peschstats

The Exile Years: Detroit's Public School League drops out of MHSAA competition.

2011-03-05T06:58:00.000-08:00

Miraculously, Reggie Harding lived 30 years before a gunshot to the head cost him his life. An admitted drug addict, he had turned to crime to survive. But it's tough to disguise height, especially when many of your crimes are committed within a few city blocks from where you grew up and your abilities with a basketball are legendary.

At 6-foot-11½, Harding stood a full head taller than most of his high school opponents. Legendary Detroit Free Press sportswriter, Hal Schram, known as “The Swami” to his faithful readers, described him as the tallest schoolboy star in Michigan history. Blessed with exceptional mobility and of course height, Harding was a handful. A Parade first-team All-American in 1961, the senior hit on over 60 percent of his shots, averaging 31 points and 20 rebounds per contest. Between 1959 and 1961, he led Detroit Eastern (now Detroit Martin Luther King) to three-consecutive Detroit Public School League crowns. Harding and his teammates also rolled to three straight City Championships, downing the best of the Detroit Catholic League schools.

There are some that still believe he was the finest prep ball player ever turned out by the Motor City. A three-time all-stater, Harding was drafted out of high school by the Detroit Pistons and logged four seasons in the NBA. Yet, as a prep athlete, few basketball fans outside the Detroit area saw him play.

Eastern's victory over previously unbeaten Detroit Catholic Central in the 1961 City Championship game was perhaps Harding's finest moment. A crowd of 9,200 witnessed the event at University of Detroit Memorial. Scalpers were charging $3 for a .70 cent student ticket and $4 per $1.25 adult seat before Detroit police shut things down.

It was Harding's final prep contest and he turned in a stellar all-around performance, scoring 19 points and pulling down 21 rebounds - both game highs. The big center tallied eight of those points in the final three minutes of play to seal a 56-53 win for the Indians. But that was the end of the road for Eastern and their coach Bob Samaras. Beginning with the 1930-31 season, the PSL had chosen not to compete in the MHSAA sponsored state championship tournament. The victory meant Eastern finished the season with a perfect 14-0 mark.

The loss was Catholic Central's first and last on the year. The Shamrocks snaked through post-season play and eventually emerged as king of Class A by defeating Muskegon Heights in the state title game.
Like many athletes before him, Harding did not have the chance to showcase his talent before Michigan's outstate fans. Over the years that list grew to include a parade of high-caliber basketball players and coaches: Cass Tech's George Gatewood, Walt Godfrey, Don Coleman and Steve Jordan; Central's Bob McIntosh, Joe Bale, Sam Taub and Walter "Pinky" Thompson; Chadsey's Dickie Crenshaw and Marvin Mitchell; Eastern's Bob Melkush and Joe Altobelli; Hamtramck's Ken Burell; Highland Park's Walter Spreen; Mckenzie's Dick Hall; Northern's Chuck Holloway, and Blaine Denning; Northeastern's Jumpin' Johnny Kline, Raymond Lee, Ed Stewart and David Gaines; Northwestern's Charles Pink, Jim Boyce, Roosevelt Lee, Murphy Summers, and Charley North; Pershing's Arlie Clark, Wilbert King, Bennie Zenn and Lonnie Sanders; Southeastern's Don Lund, Al Marcangelo and coach Perry Deakin; Southwestern's Frank Sabo, Stan Lopata, Al Barnett and coach Lyle VanDeventer; University of Detroit High's Ken Prather; Western's Oliver Darden.

According to newspaper reports, the City League was formed in the early 1900's. Comprised of three teams in the beginning, it expanded rapidly as new high schools were built. Detroit's fast growing population guaranteed large enrollments and a fine selection of athletes.

