majors.

But once in a while, pros spend time with their club’s affiliated organizations to rehab from injuries.

Such was the case of the Detroit Tigers star Curtis Granderson, who spent the early portion of this season recovering from a finger injury.

He kicked off his road to recovery with the West Michigan Whitecaps, Detroit’s single A affiliate located near Grand Rapids, in Comstock Park.

Granderson went 4-for-11 in three games with the Whitecaps, including a pair of triples while also turning in some solid defense.

But Whitecaps manager Joe DePastino was more impressed with his off-the-field performance. After sitting down with DePastino to talk about the Whitecaps for my summer series, he told me a quick story about Granderson’s stint with the team.

Apparently, the center fielder’s charm, which has made him one of the Detroit’s most popular athletes, isn’t reserved just for fans but for his teammates as well, regardless of what team he’s on.

“He was great, a great person,” DePastino said. “He came in here and he said to me, ‘I’m doing whatever you guys do here.'"

“He was one of the team,” DePastino continued. “When he first walked into the clubhouse, instead of going to his locker and sitting there, he walked in, put his stuff down and started talking to everybody, introduced himself.

“That right there was the first sign you know he’s a great guy.”

Don't miss the boat

Every summer I hang up my prep sports pass and head to the lakes and rivers. After the baseball and softball state champs are crowned, writing stories on the Bayview Mackinac and the Gold Cup races are a nice summer home away from home in regards to my high school sports beats.

This year, I got to write a feature on the Simon family and their connection to the Gold Cup races on the Detroit River. It all started with George Simon Sr. racing his boat, the Miss U.S. in 1953. As President and founder of U.S. Equipment, Simon was a quintessential American industrialist.

Fresh out of service in WWII, Simon started a business buying and selling machinery. He started buying the equipment from his mother's home and storing it under the bleachers at the old De La Salle High in Detroit. He and his brother made a name for their company throwing live turkey's into purchasers homes for Thanksgiving and buzzing an office full of buyers with a plane at Willow Run.

After all that established his business, Simon took up racing boats — powered by airplane engines situated mere inches from the driver's seat — at speeds approaching 200 mph.

Needless to say, George Simon was an interesting person. For his full story, check out the history of U.S. Equipment on its Web site at:

http://www.usequipment.com/story.htm

That's what makes these stories about boats, whether powered by sail or airplane engine, so interesting - the people. The nautical types are always willing to talk with you and always have interesting stories to tell. Go down and check out Gold Cup races on the Detroit River July 11-13 and the Bayview Mackinac Race when the yachts leave Port Huron July 12. Get there early and you might even hear a boat story of your own.

A refreshing reminder

Within the next week or so, my summer series about jobs in sports will officially begin with a piece on Channel 7 weekend sports anchor Vic Faust.

You’ll read about his start in the broadcasting business, his climb to sports producer in Tulsa, Olka., his eventual unemployment and his arrival in Detroit.

You’ll learn about his faith in God, which he said has guided him through the ups and downs that come with the business.

Still, in talking to Faust, learning about his job and his life, there was one refreshing aspect of our conversation that many people sometimes forget.

“One of the things I enjoy most is the fact that professional athletes are really ordinary people," Faust said. "Sure, they are extremely gifted and make a ridiculous amount of money, but what’s cool to watch from my perspective is just how ordinary they really are.”

This came as no surprise to me. While covering prep sports doesn’t often translate to a behind- the-scenes view of the world of pro sports, I’ve had an occasion here and there to see these “celebs” in their ordinary moments.

Take away the cameras, the fancy cars and flashy clothes, and you have ordinary men and women with families, friends and lives outside the world of sports.

“Hockey players are probably the most down to earth,” Faust added. “But they’re all pretty cool people. Pretty ordinary.”

More than a game

Recently I sat down with Leslye Wuerfel, the general manager and chief financial officer of the Traverse City Beach Bums, for an interview for the first installment of my upcoming series on minor league baseball teams throughout the state.

She shared a story with me that I think truly encompasses one of the many great things about local, small-market teams like the Beach Bums.

After an autograph session following a game, a fan in a wheelchair approached Wuerfel. She told her about how her husband had died this winter and she rarely got out anymore but asked her daughter to bring her to a game.

She had such a good time, she bought tickets to the rest of the week’s games and, even though she’s not a season-ticket holder, she decided she wasn’t going to miss a game the rest of the season.

She told Wuerfel that coming to the games gave her, “something to look forward to."

In the major, professional sports settings, things like approaching and conversing with players and front-office types on a whim (and not via a prearranged PR stunt) are rare.

