No matter who wins this series, the Stanley Cup figures to stop in West Michigan.

Justin Abdelkader brought it home for a visit after the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup finals last year.  He got to skate with the cup and got to party with the cup, but his name has yet to be engraved on it.   His contributions this time around would ensure Justin Abdelkader would be added to the world’s most famous trophy.  Abdelkader has scored 2-goals in the finals.

If Pittsburgh comes back and wins the series, then expect Penguins coach Dan Bylsma to bring it home.   He grew up in Grand Haven and still has a home there.

Bylsma and Abdelkader had never met until this season.  Although they knew all about each other.  The grew up skating on the same rinks.  They played for the same youth program in Muskegon.

Abdelkader says he was inspired by Bylsma’s success as a player.  “He was the first Muskegon guy to make it.”

Bylsma joked, “I saw his billboard when I was in Grand Rapids.  I never had a billboard.”  He also said he knew all about the success Abdelkader had during his career at Mona Shores H.S., Michigan State and now with the Red Wings.

Two guys who learned the game off hockey on ponds in West Michigan.  One will hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Dan Bylsma grew up admiring Wayne Gretzy and was fortunate enough to play against him in the NHL.   Now, for the second time in his hockey career, he’s living the dream.  This time as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

I sat down with Bylsma in Mellon Arena this morning and we talked about the Stanley Cup finals and the challenges of coaching Crosby and Malkin.  We’ll have some of the interview on our 5pm newscast and the extended version on Sports Overtime this Sunday.

Bylsma grew up in Grand Haven and attended West Michigan Christian H.S. in Muskegon.

Jeremy Bonderman will begin his road back to the major leagues with a start at Fifth Third Ballpark on Saturday night.  He’ll start for the Whitecaps against the Great Lakes Loons.

Bonderman threw 87 pitches in an extended spring training game on Monday.  Today he threw a side session in Lakeland, FL. and reported no soreness. 

The Tigers placed Bonderman on the disabled list at the end of spring training with a sore shoulder.  He’s still recovering from surgery last June to repair a circulatory problem in his shoulder.

The Whitecaps will open the gates at 4pm on Saturday.  The Whitecaps will open their ticket office on Thursday at 8am.

The Manitoba Moose beat the Griffins 3-1 in game #3 of their 2nd round Calder Cup playoff series.  The Moose lead the series 3-0.

In the history of the AHL, only two teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit.

The Griffins top line was shut down again.  Leino, Abdelkader and Haydar were kept off the score sheet.

Looks like the oddsmakers in Vegas are as fond of the Lions draft picks as I am.  betus.com lists the Lions as the biggest longshot in the NFL to win the Super Bowl in 2010.

How’s 200 to 1 odds sound?

Sounds about right to me.

Let’s see… they pick a QB, TE and a Safety with their first three picks.

I recall most of the draft experts saying this was a weak class for QB’s and Safeties.  I recall most of the draft experts saying this was a deep draft for Offensive Lineman and Linebackers.

I’d like to see the odds for the Lions going 0-16 again, because I’m pretty sure, after this draft, they’d be lower than 200 to 1.  They’d probably be closer to the 100 to 1 odds they’ve posted for the Lions to win the NFC.

MSU coach Tom Izzo is on the fast track to the basketball Hall of Fame.

He’s led the Spartans to 5-Final Four appearences in the last 11-years.  More than any other coach.  The Spartans are 3-3 in Final Four action under Izzo.  Among active coaches, only Mike Krzyzewski (10) and Roy Williams (7) have led their teams to the final four more often.

Since Tom Izzo took over as head coach at Michigan State, every four year player in his program has been to at least one final four.

Izzo’s Spartans are 14-2 in the second game of a weekend in NCAA tournament play.   That’s a remarkable record that shows how well prepared his teams are for a quick turnaround.

Michigan State has been to the NCAA tournament 12 consecutive years under Izzo.

