The Pressbox

I found myself rooting for Tiger Woods in the U.S. Open.

There is every reason in the world to like Rocco Mediate. He is funny, friendly and down-to-earth. It would have been a great story if he had won the title. It would have been great to see a guy who had toiled so long get his first major championship at the age of 45.

But as I watched Sunday’s final round and most of Monday’s playoff, I could not help rooting for Tiger. I know he can be kind of arrogant and boorish, but I enjoy watching him play. He makes the game look so easy.

I guess I am drawn to the historical aspect of it. We have the privilege to be watching perhaps the greatest golfer of all time in his prime.

And a quick word about the 18-hole playoff format for the U.S. Open. I hope they never change it. That is what makes the U.S. Open unique. And, on top of that, it is a much more fair way of determining the champion. You don’t lose the title on one bad shot or a terrible bounce.

Monday’s playoff round was a lot of fun.

Wow, I just got done watching the Los Angeles blow a 24-point lead and lose to Boston in the third game of the NBA Finals.

I have to be honest. I didn’t see all of it. I switched to something else when the Lakers had the big lead in the first half.

Maybe the Western Conference was not as dominant and people thought.

Saturday was a long day.

Evening News sports editor Ron Montri and I both headed out to the diamonds about 9 a.m. and didn’t get go home until we finished putting together Sunday’s sports section at midnight.

The great thing about a day like that is that you don’t realize how tired you are until you finish. It’s so much fun watching local teams do well in the state tournament. The hours fly by.

Congratulations to Airport and Whiteford for winning Regional baseball tournaments and to Milan’s young softball team for putting up such a good fight in a nine-inning loss to Trenton. All three local teams represented Monroe County well.

The great thing about Whiteford and Airport winning is that these are true teams.

There aren’t any pitchers throwing 90 mph or hitters who have pro scouts drooling, but every guy on these two squads can play the game. I was in Petersburg covering Whiteford in the Regional and some Summerfield people in the press box were marvelling at how there were no easy outs in the Whiteford lineup.

It’s the same way with Airport. The Jets can hit the ball from 1-9 in the lineup, the pitchers throw strikes and the defense gobbles up nearly every ball.

Good luck to the Jets and Bobcats as their head to the state quarterfinals Tuesday (Airport at Novi High School and Whiteford at Adrian College).

I just got done watching the first game of the NBA Finals.

It was a strange experience. I don’t know who to root for. I don’t really like either team.

Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce both have alienated me in the past with questionable antics and selfish attitudes. I don’t like the glitz and glamour that is Los Angeles and Boston has been spoiled with the success of the Patriots and Red Sox.

I guess the my pendulum swings to the Celtics because of Kevin Garnett.  I have always kind of liked him and he deserves a title after so many years of frustration.

So, my grudging nod goes to Boston.

Memorial day almost became very memorable for Detroit sports fans.

The Red Wings took a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup finals, the Pistons beat Boston to even the Eastern Conference finals at 2-2 and the Tigers were locked up in a great pitchers’ duel with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Tigers lost 1-0 on a bases-loaded walk in the 12th inning. It was a shame to waste a great pitching performance by Kenny Rogers.

You have to question manager’s Jim Leyland decision to intentionally walk a batter to load the bases in the 12th. The bullpen has struggled to throw strikes all season.

Is Chris Osgood playing himself into the Hall of Fame?

There was some sports radio talk in recent weeks whether or not Chris Osgood deserved Hall of Fame consideration.

My immediate reaction was no, but he does have some pretty impressive career numbers and back-to-back shutouts in the Stanley Cup finals against a potent Pittsburgh team certainly adds to his credentials.

Osgood has been spectacular in the first two games, but also has been getting plenty of help from his defense. The heralded Sidney Crosby has looked pretty ordinary in the first two games.

What a night it will be for Detroit sports Saturday!

The Pistons, Red Wings and Tigers all will be playing at home on the same night. I am certain that all three will draw good crowds. Parking will be at a premium in downtown Detroit and the sports bars will be packed.

But it is a shame that all three are playing at basically the same time. At least they could have staggered the starting times a little bit.

It is a good problem to have. No other city can boast the kind of basketball and hockey success that Detroit is enjoying.

Personally, I will stay home an soak it all in on TV. I’m lucky enough to have the night off. My TV clicker will get a workout.

Jim Leyland finally blew up at the Tigers on Tuesday and since then they have won three straight and scored 30 runs in those games.

Seems like his explosion was long overdue. Something needed to be done to light a fire under this team.

Granted, the 30 runs came against a Seattle pitching staff that is struggling, but it should restore some confidence in the hitters.

Leyland has to accept a good share of the blame for the Tigers’ awful start. I wrote about Leyland and Flip Saunders of the Detroit Pistons in my column this week. Here is a link:

http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/KRUGERSPTSCOL/350875574/-1/COLUMNISTS

The Detroit Red Wings are making the Stanley Cup Playoffs look easy. They never looked seriously challenged during Thursday night’s 4-1 win over Dallas in the opener of the Western Conference finals.

Since Chris Osgood replaced Dominik Hasek in goal, they have looked unbeatable. Osgood has been a calming influence for the team. He doesn’t take as many chances as Hasek, so the defenders know where he will be at all times. They can play with more confidence and force the play a little more. Detroit is 7-0 since he took over as the starter in net.

And offensively, the emergence of Johan Franzen as a goal-scoring machine, makes it harder for the opposition to focus on Pavel Datysuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

The Wings are flying high.

Thank you, Placido Polanco.

Polanco’s bloop single in the ninth inning - his fifth hit of the game - saved the Detroit Tigers from one of their most frustrating losses of the season Wednesday night.

The Tigers had a four-run lead several times during the game, but their bullpen kept giving it back. When Boston took a 9-8 lead in the top of the ninth and had closer Jonathan Paplebon coming to the mound, it looked like the Tigers were destined for another loss.

Sure, Detroit got a couple of breaks with a fluke infield hit and an error to start the ninth, but Ivan Rodriguez executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, Curtis Granderson hit the ball to the right side to get the tying run home, then Polanco delivered.

The game quickly went from a devastating loss to the kind of win that can spark a team. The Tigers certainly need some sort of spark.