Mind you, this autograph session involving several players occurred shortly after the Beach Bums lost a close game to a rival team and their No. 1 pitcher went down with an injury.
Many athletes and their organizations would not normally find themselves sitting down with or chatting freely with fans at a time like that.

But subtle acts of kindness and respect like the ones offered by the Bums' personnel can play a huge part in a fan's life.

While a game might just be another day on the job for the athletes and managers lucky enough to be involved full time at any level with sports, especially the pros, it means so much more to the fans.

“I think that at this level, the baseball, it just means something different to every person,” Wuerfel said.

Now that's dedication

I used to think I was a patient golf fan.

But then I met Steve Attwater of Rochester Hills.

It was 7 a.m. June 26, and there he sat in his folding chair next to the 18th green at Warwick Hills during the opening round of the Buick Open.

As the opening groups teed off on No. 1 and No. 10, Attwater literally sat by himself, knowing full well it would be at least another two hours before he would see his first golfer make his way up the fairway. Still, Attwater sat. And sat. And sat.

I thought it was a big deal when my friends and I took our annual spot behind the No. 2 tee box and let the golfers come to us. We would sit in the same spot for around six hours before dragging our sun-burned bodies away.

But Attwater claims his territory and stays there — not only each day, but pretty much each hour of each championship round of the tournament.

"I just do it, that way I can watch everyone come up the 18th green. From Thursday through Sunday, this is where I sit," he said, adding that he plans his vacations around the tournament.

I wasn't there on Sunday, but I'd bet Attwater was. And when Woody Austin and Bubba Watson missed their putts on the final hole and Tour veteran Kenny Perry happily raised the trophy and waived to the fans, he had the well-deserved best seat in the house.

"Something special"

It's not too often that you come across a team that holds its coach in such high regard.
But that was the case with the Detroit Demolition women's professional football team and it's coach, Tony Blankenship.

Most sports fans recognize Blankenship's name, growing up as a top-notch prep athlete at Detroit Murray-Wright and becoming one of the Wolverines' top special teams players and free safety, but I had no idea of the impact he's made on his team.

After spending a couple hours at a recent Demo practice, the admiration for Blankenship shared by the players was evident in their smiles when they successfully completed one of his drills and in their endless praise.

In the next week's newspapers, you'll get to know Blankenship a little better find out he has become the face of the Demolition, and I think you will see why his players call him "something special."

The feature will be posted online after it has run in our 19 local papers.

Anchoring the beginning of a series

The sports wrap on the Sunday night news is that last-ditch effort to grab onto and squeeze every last second out of the weekend before Monday rears its ugly head.

Fans see highlights of games they already know about, get a little extra perspective and pick up insight on the upcoming week.

This, the weekend sportscast, is where my summer series about jobs in sports begins. In the coming weeks, the story of Vic Faust, Channel 7’s weekend sports anchor will appear in our papers.

You’ll read how a former St. Louis resident went from being jobless to covering the 2004 Ryder Cup, the 2006 World Series and the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals and understand the ins-and-outs and ups-and-downs of being a sports anchor.

“Despite what a lot of my friends think, I don’t show up at 10:30 p.m., do the 11 p.m. news and then go home,” Faust said during our conversation last week.

Look for this story in the near future, where someone who's job it is to end every weekend will begin my series.

Feed the need

They say youth is wasted on the young.

Whether it's because kids don't know how good they have "it" or don't appreciate how fleeting "it" might be, the young don't always take full advantage of the opportunities afforded them as much as those who have come before them.

That's what makes "recreational" adult sports leagues so intriguing. If its a midnight drop-in hockey session or a group of past-their-prime hard ballers behind an elementary school, what drives these athletes is something equal parts pure and fanatical. That's why my summer series will focus on local teams and athletes who can't say enough is enough. They're the ones you see risking torn knees and wrenched backs for nothing more than competition. So if you play on or know of a team that exemplifies these qualities let me know.

You can reach me at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029.

Summer adventures

When the prep sports world takes its break during the summer, it leaves us predominately prep sports writers to find new avenues for stories.

I'm looking off the beaten path this summer, trying to find "adventurous" hobbies, sports, etc., with the hope that we will all crawl out of our comfort zones and make this summer truly special by giving a few of them a try.

Whether it be the velodrome at Bloomer Park in Rochester Hills, training for a triathlon (which I have no intention of doing) or even jumping out of an airplane (we'll see about that one). No idea is too big or too small.

I'm always open to suggestions. If you can think of an adventure that is close to home, shoot me an e-mail at cdavis@candgnews.com.

Sports series bonanza

With the spring prep season all wrapped up, the time has come to embark on a summer endeavor.

To pass the dog days of summer, I will be working on a series of features that profile local people who have interesting and unique sports-related jobs.

