Sports

The Drive To Ford Field

November 5th, 2009 at 11:46 pm by Jack Doles under Sports

Round two of the MHSAA football playoffs has some intriguing matchups. 

Rockford hosts Grand Haven in Division 1.  The Rams beat the Bucs 14-0 in week five.  The loss was the Bucs only one of the season. 

The Muskegon Big Reds have knocked Lowell out of the playoffs twice in the last three seasons.   The Big Reds look like they’re hitting their stride at just the right time, but will they be able to move the ball against a solid Lowell defense? 

Also from Division 2, Caledonia travels to Portage.  The Scots went to overtime to beat Portage Northern last week. 

In Division 3, East Grand Rapids quest for a four-peat goes through Byron Center.  The Pioneers have hardly been tested this season.  One wildcard in this game, former Caledonia head coach, Tom Burrill is on the Bulldogs staff.  He is one of the few coaches in the state to have pinned multiple losses on Peter Stuursma.  The big questions for Byron Center, can they handle the speed of East GR, and can they stop Kirk Spencer from making the big play?  Nobody has been able to do that yet.

We’ve got two marquee games in Division 4.  Holland Christian travels to West Catholic.  Hamilton heads to Three Rivers.

Muskegon Heights at Morley-Stanwood and Berrien Springs vs. Kelloggsville headline Division 5. 

The game of the week in Division 8 could very well be the championship game in that division.  Muskegon CC at Climax-Scotts.  Don’t be surprised if the winner of this game goes on to win a championship.

Friday on the Frenzy we’ll have hi lites from at least 10 second round playoff games.

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FRENZY- WEEK #8

October 14th, 2009 at 10:26 pm by Jack Doles under Sports

Last week when Rockford beat Muskegon, the Rams received a trophy for winning a game in the “Great American Rivalry Series” 

While that was a great game.. between two of West Michigan most storied programs.  I would hardly put it in the catagory of “great rivalries”  They’ve hardly ever played each other.  It’s like calling Texas vs. USC a great rivalry.  Rivalries take time to build. 

If the “Great American Rivalry Series” had somebody from West Michigan on its selection committee, the game they would pick is this Friday at East Grand Rapids. 

Over the past decade, this has been the best rivalry in West Michigan.  Don’t agree with me?  Then allow me to state my case.

Since 2001, East Grand Rapids has been virtually unbeatable.  105-7 with five state championships.

Since 2000, Lowell has posted a 104-13 record and won two state championships. 

Now take a look at this.  Since 2001, East Grand Rapids is 5-4 against Lowell.  100-3 against everybody else.  Other than Lowell, only Caledonia (2x) and Fruitport have managed to pin a loss on the Pioneers.

Since 2000, Lowell is 5-5 against East GR.  99-8 against the rest of the state. 

I rest my case. 

Lowell vs East GR will be one of 18 games we cover on Football Frenzy this Friday.  Other key matchups include West Catholic vs Coopersville; Allendale vs Kelloggsville; Pennfield vs Schoolcraft; Holland Christian vs Hamilton; East Kentwood vs Rockford. 

We’ll see you Friday.

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Frenzy Week #7

October 9th, 2009 at 5:21 pm by Jack Doles under Sports

The Football Frenzy crews are heading out to 22-games tonight.  Our spotlight games include Rockford at Muskegon.  The Big Reds are the last team to pin a loss on the Rams.  Muskegon needs a win to enhance their playoff hopes.  They take a 4-2 record into this one. 

Kenowa Hills travels to Holland in a key OK Black matchup.  The Knights can also clinch a playoff birth with a victory.

In the OK Gold we’ll spotlight Ottawa Hills at Caledonia.  Ottawa has been one of the great surprises in West Michigan.  The Bengals stand alone atop the OK Gold standings and can clinch a playoff birth with a victory.  Caledonia is 4-2 and in dire need of a win to keep their conference and playoff hopes alive.