That showed in the early years of competition, as schools from Michigan’s largest city claimed numerous mythical cage crowns. Based on their record, Detroit Eastern, for example, claimed a state title in 1910, then played in a national tournament held in Madison, Wisconsin. Detroit Central claimed a state title or finished as runner-up each year from 1906 to 1913. With the start of tournaments to determine a state champion, the city schools backed up their claims of superiority by appearing in 12 of the first 14 Class A state title games between 1917 and 1930.

The city league also excelled in other sports, winning six straight state titles in track and swimming, and four tennis crowns in six attempts and a golf crown

Many remember the departure as spurred by the onset of the Depression and the need to conserve resources. According to veteran Detroit Free Press sports writer George Puscus, there were other factors at play for the PSL.

"Well, part of it was the fact that the large schools from Detroit had dominated the state competition in the early tournaments and they had the idea they would win it all the time. The argument was why bother.”

Vaughn Blanchard, who served as director of health and physical education for the city league schools from 1929 to 1954, believed that there was an overemphasis on competitive athletics. He favored a withdrawal from outside competition and endorsed the development of a program of greater intraschool intramural activity. Frank Cody, superintendent of schools and the board of education agreed. In their mind, Detroit city schools offered a broad range of competitive athletics, including competition in sports not offered by many outstate schools. A self-imposed exile was instituted.

With the break from the state tourney, the PSL devised a four-team playoff to determine the winner of the league’s basketball title. In general, the structure of the tournament meant a team from the East Division and a team from the West Division would meet in the final. In the early years, the victor would take home the Charter House trophy sponsored by S. L. Bird and Sons, a local business.

In those early playoff years, Detroit Southeastern was one of the dominant schools on the basketball court.

"Back when I was there, the league had already stopped going to the state tournament. But as students, we really didn't think about it." recalled Don Lund, a three-sport star from 1939 to 1941 for the Jungaleers, and later a great athlete at the University of Michigan. "By the time I played, that's just the way it was. We were just trying to win the league championship."

"Southeastern had a strong basketball tradition, winning the PSL and the state title in '25 and '26. We played for the title three times when I went there. In 1939 we beat Northeastern. In 1940, we lost to Highland Park. In 1941 we beat Southwestern."

For the first time in league history, two East Side teams met in the league championship game in 1939. It was a classic double overtime affair.

Trailing Northeastern by five points, Southeastern knotted things up at 26 with 90 seconds remaining in regulation on a bucket by Lund. The sophomore hit another basket with seven seconds left to give his team the lead, but it was waved off because he was fouled before the shot. Instead, Lund sank a single free throw to push the Jungaleers ahead, 27-26. On the ensuing possession, Northeastern quickly pushed the ball upcourt. Forward Johnny Wiostowski was fouled as he setup for a shot. Following a timeout, he nailed the single charity toss to send the game to overtime.

Tied 30-30 at the end of the extra frame, the crowd of 5,000 at the Naval Armory roared their approval as the teams began the second three-minute overtime. Lund, who finished with a game-high 13 points, sank another free throw to open the scoring, however a bucket by Roy Gomillion gave the Falcons a 32-31 lead. With 50 seconds to play, Southeastern's Emil Hison, who had replaced All-City center Harvey Pierce, scored the game winner. Pierce had fouled out with four personals in the first overtime.

By the mid-forties, the balance of power had begun to shift. Detroit Miller became the city's newest high school, and was admitted to the prestigious PSL in 1933. Previously used as a junior high, today, it is recognized as the state's first predominately black high school. The team, under coach James Chapman, was battling for the league championship in the spring of 1935.

Coaching legend Will Robinson took over the reigns of the program in 1944. Under his guidance, the Trojans appeared in the PSL title game six consecutive years from 1946 to 1951, winning four titles in a row, 1947-1950. A host of great athletes, including Lorenzo Wright, Charlie Fonville, Bob "Showboat" Hall, Eugene Lipscomb, Jim Johnson, Robert Taylor, Charley Primus and Levi Davis helped to cement the school's reputation as a hotbed of athletic talent.