Staff writer Mike Moore and I will be putting our heads together to bring readers compelling features on people who love sports and found a way to make it their living.

First up on my list is Tony Blankenship, former University of Michigan defensive back and coach of the women's tackle football team the Detroit Demolition.

Readers can look for a profile on Blankenship in their local C & G Newspaper in the upcoming weeks.

If you know of someone who fits the bill, a sports nut with a great sports job, shoot me an e-mail.

Take me out to the ball game(s)

Take me out to the ball game(s)

Consider me your guide to summer fun.

Next week, I’ll be embarking on an odyssey of sorts to minor league baseball games around the state.

Each stadium is near or on the way to popular travel destinations for metro Detroiters, so whether you’re heading out on summer vacation or going on a road trip, hopefully the stories in my series will encourage you to take in a ball game at some point.

Specifically, I plan on dropping in on the Traverse City Beach Bums, Lansing Lugnuts, West Michigan Whitecaps (Grand Rapids) and the Great Lakes Loons (Midland).

In each piece, I’ll recap all the highlights from my visits, ranging from the unique aspects and amenities each offers to standards such as ticket prices and where to park and, of course, which items to sample off the snack menu.

Anything interesting that doesn’t make it into print will likely end up here in the blogosphere, so be sure to check back for more trip tidbits and other entries from what should be an exciting summer.

A paycheck in sports

We’ve all seen, heard of or maybe even taken part in the routine at some point. Punch the time clock to end the day, battle traffic on the journey home, and then relax in front of the television with the remote and our favorite sport.

Or maybe the escape takes us to the ballpark, the ice rink or the gym.

You get the picture.

Anyway you look at it, for many people, the end of the work day only means the beginning of sports.

But what about those people who punch the time clock to begin their day and do it in the world of sports?

Good question.

And over the summer months, I hope to answer it, or at least take a better look at those who earn a paycheck in sports with my summer series.

Early plans include stories on a Detroit Tigers broadcaster, a local sports anchor and a behind- the-scenes look into the world of sports-talk radio, among others.

At the same time, I’m open to any ideas you may have. Do you know anyone who has an interesting occupation associated with sports? If so, please feel free to e-mail me or give a call.

Or, as the summer months pass, flip through our papers and take a look at those who work in sports, those whose day actually begins with the first pitch or the drop of a puck.

You can reach me at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1038.

Local Lions

Bob Lantzy, Mike Giannone, Mike Carr and Rick Bye can fix the Detroit Lions.

That may be a tall order for the football coaches at the Macomb Area Conference Red Division's four premiere programs, but after speaking with Buffalo Bills linebacker John DiGiorgio April 18 at St. Mary’s School in Mount Clemens, maybe these four can help the much-maligned Leos.

Accounting for 13 trips to state title games in the past 10 years, these four coaches know what makes a good football player great, and they know how to get the most out of marginal players.

Getting marginal players to play above their talent level is key to the success of high school program, and from the Lions' recent run, that could be an invaluable skill for them as well.

Not to say DiGiorgio was a marginal talent under Lantzy at Utica Eisenhower, but for him to climb his way to start 13 games and record 137 tackles in 2007-08, he had to overcome several roadblocks — starting with a broken leg in the final game of his high school career, the 1999 Class A state title game.

With resilience like that, you would think DiGiorgio grew up watching players like Chris Spielman and Stephen Boyd play linebacker.

That’s the other way local prep and college products can help the Lions.

We have heard all too often how Lions coach Rod Marinelli wants to build an atmosphere of pride, so why not start with players who already have pride in playing for the Lions.

DiGiorgio said he would have loved to play in front of a Detroit crowd while speaking to the student body at St. Mary’s, and given the Lions woes at the linebacker position, I’m sure they would’ve loved it too.

So let’s look at how the 2008 draft’s metro Detroit talent can help the Lions.

Granted with the No. 15 pick in the first round, the Lions won’t have a shot at top prospects like Jake Long of Lapeer and Vernon Gholston of Detroit, but that’s not to say there aren’t prospects to be had.

With the departure of former second-round pick Kalimba Edwards, the Lions again have a hole at defensive end — there lies Eastern Michigan University’s Jason Jones of Southfield.

The Former Southfield-Lathrup Charger posted 174 tackles in his three years on the Eastern Michigan defensive line. He recorded 70 tackles and 3.5 sacks playing at defensive tackle as a 6-5, 237-pound senior despite giving up plenty of weight to larger interior offensive linemen.

Jones could provide versatility across the Lions defensive front at tackle, end or even linebacker. That’s versatility that gurus like Marinelli and defensive coordinator Joe Barry should covet.