Other teams looking to lock up playoff births include North Pointe Christian, Forest Hills Eastern, Holland Christian, Byron Center and Grand Haven to name a few.

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Lions win one!

September 28th, 2009 at 2:32 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Sports, Weather

Here’s some highlight video of the game. The Lions not only won on points (19-14) but also dominated time of position (37 min. to 23 min.).   Only 40,896 saw the game at Ford Field.  We probably had that many people downtown for Art Prize this weekend in Grand Rapids.  The game wasn’t decided until the final play.  The actor Tom Cruise was at the game (rooting for Washington – he knows Jim Zorn the head coach).  The Redskins have only scored 23 points in the last two games.  The Lions head to Chicago next week.

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Lions Fail To Sellout

September 24th, 2009 at 5:31 pm by Jack Doles under Sports

The Lions failed to sellout out for Sundays game against the Washington Redskins.  Unless they start winning again, we’ll be saying this a lot.  Yes, they showed signs of life against Minnesota; but haven’t we been saying that after every close loss over the last seven or eight years. 

Here’s what 1st year head coach, Jim Schwartz had to say after practice today.

On how much the Lions need to win
“Yeah everybody needs a win. Are you saying because of what happened last year?“I don’t think the guys on this team, the 53 guys on this team, need to bear the burden for what happened last year. I think that’s going to weigh too heavy on them. There are a lot of teams that are 0-2. Everybody needs a win that is 0-2. It’s hard to go 0-3. There are a lot of teams that feel that sense of urgency. Our guys feel that sense of urgency, but it’s unfair to our guys that burden is there. It’s there as an organization. It’s there as a city. We all feel that, but my emphasis is to try to keep that from the players. I know some of them were here last year. Some of them still feel it, but it’s too much to ask them to try to correct what happened last year this year. What they need to worry about is the Washington Redskins and that game. That game only, but yeah, getting a win. I look at it more as, ‘We’re 0-2, we need a win.’ Rather than, what happened last year, what happened the year before that.”

On whether the team can move forward and stop thinking and talking about the past if they win
“Honestly, that’s something that maybe you guys could stop talking about and maybe the fans would stop talking about. But from my standpoint, the coaching standpoint, our message to the team is ‘we don’t talk about that.’ We don’t talk about what happened last year, what happened the week before. Like I said, I think it’s unfair to those guys to put that on them, but a win changes (things).“We were in Tennessee a few years ago. We were 0-5 and we actually went to Washington and our bye-week was the next week and we won and we were 1-5 and then we had the bye-week. It was like we won two weeks in a row because that positive vibe kept going and we were able to turn it around and ended up finishing 8-8 that year. It’s the same thing. You have zero in the wins column you need to get that out from under. It changes a lot of attitudes, makes the day a little bit easier to get through.”

On whether he worries about the psyche of the guys who are second year players that have never won a NFL game

“Do I worry about their psyche? I don’t know what it’s like to have been in that situation. I know what it’s like for young players to go in to a situation where they haven’t consistently won. The only way you can turn that around is by winning. Talk doesn’t do anything, all those different things. There’s something that’s gained by actually winning and getting that behind them. Honestly, I worry about how they execute on the field, I worry about how they practice; I worry about how they train in the weight room, things like that. We’re not really worried about what their psyche is because of what happened over the last two years.”

On what Schwartz has liked about DE Jason Hunter
“Jason has done a really good job. He has really embraced, I think, what we do defensively (and it) fits his skill set. He’s really tough; he sort of knows what he is so to speak, and he accentuates those positives and had an impact on the game. We’ve seen a lot of players like that, that all they really need is a chance to play and a scheme that fits them and I think that you saw both of those.”
On what onus he feels for the game being blacked out this week
“I mean it is on us because it’s our job to win. It’s our job to get fans excited and to give them a reason to come to the game and when we do that we won’t have to worry about blackouts or sellouts or anything else. We’ll have to worry about how we’re going to get enough tickets for our friends and family that want to come to the games.”
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Football Frenzy Week #5

September 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 pm by Jack Doles under Sports

With Lowell moving up to #1 in Divison 2, the rankings are dominated by West Michigan schools.  Rockford #1 in Division 1.  Lowell #1 in Divison 2. East Grand Rapids #1 in Division 3. Marshall #2 in Division 4.  Muskegon Heights #1 in Division 5.  Montague #1 in Division 6.  Traverse City St. Francis #1 in Division 7.  Climax-Scotts #1 in Division 8.