In 1946, Robinson and his previously unheralded Miller squad announced to the rest of the league that they were a force to be reckoned with in the future. Southwestern, making their seventh consecutive appearance in the league playoffs provided the opposition. Before a sellout crowd of 14,793 at Olympia Stadium, Al Barnett, the Prospectors’ 6-foot-7 center scored with five seconds left in overtime to clinch the title for Southwestern, 30-28.

Despite starting only one player that stood over six feet, Miller rolled to a 12-0 mark in 1947. Notorious for a tenacious full-court press, the Trojan's lineup of high school All-American Sammy Gee, Harold Blackwell, Clarence Norris, Frank Robinson and Gene Hamilton ranks among the state's finest. Miller dismantled Northern 52-21 for the league title, then defeated Detroit St. Joseph 37-34 in the first ever City Championship game.

"A crowd of over 16,000 watched us play in that one," remembered Robinson proudly. "It's still a record in Michigan for a high school basketball game."

In 1948, the UP rejoined the state tournament, but the PSL chose to forge ahead on their own.

"Back when I was coaching, George Mead headed up athletics in the Detroit Public Schools,” explained Will Robinson, an administrative assistant and longtime scout for the Detroit Pistons. “At the time I think he believed the schools in the PSL were too good for the rest of the competition around the state. He was right.”
Miller trounced Cooley 44-29 in the 1948 championship, but was forced to relinquish the title due to using an ineligible player. The player, a substitute, saw only a couple minutes of action in the contest.

"There is no question, Miller had some great teams," stated Puscus, who covered the PSL extensively after joining the staff of the Free Press following his discharge from the service in 1946. "I'm sure they could have won state titles if they had played in the tournaments."

The Trojans downed coach Eddie Powers and his Northern squad in another all-East final at Olympia Stadium in 1949. In 1950, they squared off against a rising power in Frank "Ace" Cudillo's Cass Tech team for the 1950 crown. Miller again emerged victorious for their fourth consecutive crown, but would fall to the Technicians in 1951. Cudillo's squad, featuring Gatewood and Godfrey, scored their 25th win in a row en route to the 1952 title.

In 1953, after a five-year layoff, the City Championship game pitting the PSL champion against the city’s Catholic League titlist was resumed. In 1955, a third prong was added to the path for recognition, as the 16-team Metropolitan tourney debuted. The series of games was perceived by some as poor substitutes for the state tournament. Add to the mix “The Swami’s” weekly ratings of the state’s top teams, and confusion reigned. Fans couldn’t help but wonder how the PSL, now numbering 20 teams, would do against outstate squads. Strong sentiment was building within the city limits for a return to state competition.

The mid-fifties saw the emergence of Detroit Northwestern as the dominating squad from the West Side. Between 1952 and 1961 the Colts, led by coach Ed Demerjian, challenged for the league crown on eight occasions, winning titles in 1954 and 1957. From 1959 to 1961, the focus was on Harding and Eastern.
By 1960, the debate on returning to the state had reached an apex. A 27-member Citizens Advisory Committee was assembled to debate the subject. In late April of 1961, the two-year study was brought to the Board of Education for a decision.

Despite opposition by Superintendent Samuel Brownell, and the Detroit Education Association, the board voted 4-3 to accept the recommendation of Citizens Advisory Committee to rejoin the rest of the state in tournament beginning in 1962.

"At one time, they may have been superior," said Puscus, reflecting on the board's action, "but when they returned I think they learned that the rest of the state knew how to play."

In that first basketball campaign, Northwestern, Eastern and Pershing all advanced to the quarterfinals. Pershing, now coached by Will Robinson and featuring Ted Sizemore and Mel Daniels, lost to eventual Class A titlist Saginaw in the semis.

"Looking back, I think we would have had reasonable chance against outstate schools," said Lund, contemplating the impossible. "But you have to be thankful for what you got."