Next on the Lions "need" list is linebacker, where they’ve parted with former second-round picks Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman, who combined for roughly half as many tackles as DiGiorgio last year.

The current field of middle linebackers is thin, so a first-round pick of someone like Tennessee’s Jerod Mayo would be understandable, but why not take a late flyer on Central Michigan University’s Red Keith.

Keith may be from Georgia, but he has excelled on the Ford Field surface. In two Motor City Bowls, two Mid-American Conference championship games and one regular-season contest, Keith recorded 48 of his 455 career tackles.

NFLDraftCountdown.com’s scouting report says Keith doesn’t have the ideal size or speed for the next level, but he excels in intangibles as a team leader.

He also sported a 3.24 GPA with a major in Math, but who wants a middle linebacker with leadership, smarts and a nose for the ball in big games.

Also a constant on the Lions’ need list is offensive-line depth — a position that could be helped late in the draft with the acquisition of Western Michigan University offensive tackle James Blair.

At 6 feet 5 inches, Blair played tackle for three years with the Broncos, but he could move to guard, both positions of need for the Lions since Blair was in grade school before starring at Detroit Pershing.

AAFL needs your help (and large donations of cash)

(NOTE: The AAFL announced it was postponing its inaugural season shortly after this entry went up. An additional update concerning that follows this entry).

Maybe you’ve heard the news, maybe you haven’t. If not, I’ll break it to you. The All American Football League, yet to play a game, is already in danger of folding.

The six-team league essentially announced this past week that, unless an investor could be found who was willing to lend the AAFL a sizable wad of cash, the inaugural 2008 season might be postponed until 2009.

The AAFL later announced that it was making some progress with several prospective investors, as well as moving forward with TV deal talks, while adding that preseason training will be briefly delayed.

(UPDATE: A few days after writing this initial blog the AAFL announced that it was finalizing major national television and radio deals this week, adding that should be welcome news to interested financial partners. Included in the latest press release was a schedule of 21 of the season's 32 games that would appear on television, reportedly in an HD broadcast by a "well-known prestigious national network."
Televised games for Team Michigan included: 4 p.m. April 12 at Tennessee; 1 p.m. May 3 vs. Texas; 1 p.m. May 10 at Arkansas; 4 p.m. May 17 at Florida; 4 p.m. June 7 at Texas and 1 p.m. June 14 at Alabama.)

It was good to hear the promising follow-up news, but the initial hit was heavy. While the AAFL may yet stave off a fatal blow, things are not looking good for the league, which seemed to have some good things going for it before the call for financial help went out.

First and foremost, the AAFL bringing Team Michigan to town may finally have given Ford Field a successful football franchise. (Sorry for the cheap shot Lions fans, but I couldn’t avoid it.)

Next, the league’s motto of implementing a college football atmosphere in a professional setting had the potential to provide fans and players alike with some solid entertainment and excitement, especially if tickets and concessions could be kept way down below that of NFL and NCAA games.

Lastly, the AAFL’s rule of allowing players to compete only if they had received a college degree served as a great motivator in the ongoing effort to remind student-athletes that school is pretty important too.

Perhaps in folding before ever playing a single game, the AAFL will demonstrate to student- athletes just how important their education, received by many compliments of their scholarship, is in the long run.

If the NFL or NBA folded tomorrow, how many players from those leagues would be able to go out and get a decent job in corporate America? While having the ability to accurately throw a football 60 yards or leap over another human being and dunk a basketball with ease are impressive traits, they aren’t exactly the type of job skills the 9-to-5 suits are looking for.

OK, so most NFL or NBA players became financially set for life when they signed their rookie contracts and likely wouldn’t have to lift a finger to support themselves if their respective league ever folded. And I’m well aware that plenty did get their college degrees.

But what happens to the athletes in high school or college who had been eyeing a career in pro sports while neglecting their studies. Or what if a lesser luxurious sports league folds, like the Arena Football League?

What happens to those athletes without a college degree?

I don’t know. But I do know all those guys that tried out for AAFL teams, should the league indeed fold or postpone its kickoff, all have something other than sporting accomplishments to list on their resumes.

And while it’s hard to conceive the NBA or NFL, or even the Arena Football League (backed by ESPN), would fold in the near future, it’s also hard to conceive that a certain local professional football franchise would win less playoff games than the number of stadiums it's called home over the past 50 years, not to mention draft four wide receivers with its first pick in four of the last five drafts.

Finally, figuring out the logic behind the Lions organization may just require multiple college degrees.

(FINAL UPDATE: It’s official, the All American Football League has postponed its inaugural season until next year. The league sent out notification to the media March 13, in the afternoon.