This week on the Football Frenzy we are efforting hilites from 21 games.  We will shine the spotlight on three games pitting undefeated teams.

In the OK Green: Byron Center 4-0 hosts the 7th ranked Hamilton Hawkeyes (4-0). 

From the OK Red we’ll spotlight #6 Grand Haven (4-0) at #1 Rockford (4-0)

We’ll also spotlight the showdown in the Wolverine conference between Three Rivers (4-0) at Otsego (4-0).

The MHSAA released playoff rankings.  Here’s a look.

1. 2789 Sterling Heights Stevenson (4-0) 96.000 2. 2698 Ann Arbor Pioneer (4-0) 88.670 3. 2634 Clarkston (4-0) 98.000 4. 2630 Rockford (4-0) 96.000 5. 2526 Grand Blanc (4-0) 98.000 6. 2461 Howell (3-1) 74.750 7. 2438 Macomb Dakota (4-0) 98.000 8. 2407 Lake Orion (3-1) 74.250 9. 2380 Dearborn Fordson (4-0) 86.000 10. 2328 Detroit Southeastern (4-0) 88.000 11. 2325 Clinton Township Chippewa Valley (3-1) 68.750 12. 2239 Holland West Ottawa (3-1) 68.750 13. 2217 Northville (3-1) 56.750 14. 2212 Plymouth (3-1) 68.750 15. 2127 Westland John Glenn (3-1) 64.750 16. 2094 Detroit Catholic Central (4-0) 94.000 17. 2048 Roseville (3-1) 64.500 18. 2008 Pontiac (3-1) 62.000 19. 1935 Holt (3-1) 66.750 20. 1883 Canton (4-0) 98.000 21. 1873 Grand Haven (4-0) 96.000 22. 1850 Romeo (3-1) 68.750 23. 1849 Livonia Franklin (3-1) 70.000 24. 1791 Flint Carman-Ainsworth (3-1) 68.500 25. 1788 Warren Mott (3-1) 62.500 26. 1745 Grand Ledge (3-1) 64.250 27. 1717 Southfield-Lathrup (3-1) 68.500 28. 1708 Milford (3-1) 64.500 29. 1700 Temperance Bedford (3-1) 70.750 30. 1665 Walled Lake Central (4-0) 88.000 31. 1663 Southgate Anderson (3-1) 64.750 32. 1658 Port Huron (3-1) 66.750 33. 1650 Warren DeLaSalle (3-1) 66.000 34. 1641 Detroit Western International (3-1) 60.250 35. 1639 Grosse Pointe South (3-1) 72.750 36. 1622 Midland (4-0) 84.000 37. 1536 Southfield (3-1) 66.750 38. 1514 Dearborn Edsel Ford (4-0) 94.000 39. 1501 Muskegon (3-1) 76.750 40. 1483 Rochester Adams (3-1) 66.750 41. 1455 Grosse Pointe North (3-1) 66.250 42. 1390 Birmingham Brother Rice (3-1) 68.750 43. 1380 Portage Central (4-0) 90.000 44. 1329 Detroit Martin Luther King (3-1) 66.500 45. 1312 Wyandotte Roosevelt (4-0) 82.000 46. 1303 Oxford (3-1) 64.750 47. 1297 Lowell (4-0) 86.000 48. 1287 Portage Northern (3-1) 64.750 49. 1252 Farmington Hills Harrison (4-0) 88.000 50. 1252 Detroit Denby (3-1) 60.250 51. 1214 Detroit Northwestern (3-1) 58.330 52. 1174 Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills (3-1) 68.750 53. 1174 Greenville (3-1) 58.500 54. 1171 Allen Park (3-1) 60.250 55. 1164 Redford Thurston (3-1) 70.750 56. 1143 Lapeer East (3-1) 62.750 57. 1127 Auburn Hills Avondale (3-1) 58.250 58. 1120 St Clair Shores Lakeview (3-1) 64.750 59. 1111 Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills (3-1) 60.500 60. 1103 Lapeer West (4-0) 94.000 61. 1101 St Johns (3-1) 58.750 62. 1083 Mt Pleasant (4-0) 94.000 63. 1080 St Clair Shores Lake Shore (3-1) 62.750 64. 1061 Mason (4-0) 90.000 65. 1055 Hazel Park (3-1) 58.250 66. 1053 Adrian (3-1) 66.250 67. 1000 Carleton Airport (4-0) 88.000 68. 994 Grand Rapids Christian (3-1) 64.250 69. 986 St Joseph (3-1) 66.750 70. 