The Pressbox

 By Niles Kruger nkruger@monroenews.com

Another year is ending, 2007 is about to dawn.

It has been another memorable year in sports in Michigan with great runs by the Detroit Tigers and Michigan’s foootball team, continued success by the Detroit Pistons and Red Wings, championships won the Detroit Shock and the Grand Valley State football team. Then, we have the Lions….

What will you remember most about 2006?

I jotted down some of my favorite memories of the sports year locally in a column that was published Sunday. The text of it follows:

It’s New Year’s Eve. As the clock ticks down on 2006, here are a few of the memorable people I’ve written about during the past year.

Jessica Irwin: I don’t think I’d ever seen a perfect game in person before the Monroe pitcher treated me to two during the softball season.It was even more special because this is a girl I’d watched grow up since she was in elementary school. She showed her sly sense of humor when talking about the reaction of her compulsive worrier coach Vince Rossi to her throwing a brand-new pitch in one of the games. “I didn’t tell him,” she said with a smile.

Courtney Roberts: The Milan swimmer said one of the advantages to signing with Michigan State was that it swims some of its meets in an outdoor pool. “You can get a tan,” she explained.

Chris Matsos: A guy who went 0-18 on the football field during his high school career at New Boston Huron has enjoyed some well-deserved success in college and indoor football.

Emily Howe: Playing in the shadow of a successful older sibling is never easy. Howe addressed the situation as frankly and as thoughtfully as any athlete I’ve ever interviewed.

Dave Raymond, Matt Benge: They seem almost too nice to be coaches, but enjoyed great success in girls basketball.

Jake Sawicki: The Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes running back turned in one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen, trudging through mud and muck for 245 yards and four touchdowns in a state playoff game against Whiteford.

Dawn Forter: The Ida coach displayed tremendous class at the state softball finals, going out of her way to have her team cheer for fellow Monroe County teams Jefferson and Summerfield. The entire county had a lot to be proud about with the way its teams represented themselves in state championship games.

John Potrzebowski, Steve Brighton: Everyone knows wrestlers are tough, but these two Bedford grapplers went above and beyond the call of duty in fighting through injuries.

Cetera Washington: The Miss Basketball candidate from Kalamazoo Loy Norrix showed a lot of class in consoling the Monroe players after her team beat the Trojans in overtime.

Dominique Wilson: He looked too small to play defensive end, but the Monroe senior had a huge impact in every game he played.

Jelani McGadney: The Dundee swimmer treated me to one of my most enjoyable interviews in a long time. He has passion for politics and a gift for telling a story. Look for him to run for office in the future.

By Niles Kruger nkruger@monroenews.com

Dundee’s boys basketball team got off to a rough start this season, but the Vikings appear to have the ship back on course.

Coach Jeff Turner’s squad was very impressive Thursday night during a 65-46 victory over Summerfield. The Vikings were tenacious on defense, spread the ball around on offense and hustled for every loose ball.

I love Turner’s coaching style. He demands maximum effort at all times and gives it himself. He was coaching as hard at the end of the game when he had a 20-point lead and substitutes filled the floor as he did in the opening minute.

By Niles Kruger nkruger@monroenews.com

Ben Wallace is goine, but the Detroit Pistons might be better equipped to handle the rigors of the NBA Playoffs this season.

Coach Flip Saunders has been showing more faith in his bench this season and the backups are rewarding that faith. Jason Maxiel, Flip Murray, Carlos Delfino, Will Blalock and even Dale Davis have made important contributions this season. Soon, Lindsey Hunter will return to provide a defensive spark.

The starters are getting some rest this season. They shouldn’t be so exhausted when playoff time arrives.