The AAFL, which was recently attempting to find investors to help salvage the 2008 season, indicated in a press release that all its sponsors were committed to remaining with the league for the 2009 season. It also mentioned that fans would be fully reimbursed for all ticket purchases. The six-team league had been planning on kicking off its inagural season April 12.

Check upcoming editions of your local C&G Newspaper for more details.)

Dunk dreams

Ahh the slam dunk.

I was in seventh-grade the first time I saw one live. I was at an inter-team Clawson High basketball scrimmage and a group of us begged Jon Jansen — now an offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins — to dunk for us.

Soon after, I made a bet with my cousin, Gil — who was my age — that someday we would be the ones dunking.

After all, we were both tall for our age and could touch his neighbor Tommy’s rim at the time, which may or may not have reached 8 feet.

Fifteen years later, and I haven’t so much as nicked the rim on a regulation-size hoop — 10 feet.

Once in high school, at the height of my athleticism, I was apparently close, or so an observer said, but he could have been lying.

Gil, for his efforts, can get a few fingers around the hoop, but is also dunkless in his career.

Nowadays, I sit in gyms and watch these high schoolers throw it down with ease. It’s almost become routine, seeing them flying through the air, mocking me with every inch that they ascend.

It's not to say I can’t dunk with the best of them when a rim suits my leaping ability. In fact, I’m the “2006 Pat’s backyard Slam Dunk Champion.”

I won it with power and grace. As the sun went down and the porch lights came on, I wowed the judges — Pat’s brothers, Jimmy and Tim.

My friend and coworker, Jeremy, came in second after dunking with his shirt pulled over his head — a played-out move, in my opinion, and all the less impressive because I’m pretty sure he could see through it — but it was my off-the-backboard extravaganza (also very played out) that took the crown.

So go on — Drew Maynard of Lake Orion, Damacious White of Berkley High, Nick West of Royal Oak High and all the rest of the local dunksters — throw it down.
But know this: I own 8 feet.

Frozen Madness

Well, at long last, March Madness has officially arrived.

And no, the previous statement has nothing to do with CBS airing six minutes of commercials for every three minutes of basketball, and I’m not referring to the ever-so-interesting showdowns between No. 1-seeded powerhouses and their No. 16-seeded (technically one team seeded 17th) practice dummies.

Instead, as the calendar turns from February to March, the most exciting part of the high school hockey season officially begins. In an eight-day span, the playoffs will go from regional finals (March 1), quarterfinals (March 4-5), semifinals (March 6-7), and then culminate March 8 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.

Players, coaches, fans (and even media) who have, well, played, coached and witnessed the hockey playoffs understand the overall madness these eight days produce.

One lucky bounce or one key save can propel a team from the brink of elimination to center stage. Last season, for example, Grosse Pointe North watched as St. Clair Shores Unified hit the post in triple overtime in the opening round of the playoffs. Less than three weeks later, that lucky bounce partly to thank, the Norsemen were playing in the Division 1 semifinals.

A year later, the Norsemen are alive in this playoff chase, along with other local favorites (Cranbrook, St. Mary’s and De La Salle) and even some you’d be surprised at (Stoney Creek, Notre Dame Prep, Troy Athens).

As each day passes, the field will be cut in half until March 6, when the final 12 arrive at Compuware, which is the perfect culminating spot for the playoff tournament.

I understand the aura that comes with playing at Ford Field for the football state finals, but in a stadium that seats more than 60,000, excitement and atmosphere often get drowned out by the empty seats. (Compared to pro games at Ford Field where the seats are filled but there is no excitement or atmosphere).

Compuware is the perfect platform for the finals. It’s big enough to house everyone in attendance, but small enough to keep the atmosphere rocking from start to finish.

I understand and won’t deny my bias toward the hockey playoffs — it is the best sport in the world, right? — and I realize the girls basketball quarterfinals (semis and finals), the boys basketball regionals, the swimming finals and the boys individual wrestling finals are all this week as well (everyone at the MHSAA is smiling at that), but there’s something about the hockey playoffs that just has that “it” factor.

Needless to say, buckle up and let the frozen madness begin. Even if it is only a week. After all, unlike the March Madness this one actually ends … in March.

Quick guide to Eastside boys hoops playoffs

February in Michigan means uncertainty is abound.

And I’m not just talking about the weather.

It’s also time for boys basketball playoffs.

Unexpected upsets, emerging stars and dominating performances will begin popping up across the area like potholes as the postseason gets under way Feb. 25 with district quarterfinals.

To help hoops fans navigate their way through some of the most exciting action, I’ve compiled a quick guide of things to watch for district by district in my coverage area — mainly Macomb County, Grosse Pointe and Madison Heights.

Happy trails (and look out for potholes!)