977 Fruitport (3-1) 54.500 71. 971 Byron Center (4-0) 84.000 72. 968 Petoskey (4-0) 84.000 73. 953 Fowlerville (4-0) 80.000 74. 943 Hastings (3-1) 54.750 75. 939 Cadillac (3-1) 62.000 76. 931 Escanaba (4-0) 82.000 77. 930 East Grand Rapids (4-0) 84.670 78. 928 Chelsea (3-1) 64.500 79. 925 Highland Park (3-1) 61.170 80. 923 Milan (3-1) 58.750 81. 917 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (4-0) 88.000 82. 917 Stevensville Lakeshore (4-0) 80.000 83. 911 DeWitt (4-0) 84.000 84. 892 Haslett (3-1) 62.750 85. 885 Linden (4-0) 92.000 86. 876 Dearborn Divine Child (4-0) 82.000 87. 875 Battle Creek Harper Creek (3-1) 60.500 88. 859 Detroit Crockett (4-0) 86.000 89. 851 Melvindale (4-0) 94.000 90. 833 North Branch (3-1) 52.500 91. 831 Ogemaw Heights (3-1) 56.750 92. 826 Hamtramck (3-1) 50.500 93. 825 Holland Christian (4-0) 82.000 94. 821 Spring Lake (3-1) 60.250 95. 818 Parma Western (3-1) 44.000 96. 801 Marine City (4-0) 88.000 97. 784 Dearborn Heights Annapolis (3-1) 46.500 98. 778 Madison Heights Lamphere (3-1) 56.250 99. 777 Marshall (4-0) 90.000 100. 771 Three Rivers (4-0) 76.000 101. 763 Hudsonville Unity Christian (3-1) 54.750 102. 761 Muskegon Orchard View (3-1) 52.750 103. 757 Hamilton (4-0) 82.000 104. 754 Croswell-Lexington (3-1) 50.750 105. 749 Fremont (3-1) 54.500 106. 744 Goodrich (3-1) 56.750 107. 721 Lansing Catholic (3-1) 54.750 108. 720 Cheboygan (3-1) 64.250 109. 718 Yale (3-1) 54.500 110. 708 Richmond (3-1) 60.500 111. 703 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (3-1) 44.750 112. 695 Big Rapids (4-0) 66.000 113. 678 Battle Creek Pennfield (4-0) 58.000 114. 675 Otsego (4-0) 76.000 115. 661 Detroit Country Day (3-1) 56.500 116. 661 Kingsford (3-1) 59.170 117. 654 Williamston (3-1) 54.250 118. 637 Flint Powers Catholic (3-1) 56.500 119. 635 Grand Rapids West Catholic (4-0) 76.000 120. 620 Almont (3-1) 58.500 121. 619 Essexville Garber (3-1) 56.500 122. 618 Saginaw Swan Valley (4-0) 68.000 123. 618 Caro (3-1) 54.000 124. 611 Dowagiac (3-1) 54.750 125. 588 Ovid-Elsie (4-0) 70.000 126. 579 Pinconning (3-1) 60.500 127. 572 Onsted (3-1) 60.750 128. 570 Durand (3-1) 54.250 129. 565 Grayling (3-1) 46.500 130. 561 Menominee (3-1) 52.500 131. 560 Madison Heights Madison (4-0) 88.000 132. 560 Stockbridge (4-0) 62.000 133. 558 Muskegon Heights (4-0) 70.000 134. 546 Millington (4-0) 72.000 135. 546 Wyoming Kelloggsville (4-0) 60.000 136. 538 Hopkins (3-1) 52.250 137. 537 Brooklyn Columbia Central (3-1) 42.500 138. 532 Jackson Lumen Christi (3-1) 64.500 139. 528 Houghton Lake (3-1) 52.750 140. 524 Lakeview (3-1) 52.250 141. 520 Berrien Springs (3-1) 50.500 142. 512 Lake Fenton (3-1) 46.500 143. 506 Gladstone (3-1) 56.500 144. 504 Delton Kellogg (4-0) 50.000 145. 502 Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (4-0) 56.000 146. 495 Carrollton (3-1) 48.750 147. 488 Shepherd (3-1) 58.000 148. 478 Flint Beecher (4-0) 78.000 149. 475 North Muskegon (3-1) 48.750 150. 473 Harper Woods Chandler (3-1) 54.500 151. 468 Clare (4-0) 68.000 152. 466 Negaunee (3-1) 42.500 153. 463 Elk Rapids (3-1) 52.250 154. 461 Morley-Stanwood (4-0) 72.000 155. 457 Laingsburg (3-1) 42.750 156. 