Some fast facts about tonight’s NCAA championship game between Michigan State and North Carolina.

The Spartans and Tar Heels have met four times in the NCAA tournament.

In 1957 North Carolina beat Michigan State 70-64 in triple-overtime.  That’s the longest game in Michigan State’s NCAA tournament history.

In 1998 North Carolina was a #1 seed when they beat the Spartans 73-58.

In 2005 the Tar Heels were a #1 seed when they beat MSU 87-71 in the NCAA national semi-finals.

In 2007 UNC was a #1 seed and they beat MSU in the 2nd round 81-67.

North Carolina leads the overall series with Michigan State 8-3.  The Tar Heels whipped MSU on December 3 of this season, 98-63.

It’s so clear now.  This is the Spartans tournament to win.  It’s their destiny.

They’ve already knocked off two #1 seeds.  Big East powers at that.   Only one school has beaten three #1 seeds in an NCAA tournament.  Arizona did it when it won the NCAA championship in 1997.

In the Spartans last three victories, Tom Izzo has outcoached Bill Self, Rick Pitino and Jim Calhoun.  All three have led teams to national championships.

For the past two weeks I’ve listened to analysts like Digger Phelps say Michigan State would lose.  They’d lose to Kansas.  They couldn’t stay with Louisville.  Connecticut was too talented.  Now they’re call for North Carolina to route MSU the way they have every other team in this tournament.

Aren’t they watching?  Haven’t they seen the heart they play with?  Haven’t they seen  how tenacious they are on the defensive end?  Haven’t they heard the roar of 72 thousand fans cheering them on?

Do not discount that.  Michigan State fed off that crowd against UCONN.  The roar was deafening when Durrell Summers dunked on Stanley Roberts.   Crowds like that energize players.  You jump an inch or two higher.  You play a little harder defensively.  UCONN ran out of gas.  Midway through the first half they were tugging at their shorts.  I doubt they’ve ever had to work that hard to get off a shot.

Don’t discount the cry of redemption that will come out of Tom Izzo’s mouth either.  Michigan State is 0-4 against North Carolina in the NCAA tournament.  They lost to the Tar Heels in 1957.  They also were knocked out of the tournament by the Heels in 1998, 2005 and 2007.

And then there was that game at Ford Field early in the season.  On December 3, North Carolina beat MSU 98-63.   That will not happen again.  Not in front of 72,000 fans.  Not in front of a city… a state.. that has embraced them.

With unemployment rising like Durrell Summers for a dunk… With so little to feel good about in Michigan these days, the Spartans have taken it upon themselves to lift up a state.   That’s their cause.  The national championship is their mission.   Don’t be surprised if they make Digger eat his words.

Again.

Never count out those Spartans.  Not with Tom Izzo on the bench.  If you don’t think he’s not one of the very best coaches in the country, then you need to watch more closely. 

He matched wits with two of the best coaches in the business in Indianapolis and beat them both.  Izzo is quick to point out, “the players play” but his teams were more prepared.  His game plan was superior, and his team is moving on to the Final Four.  Bill Self and Rick Pitino have each won national championships.  So has Jim Calhoun, who’s next on Izzo’s hit list.

Izzo will use every advantage in his power to motivate his team.  MSU has been listed as a 4 to 1 underdog.  MSU will have the home crowd in its favor.  A win over UCONN could set up a rematch with North Carolina…. and you know they’d love that.

After beating Louisville and earning a spot in the Final Four, Izzo said he hoped the Spartans were, “a silver lining in what’s been kind of a cloudy year for us.  I’m hoping that we’re the sunshine, I’m hoping we’re something to embrace.”

They always seem to be in March.  Five trips to the Final Four in eleven seasons is proof enough.  No other school in the country can make that claim, because no other country has Tom Izzo as a head coach.

Zeeland East’s incredibly run came up a few jump shots short of the storybook finish they were hoping for.  The Chix shot 35% from the floor in the championship game, and lose to Flint Powers 62-54.