District 20-A at Grosse Pointe North
• Competing teams: Eastpointe East Detroit, Detroit Finney, Grosse Pointe North, Grosse Pointe South, St. Clair Shores Lakeview and St. Clair Shores Lake Shore.
• Quick analysis: The five Macomb Area Conference-based squads (all but Finney) will surely be anxious to start the postseason after largely underachieving regular seasons, especially Grosse Pointe South, which lost several close games because of an inconsistent offense.
• Upset alert: The Blue Devils do play a tough brand of defense, and if they can get a big quarterfinal win over Lakeview, maybe they can get enough momentum rolling to give defending district champion Finney fits.
• Game to catch: If South can’t knock off Finney, maybe its rival neighbor to the north can in the district final. The Norseman should be tough to topple in their home gym.

District 21-A at Fraser High
• Competing teams: Fraser, Roseville High, Warren Cousino, Warren De La Salle, Warren Mott and Warren Woods Tower.
• Quick analysis: De La Salle, winners of nine consecutive district crowns, could be considered vulnerable this year with a young team (no seniors). Unfortunately for other teams in the district, they too all seem to be experiencing sub-par seasons.
• Star watch: There are plenty of talented players in this district, but Roseville sophomore Brandon Gouch is a somewhat unknown who is ready to turn heads.
• Must-see matchup: Will last year’s highly anticipated Cousino – De La Salle showdown finally come to fruition this season? If so, it should be exciting to see a pair of big fellas face off in the paint in De La Salle’s Kevin McCarthy and Cousino’s Matt Balkema.

District 27-A at Utica High
• Competing teams: Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, Sterling Heights High, Utica Eisenhower, Utica Ford II, Utica Stevenson and Utica.
• Quick analysis: I wasn’t alive the last time L’Anse Creuse won a district title (1976). While the Lancers are talented enough, this will be one tough district as Ford II leads some solid UCS squads into the group.
• Upset alert: Can Ike catch defending district champ Ford II looking ahead to a potential doozy of a district final with L’Anse Creuse?
• Game to catch: I already gave it away, but a Ford II-L’Anse Creuse district-final clash would certainly draw a crowd, especially with a pair of dynamic duos on display. Nick Carreri and Willie Cruz lead the Lancers, while Kyle Hunt and Nate King drive Ford II.

District 28-A at L’Anse Creuse North
• Competing teams: Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, Macomb Dakota, Fair Haven Anchor Bay, L’Anse Creuse North, Port Huron High and Port Huron Northern.
• Quick analysis: Veteran squads at LCN and Chippewa Valley are poised for a potentially electric district final, but don’t count out Dakota. The Cougars may be young, but Bill Snyder’s squads have won two straight district titles.
• Don’t forget about: Port Huron Northern. The Huskies and Oakland University-bound Jay Thames won’t be an easy out for Chippewa Valley in the first round.
• Shooting stars: Defenders beware, don’t let sharp-shooting seniors Erik Thompson and Mike Nieman of LCN or Chris Lemm of Chippewa Valley get open outside the arc or you’ll pay the price.

District 42-B at Center Line High
• Competing teams: Center Line, Detroit Crockett, Madison Heights Madison, St. Claire Shores South Lake, Warren Fitzgerald and Warren Lincoln.
• Quick analysis: Heated rivalries and revenge will be sought out in what is one of the best and most balanced districts in the state. Good news for fans, a nightmare for coaches.
• Underappreciated: Could Madison actually be flying under the radar? The Eagles seemed to lose some of their luster after failing to secure back-to-back undefeated records in the MAC Gold. Madison’s aggressive brand of defense could be the X-factor in this district of high-flying offenses.
• Game to catch: Every single game in this district has the potential to be a classic. Get there early and don’t leave your seat until it’s March.

The best of the rest
Districts: 43-B at Beverly Hills-Detroit Country Day; 44-B at Marine City; 45-B at Capac; 103-D at Detroit Chadsey; and 104-D at Birmingham Roeper.
• Competing (coverage) teams: Clinton Township Clintondale, Madison Heights Lamphere, Mount Clemens, Macomb Lutheran North, Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, Warren Conner Creek West, Warren Conner Creek East, Warren Macomb Christian and Grosse Pointe University Liggett.
• Upset alert: Call me crazy, but I bet Clintondale gives defending state champ Detroit Country Day a good game in at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Country Day. Before you lock me away, here’s the recipe behind my reasoning. The Dragons know how to win (they won a share of the MAC Silver title). They’ve played some top-level competition (Fitzgerald, L’Anse Creuse, Madison and Detroit Consortium) and are a balanced and deep team that can wear opponents down as they go deep into their bench.
• Oh so close: Mount Clemens and Lutheran North each lost heartbreakers in their respective district finals last year and should be focused to finish the job this year.
• Stars to watch: A pair of juniors should turn heads in the Roeper district. Parkway’s Zurlon Tipton is a top-notch athlete who can slash and bang with the best of them, while Conner Creek West’s big man John Hoskins Jr. is silky smooth near and far from the basket, swatting shots and draining treys.