455 Farwell (3-1) 40.500 157. 452 Grandville Calvin Christian (3-1) 40.250 158. 450 Sanford Meridian (3-1) 56.750 159. 444 Harper Woods (3-1) 50.000 160. 438 Montague (4-0) 74.000 161. 431 Bronson (4-0) 62.000 162. 426 East Jackson (3-1) 36.500 163. 424 Ithaca (4-0) 68.000 164. 423 Monroe St Mary Catholic Central (3-1) 54.750 165. 421 Calumet (3-1) 45.170 166. 419 Blissfield (3-1) 48.750 167. 407 Schoolcraft (4-0) 56.000 168. 405 Manchester (4-0) 60.000 169. 401 Suttons Bay (3-1) 42.750 170. 399 Boyne City (3-1) 48.250 171. 392 St Charles (4-0) 62.000 172. 392 Sandusky (3-1) 40.750 173. 391 Clinton (3-1) 50.750 174. 387 Hartford (4-0) 46.000 175. 386 Ecorse (4-0) 72.000 176. 384 Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker (3-1) 48.500 177. 384 Whitmore Lake (3-1) 46.750 178. 380 Reese (4-0) 64.000 179. 359 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (3-1) 42.250 180. 356 Burton Bendle (4-0) 60.000 181. 354 Addison (3-1) 46.500 182. 352 Lake City (3-1) 46.250 183. 347 Kalamazoo Christian (3-1) 40.750 184. 346 Lawton (3-1) 34.500 185. 343 Ishpeming Westwood (3-1) 38.500 186. 341 Hudson (4-0) 74.000 187. 337 Cassopolis (4-0) 62.000 188. 323 Reading (4-0) 50.000 189. 319 Roseville Michigan Collegiate (3-1) 46.750 190. 315 Brown City (4-0) 46.000 191. 314 Ravenna (4-0) 66.000 192. 314 Whittemore-Prescott (4-0) 52.000 193. 309 Traverse City St Francis (4-0) 60.000 194. 308 Royal Oak Shrine Catholic (3-1) 36.250 195. 305 Concord (4-0) 46.000 196. 305 Pewamo-Westphalia (3-1) 38.500 197. 305 Southfield Christian (3-1) 36.500 198. 304 Ishpeming (3-1) 48.500 199. 303 Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (3-1) 24.500 200. 296 Potterville (4-0) 58.000 201. 296 Iron River West Iron County (3-1) 44.250 202. 287 Decatur (3-1) 40.500 203. 274 Norway (4-0) 52.670 204. 270 Genesee (4-0) 46.000 205. 269 Ottawa Lake Whiteford (3-1) 46.500 206. 268 Merrill (3-1) 46.750 207. 266 Petersburg-Summerfield (4-0) 66.000 208. 262 Rudyard (4-0) 56.000 209. 260 Saugatuck (3-1) 42.750 210. 258 Ubly (4-0) 58.000 211. 252 White Pigeon (3-1) 48.750 212. 244 Rogers City (3-1) 36.250 213. 241 Mendon (4-0) 60.000 214. 237 Dryden (3-1) 30.500 215. 231 Waterford Our Lady (4-0) 54.000 216. 229 New Lothrop (3-1) 38.750 217. 223 Climax-Scotts (4-0) 48.000 218. 222 Fulton (3-1) 38.500 219. 216 Eau Claire (3-1) 40.100 220. 212 Beal City (3-1) 46.750 221. 209 Johannesburg-Lewiston (3-1) 42.250 222. 205 Mio (3-1) 30.750 223. 201 Colon (3-1) 34.750 224. 195 Crystal Falls Forest Park (3-1) 40.500 225. 183 Bark River-Harris (4-0) 46.000 226. 176 Cedarville (4-0) 44.670 227. 173 Frankfort (3-1) 40.250 228. 173 Ontonagon (3-1) 36.500 229. 172 Sterling Heights Parkway Christian (3-1) 42.250 230. 171 Battle Creek St Philip (3-1) 34.750 231. 165 Kinde-North Huron (3-1) 36.250 232. 154 Lake Linden-Hubbell (4-0) 60.000 233. 151 Mt Pleasant Sacred Heart (3-1) 44.500 234. 139 Iron Mountain North Dickinson (4-0) 48.670 235. 125 St Joseph Michigan Lutheran (3-1) 38.000 236. 123 Ashley (3-1) 34.500 237. 89 Gaylord St Mary (4-0) 58.000 238. 58 Manistee Catholic Central (4-0)* 44.000