By Jeff Meade jmeade@monroenews.com

My top 10 Michigan sports stories for 2006:

1. Detroit Tigers pennant run

2. Death of Bo Schembechler

3. Red Wings ousted in opening round of playoffs.

4. Michigan football team rebounds from dismal 2005 season.

5. Tiger Stadium to be demolished for new development.

6. Pistons fall in playoff semifinals; Ben Wallace leaves for Chicago.

7. Detroit Lions hire new coach, reach new depths of despair.

8. Michigan State fires football coach John L. Smith with two games remaining in season.

9. Grand Valley State repeats as NCAA Division II football champion.

10. Monroe Evening News men’s softball team qualifies for Tournament of Champions.

The Detroit Tigers signed Jeremy Bonderman to a four-year contract extension worth $38 million Monday.

It’s hard to believe, but in this day and age of exploding contracts, that is a major bargain. Journeyman pitchers Ted Lilly, Gil Meche and Vincente Padilla all recently signed for more money.

Like Brandon Inge a few weeks ago, the Tigers got one of their core players signed to a multiyear deal that is on the low end of the market value.

Something good is going on with the Tigers. The players want to be there. What a change that is from a few years ago.

Losing on purpose should never be an option, but the Detroit Lions should consider it.

The Lions are tied for the league’s worst record at 2-12 after Sunday’s 17-9 loss to the Green Bay Packers. If Detroit loses its final two games (against Chicago and Dallas), it could end up with the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.

The Oakland Raiders also are 2-12, with remaining games against the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets.

Who do you think the Lions would draft if they end up with the top pick? Another offensive player?

Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn is at the top of every draft expert’s list. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Detroit went in this direction, considering the poor play of Jon Kitna.

Kitna has been intercepted 21 times this season and lost 8 fumbles. Former quarterback Joey Harrington never turned the ball over that many times in his four lackluster years with the Lions.

Harrington was villified and given a one-way ticket out of town for his poor play. Kitna, on the other hand, is in no danger of losing his starting job.

That doesn’t make much sense.

Why aren’t backups Josh McCown or Dan Orlovsky getting a chance?

The Lions also could draft a running back, depending on the seriousness Kevin Jones’ injury. If that’s the case, Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson would be a nice fit.

Have the Detroit Pistons moved from the Palace to Cedar Point?

It’s hard to figure out the roller coaster ride this team is on. One night they dominate Dallas and another they lose to Charlotte or look listless against Indiana.

Perhaps what is missing is the emotion of Ben Wallace. The other guys didn’t dare take a night off when he was around.

Or maybe it’s just a matter of working new players into the lineup and discovering a new identity.

The talk of the NBA is the inpending trade of Allen Iverson.

The Philadelphia 76ers are determined to deal one of the most talented and most troubled players in the league. But who would want him?

Sure, Iverson can score 30 points a night and plays extremely hard, but he bogs an offense by needing the ball in his hands all the time, battles with coaches and refuses to follow team rules. Plus, the price tag to get him is going to be very high.

He’s just not worth the risk.

We had discussion in the office Saturday night about the Detroit Lions. The question was whether a preview of their game against the Minnesota Vikings belonged on the front page of Sunday’s paper.

In the past, this was a no brainer. NFL games are a big deal. Normally, the preview goes on the front page. But, in this case, we decided that a game pitting a mediocre Minnesota team against a pitiful Lions squad didn’t carry much appeal. There are more interesting things going on in the world of sports. So, we pushed it inside to Page 5B.

Do you still watch the Lion games? Personally, I have found my interest waning. In previous years, I set aside three hours every Sunday afternoon for the Lions. Family commitments and jobs around the house got shifted. I still watch the games now, but it is not appointment TV. If something else is going on, I don’t mind missing parts of the games.

That’s the sad legacy of Lions president Matt Millen. He has made us apathetic.

Do baseball’s owners give their general managers monopoly money for these big contracts?

How can the Cubs give Ted Lilly a $40 million contract over four years? His career pitching record is 59-58.

How can the Giants give Barry Bonds $16 million for one season? He’s 42 and a liability in the field. Even if he brings in thousands of extra fans during his pursuit of Hank Aaron’s home run record, he isn’t going to make up for the $16 million the team is spending.

Baseball owners are reckless with their money. The $250 million Texas gave Alex Rodriguez in 2000 still stands as the most ridiculous contract in history, but some team will eventually top it.