For more district playoff coverage and information, including game dates and times and future results, check out our online basketball story archives.

AAFL gets drafty

While most football fans likely spent this past weekend in limbo with no games to watch for the first time since early August, the All American Football League was busier than the photographers chasing Tom “The Boot” Brady.

The AAFL, which I’ve blogged about a couple times before (scroll down) and written about a few times (links posted below), spent Jan. 26 conducting its inaugural draft.

Each of the six teams was allowed to “protect” a large group players, mainly ones from that team’s specific region (Team Michigan protected 20), meaning that no other team could select them.

That also meant there was little drama in the draft because the majority of the well-known and top talent was protected. Team Arkansas made former Troy University offensive lineman Zarah Yisrael the No. 1 pick.

While that selection was followed with a couple of former standout signal callers, as Virginia Tech’s Bryan Randall went No. 2 to Team Tennessee and Nebraska Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch was taken No. 3 by Team Texas, peering over the draft results (which you can find on the league’s Web site at www.aafl.com) leaves little excitement.

And the AAFL will need every ounce of excitement it can conjure up to get fans interested and survive.

Team Michigan’s first pick was former UCLA quarterback David Koral. The squad also had former University Illinois QB Jon Beutjer protected, along with six former University of Michigan players. (Head back to the AAFL site for Team Michigan’s post-draft roster.)
The team also unveiled a uniform — dark blue with white numbering and a solid gold stripe across the shoulders and under the neck with some red trim. A gold picture of the state (both parts, don’t want to upset any Yoopers adorns the dark blue helmets, which also have a single gold stripe going down the middle.

Team Michigan kicks off its inaugural season April 12 at Tennessee.

Team Florida and former University of Florida QB Chris Leak and Florida State University receiver Peter Warrick will visit Ford Field for Team Michigan's April 19 home opener.

Here are the links I mentioned to my past stories on the AAFL:
http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2007/12-05-07/XS-AAFLUPDATE_horiz.asp
http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2007/9-26-07/XS-LASTCHANCE_vert.asp
http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2007/8-15-07/XS-NEWTEAM.asp

Early bird gets the ice time

While most hockey fans are still dreaming of owning their very own Don Cherry suit, the Utica High boys squad is lacing up its skates for another of coach Kevin Nye's 5:20 a.m. practices.

In the wee hours of the morning Jan. 17, I pulled into Macomb Suburban Ice Arena for interviews with the Chieftains' players and coaches. As I entered the building at 6 a.m., they were already well into their practice — with smiles on the coaches' faces and no sign of the hour in the players' strides — in a session Nye described as being, "... nice to get out there and skate a little."

I am always impressed by the early morning habits of high school coaches and athletes. Whether it's swimmers, hockey players or any of the athletes who forgo extra hours of sleep for time in the weight room or on the ice, it's just one more sacrifice they make for a game.

I know its cliché to knock the "spoiled" professional athlete, but next time you here millionaires griping about whether or not they're being respected, remember the Chieftains and the countless other local athletes who roll out of bed at 4 a.m. to practice and are just happy to get the ice time.

Dusting off the mats

Clawson High wrestling is back, and that’s good news.

I know it wasn’t long ago, 2005 actually, that the Trojans had a team, but truthfully, it’s been 10 years or so since Clawson could boast a program that could come close to fulfilling the 14 weight classes.

This year, the Trojans have 10 athletes on the team, and though four classes are still being voided, it’s a step in the right direction.

Of the 10 wrestlers, four are freshmen, three are sophomores, two are juniors and only one is a senior. With a middle school program already in place, the numbers should only grow.

Adding to the optimism are coaches Terry Downs and Ed Macknis.

After spending some time with these guys, you can tell they’re passionate about the sport, and more importantly, they’re passionate about the school.

Both are Clawson graduates and have seen the program at its best — in the 1980s — when the Trojans could compete with anyone in the state. Both understand the tradition Clawson once had and are determined to bring it back.

As a 1999 graduate, I wish the coaches the best of luck and hope this current crop of wrestlers marks just the beginning. I can honestly say they are all making at least one alumnus proud.

Rivals will meet and titles will be decided

As the Macomb Area Conference girls basketball season heads into the second half , the competition gets tougher and the implications get more important. Here are a few of the key upcoming showdowns as teams battle to stay at the top of their respective MAC divisions.