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Weekend Sports Thread

September 18th, 2009 at 11:40 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Sports, Weather

wheels off <–glad I don’t have to pay royalties on using this pic.  With the weather being rather quiet, let’s do a weekend sports thread, highlighting another potential defensive “challenge” (er…more like “nightmare”) for the Detroit Lions as Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and the Vikings have the next best thing to a bye week.   I do predict that the Lions defense can hold the Minnesota offense to double-digits.  You can watch the Notre Dame-Michigan State game on WOOD at 3:30 PM.  That should be a good game and both teams need a win.  Michigan (at home vs. E. Michigan at noon) and C.M.U. (hosting Alcorn State) should pick up fairly easy wins.  Miami (OH) comes to W.M.U. and G.V.S.U. visits Ferris State.  Michelle and I went up to Big Rapids for a Ferris game a couple years ago.  Tickets are relatively cheap, you can park close, get a good seat and watch some decent football. Finally, don’t forget Football Frenzy.  Jack, Jason, Larry (and anyone in the building who knows how to shoot video – seriously) will be scattered all across W. Michigan getting tape from +20 games, so tune in tonight at 10 PM on WXSP or after Leno at 11 PM on WOOD.  The weather today should be awesome.

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HS FOOTBALL- 1ST POLL OF SEASON

September 15th, 2009 at 4:56 pm by Jack Doles under Sports

The first poll is out for the high school football season and it should come as absolutely no surprise, that West Michigan schools dominate the number one spot.

