Wednesday 29 May 2013

Ultimately, Detroit Red Wings were more thrilling than disappointing

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/29/sports/doc51a6cc3830c73764388358.txt


Jimmy Howard and Red Wings made a terrific run

Is the Detroit Tigers' Big Four really a Big 5?

It's difficult to dispute the Tigers have the best starting pitching rotation in baseball. Justin Verlander is arguably the best starter of his generation. Max Scherzer is an enormous and emerging talent. Doug Fister has been a wonder since the Tigers' traded for him in 2011, developing a tremendous breaking ball and a swing-back fastball, which has become his trademark. Anibal Sanchez,

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Monday 27 May 2013

Detroit Red Wings only have themselves to blame for letting Blackhawks back in

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/27/sports/doc51a423dd277bf908313110.txt

Even Jimmy Howard couldn't save Red Wings in Game 6

Saturday 25 May 2013

Detroit Red Wings get expected dose of reality from Blackhawks

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/25/sports/doc51a1909510f0c120705241.txt


Toews, Howard: Game 6 Monday should be epic

Detroit Lions, NFL Draft, Martin Mayhew, Jim Schwartz - what it reveals

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/25/sports/doc51a0ae8538e9f022782690.txt

Matthew Stafford: Terrific draft pick

Thursday 23 May 2013

Detroit Red Wings prove to Blackhawks, again, why they are legitimate Stanley Cup contender

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/23/sports/doc519edcccdb59a927076379.txt




Howard has stymied Toews, Blackhawks

Myths about Justin Verlander and his recent struggles



Justin Verlander: Odds strong he'll figure it out

MYTH - Verlander has never been through this before: This is not an unusually bad start for Verlander. Even in his best season, 2011, when he was the American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner, he was 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA after 11 starts. This season, he is a 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA after 10 starts.
MYTH - Verlander is not healthy and is hiding

Why Detroit Red Wings playoff run is hardly a coincidence

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/23/sports/doc519d55db2177f475460253.txt



Young Red Wings have come together in a hurry


Tuesday 21 May 2013

Michigan, MSU hold key to Detroit's bowl success

I have always maintained that when given a choice, Michigan and Michigan State should play in the Little Caesars Bowl at Ford Field. It'd be great for the local economy. It would go from lukewarm media coverage to intense media coverage locally. Obviously, ticket sales would grow.
However, in truth, both have avoided the bowl like the plaque. There is a stigma attached to it.
It's when one of the

Detroit Red Wings, momentum arm-in-arm in dismantling of Blackhawks

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/21/sports/doc519ae52478517072484813.txt


Drew Miller, Jimmy Howard and Red Wings rolling

Monday 20 May 2013

Why are the Detroit Tigers suddenly losing? Two reasons



Verlander: Figuring  it out

- They are missing Austin Jackson. He not only keys the top of their batting order, but is the Tigers' best defender at a premier position, center field. Last season in May and early June, Jackson went on the disabled list, as well. The Tigers were 8-13 in the games he missed. In 2012 overall, the Tigers were 80-57 when Jackson played. When he didn't, they were 8-17

Sunday 19 May 2013

Detroit Red Wings prove crest on sweater can mean everything

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/19/sports/doc519970d001be9741924723.txt

Henrik Zetterberg: Has gained greatness as Red Wings captain

Saturday 18 May 2013

Red Wings show why they are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/18/sports/doc5197f14e44fbc499391447.txt

Red Wings: Saturday win reason to believe

Friday 17 May 2013

Questions Red Wings must answer in Game 2 vs Blackhawks

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/17/sports/doc51966610dc6d6608790659.txt


Thursday 16 May 2013

No disasters, but Detroit Tigers still have their issues

Sparky Anderson's 40-game mark legacy will live in infamy in Detroit sports lore. I kind of laugh about it having been around him daily the last 10 years he was the Tigers' manager. That's because it was no more than a deflector away from the way the Tigers performed during the opening weeks of a given season.


Austin Jackson: Missed

When the 40-game mark would actually arrive, Sparky would

Wednesday 15 May 2013

If the Detroit Red Wings don't play better, Blackhawks will sweep them

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/15/sports/doc519450b76b0cc665459318.txt

Brunner, Red Wings looking up at Blackhawks

Red Wings-Blackhawks - A prediction and my thoughts

Big Ten finally getting it right for Michigan, MSU, everybody

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/15/sports/columns/doc5193c50850a7a715134848.txt


Michigan/Ohio State will be legit again as season finale

Tuesday 14 May 2013

It'd be naive to believe Detroit Tigers don't still have issues at closer

Maybe it's because the Tigers appear to be such a good club overall. Or perhaps it's because their competition in the A.L. Central is underwhelming.
But the Tigers have a glaring weakness. It's at closer. What will they eventually do?


Tigers living on borrowed time with Valverde at closer

Jose Valverde is a stop-gap measure at this point. I don't believe that based on one blown save, but

Monday 13 May 2013

Different time, same results for resilient Detroit Red Wings

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/13/sports/doc5190994dd7d59536763407.txt

Thursday 9 May 2013

On Oakland University joining the Horizon League

I viewed the Summit League as NCAA Division I's version of plankton. It's definitely at the bottom of the food chain. As long as Oakland University was in that conference, it's cache as a legitimate Division I college athletic program was going to be limited. Joining the Horizon League makes the ceiling higher, and the fit is much better geographically. That's across the board - in all sports.


Red Wings inconsistency is maddening

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/09/sports/doc518b4910ab7cb061708771.txt

The End wasn't pretty Wednesday

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Detroit Red Wings show relentless hockey is back in town

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/07/sports/doc51887f672d573195192191.txt


Brunner: Goal ended a terrific playoff game

Saturday 4 May 2013

Own mistakes, not a bad call, why Red Wings trail Ducks

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/04/sports/doc5185dbc537c51724131711.txt

Justin Abdelkader: Hit was not only Red Wings' miscue

Detroit Lions will be different in '13, but are they better?

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/04/sports/doc51857061db12f208959963.txt

Reggie Bush: Should fit Lions

Friday 3 May 2013

Red Wings forgotten two turn Anaheim series on its ear

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/03/sports/doc51837987f3e23174672791.txt


Thursday 2 May 2013

On the Detroit Tigers bullpen...

No spot in baseball is more a wild card than bullpen closer. Former Tiger Jason Grilli, now 36, is leading the major leagues in saves with the Pittsburgh Pirates. As recently as 2011, he was hanging on in baseball by a thread in the minors with the Philadelphia Phillies' organization (he was released that July and signed the next day with Pirates). For most of his major league career, Grilli's

Wednesday 1 May 2013

Red Wings better wake up or Stanley Cup run will be short

My column: http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/05/01/sports/doc5180e3ac06d5b282563439.txt