St. Clair Shores South Lake at Clinton Township Clintondale, 7 p.m. Jan. 16
These two teams have battled for the MAC Silver title for the past three years. Last year, (2006) Clintondale won it. The year before that, South Lake took the title. Though both teams are struggling a bit this year — the Cavs were 1-1 in league play and the Dragons were 0-2 prior to play Jan. 11 — when they get together, its always a great game.

Grosse Pointe North at Fraser High, 7 p.m. Jan. 18
North and Fraser are the cream of the MAC Red crop this year and have developed a great rivalry. Prior to play Jan. 11, both teams were undefeated in league play. This should be a classic.

Eastpointe East Detroit hosts Roseville High, 7 p.m. Jan. 18
Nothing says Friday night like a crosstown rivalry. While Roseville has three-straight wins over the Shamrocks, Amy Altman's crew is determined to put an end to the streak.

Clinton Township Clintondale at Madison Heights Madison at 7 p.m. Jan. 22
Again, the MAC Silver triangle of Madison-Clintondale-South Lake comes to a head as these two teams duel. Madison's ace, Meesha Nolen, will be a good match for Clintondale's Dionne Washington and Gaby Adams.

Utica Ford II at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 7 p.m. Jan. 24
Here you'll see two top guns in action: Ford II's Lea Jones and Chippewa Valley's Claire Cannon. They can both shoot from long range, and the two of them on the same court is worth the price of admission.

Rivalry week sets up marquee boys hoops games

Hoops fans slowly emerging from their holiday hibernation may want to avert their eyes in the upcoming week. Rivalry games and key division clashes highlight what should make for a bright spot on the varsity boys basketball schedule.

Wednesday, Jan. 9
Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse at Romeo High, 7 p.m.
Few people outside of L’Anse Creuse expected the Lancers to be sitting atop the MAC Red instead of the Bulldogs. The dynamic duo of Nick Carreri and Willie Cruz can add more believers to the Lancers bandwagon if they win at Romeo to remain unbeaten in the division.

Lake Shore at Lakeview, 7 p.m. A half a game and a little more than two miles separate these St. Clair Shores intracity rivals as they face off in this MAC Silver showdown.

Fair Haven Anchor Bay at Warren Fitzgerald, 7 p.m. A little more than 30 miles separate these schools, but the Tars and Spartans sit tied for second place a half game behind Roseville High in the MAC Blue. This contest should be pivotal when it comes to crowning a champion in a division crowded with contenders. Roseville visits Anchor Bay Jan. 11.

Warren Lincoln at Mt. Clemens High, 7:30 p.m. If the Abes and Bathers want to keep pace with MAC Gold Division leader Madison High Madison, they can’t afford to get tripped up by each other. Oh, and it’s possible that the memories of Lincoln ending Mt. Clemens’ season in the district final last year may come into play.

Thursday, Jan. 10
Mt. Clemens at Macomb Lutheran North, 7 p.m. The Bathers will be tested in the post by the Mustangs in this non-conference clash, which comes a day after racing up and down the court with Lincoln. The contrasting styles should prepare Mt. Clemens for another tough test on Jan. 15, when the Bathers travel to Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day.

Friday, Jan. 11
Macomb Dakota at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 7 p.m. The Cougars knocked the Big Reds out of the playoffs the past two years. The Big Reds knocked the Cougars out of the playoffs the two seasons before that. The MAC Red foes are again scheduled in the same district this year and could again face off in the postseason for a third-game rubber match. Better get to this one early if you want a (ring)side seat for round one.

East Detroit at South Lake, 7 p.m. Last year the Shamrocks and Cavaliers ended up sharing the MAC Blue crown. Nobody likes to share, especially heated rivals.

Grosse Pointe North at Grosse Pointe South, 7 p.m. Fans of this rivalry will be treated to an extra helping this year. Although the Norsemen compete in the MAC Red and the Blue Devils play in the MAC White, these squads will square off twice, with the second meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at North. But first things first, and a win over a rival could be just the boost these squads need after slow starts in their respective divisions.

Warren De La Salle at Birmingham Brother Rice, 7:30 p.m. The young Pilots may not have a single senior on their roster, but no one needs to remind them that beating the Warriors is a big deal.

Tuesday, Jan. 15
Lutheran North at Harper Woods High, 7 p.m. The Mustangs emerged with the Metro Conference title last season, ending a three-year reign by the Pioneers. Don’t think Harper Woods has forgotten.

Center Line High at Warren Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. Old foes meet in a MAC crossover in what could be a postseason preview. The Panthers began the week sitting atop the MAC Silver with a 4-0 division mark and were 6-1 overall.