Division 1: #1- Rockford, #7 Grand Haven

Division 2: #1 Warren De La Salle, #2 Lowell

Division 3: #1 East GR

Division 4: #1 Marine City, #2 Marshall, #4 West Catholic, #5 Holland Christian, #7  Three Rivers, #8 Hamilton, #9 BC Pennfield, #10 Unity Christian

Division 5: #1 Oakridge, #3 Muskegon Heights

Division 6: #1 Montague, #3 Schoolcraft, #4 Hartford

Division 7: #1 TC St Francis, #3 Mendon, # 5 Ravenna

Division 8: #1 Climax-Scotts, #6 Muskegon CC

 

If we’ve learned anything from the early season matchups between the east and west side of the state, it’s that we should be in for another fun Thanksgiving day weekend at Ford Field. 

The OK Red looks scarey good.  The OK White could very well crown two state champions with East GR and Lowell.  The OK Gold could provide one of the craziest races with Hastings and Forest Hills Eastern off to surprising 3-0 starts.  Catholic Central, Ottawa Hills and Caledonia all figure to have a say before we’re through.  And how about the OK Green?  Four teams in the Green are off to 3-0 starts.

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The Detroit Lions – 2009

September 8th, 2009 at 12:01 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Sports, Weather

wheels-off <–YES, I saved this picture from last year.  I think I used it 16 times!  Now, if you’re anywhere near my age, you’ll remember this.  The running gag was Bullwinkle the magician trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat.  He’d pull out a tiger, a bear, a rhinoceros – never a rabbit.  In the last gag Bullwinkle comes to center stage and announces he’s going to pull a rabbit out of a hat.  Rocky responds:  “But that trick never works!”  Bullwinkle:  “This time for sure!!  PRESTO!!”  (…and he pulls Rocky out of the hat).  Yes sports fans, it’s time for Bullwinkle the magician to reappear at Ford Field once again.  We’re all waiting to see if this is the year Bullwinkle can pull the rabbit out of the hat.  One more time we get a high draft pick…again we use it on the big-time, big-play guy…again we have a winning pre-season.   And again I’m Rocky saying, “But that trick never works!”   Here’s you’re chance to predict.  Leave a comment with your guess (one per person) on the Lions won/loss record in the regular season.  At the end of the season, we’ll see who comes closest.  Maybe I can even get promotion to throw in a coffee mug or t-shirt for a prize for the best guess before Sunday (Sept. 13).  BTW – if you’re interested in Rocky and Bullwinkle, check out the voices behind the characters.

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AFL Folding

August 6th, 2009 at 12:29 am by Jack Doles under Sports

I’m really sad to see it go.

The Arena Football League is about to shut its doors for good, and while I’m not surprised, I am disappointed.

For over 20-years Arena players entertained fans with an up-tempo game.  Fans gasped as receivers were slammed into the sideline boards after a catch.  They took home souvineer footballs when errent throws went sailing into the crowd.   And were able to get up close and personal with the players on the field after games. 

Dan DeVos brought the Rampage to Grand Rapids in 1998.   They won the ArenaBowl in 2001.   They paraded through downtown Grand Rapids with the championship trophy and Rampage fans celebrated.

Even though there wasn’t much to celebrate after that, Rampage games were still fun.  They were still high energy, and no crowd in West Michigan was louder than a Rampage crowd. 

But the crowds are silenced now.   AFL owners couldn’t come up with a business model to save the league, so they’re shutting it down.

There is talk from the D.P. Fox camp it will come back in some form in Grand Rapids.  AF2 the most likely scenerio.  They made a similar move in Iowa a few years ago, and my friends in Des Moines say you can hardly tell the difference.  With nowhere else to play for many of the guys on AFL teams, you’ll likely see some of the same names making the jump to AF2. 

Let’s hope so.

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