~ Ron Pesch, MHSAA Historian

Besides those quoted, a number of other individuals helped immeasurably in the compilation of this article. Thanks to: Richard Cunningham; Jon Gallimore; Bill Hoover; Orlin Jones; Jim Moyes; Bob Sampson.

Check out Detroit PSL Basketball, put together by Bill Hoover, Lovelle Rivers, and Doug Hill, for much more on the Detroit Public School League.

This article originally appeared in the 1999 MHSAA Basketball Finals program. Click here to see the original.

Let There Be Lights

2010-08-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

The early years of high school football in Michigan had featured many exciting contests as teams pursued the state's mythical state championship. Huge crowds would gather for some of the state's top showdowns and regional rivalries.

From the beginnings of the sport in the late 1800's, prep football games were reliant on daylight. Due to this fact, games were traditionally played on Saturday afternoon. Thanksgiving Day contests were also popular. This remained true for larger schools throughout the 1920's.

However, the college game was growing in popularity. Schools like the University of Michigan and Notre Dame, with large new stadiums competed with high schools for fans. In addition, the depression years were hard on sporting event attendance at high schools across the state. School officials were faced with new challenges as crowds began to dwindle. School officials began to look for new ways to draw the people back to the prep game.

Beginning in the early 1930's, a number of high schools began to change their schedules, shifting their games to Friday afternoons. At parochial schools, Sunday afternoon contests were quite common. A handful of schools in the state began to install artificial lights. Slowly, high school games made the move to Friday nights. The novelty of football "under the floodlights" had the desired effect, as once again, large crowds gathered to watch their local squad compete.

The lighting of high school gridirons continues today, and with much the same controversies and successes. After a successful test with portable lights during the 1997 season, Dearborn community schools added permanent lights at Dearborn, Edsel Ford and Fordson in 1998. The schools joined the fray at a cost of more than $350,000. Livonia Franklin and the Grosse Pointe schools installed lights in 1997 amid pockets of resistance from various members of the community.

But who was the first high school to play under the lights? The answer to that question has been lost in time, but the pursuit of an answer continues.

The first baseball game under artificial light occurred on September 2, 1880 when two Boston area department stores, Jordan Marsh and R.H. White, squared off in a 16 - 16 tie in Hull MA, before 300 spectators. The event was sponsored by Boston's Northern Electric Light Company, with the goal of selling street lights. Thomas Edison had perfected William Wallace's prototype for an electric light only a year before. On September 28, 1892 in Mansfield, PA, Mansfield State Normal and Wyoming Seminary played to a 0-0 tie in the first football game under the lights.

The Des Moines, Iowa Demons of the now defunct Class A Western League became the first baseball team in America to host a game under permanent lights. They defeated the Wichita Aviators 13-6 on May 2, 1930.

For many in the Midwest, their first introduction to a game under the lights came courtesy of the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. Barnstorming throughout the area, the team carried a portable lighting system beginning in 1930. "People came from miles around to marvel at the electric curiosity," writes Janet Bruce in The Kansas City Monarchs: Champions of Black Baseball. "The team and the lights brought between three and twelve thousand spectators to every game."

A few months later in Michigan, the Vikings of Jackson High School hosted St. Johns High in one of the state's first gridiron contests under the lights. On Thursday, September 18, more then 1,000 fans showed up for the Vikings' team practice session and a final test of the 58,000 watt lighting equipment that had been installed at Withingham Stadium. The following night, approximately 4,500 attended as Jackson rolled to a 26-0 victory behind the running of Charlie Brown and Don Vaughn. The crowd was double that of the 1929 home opener.

A host of dignitaries, including mayor Milo Hulliberger, Superintendent of Schools, Harold Steele, and Ralph Carolyn of Consumers Power were on hand for the dedication ceremony. Harry Waha of the Junior Chamber of Commerce - the organization responsible for the purchase of the lights - was also in attendance.

The same evening in Lansing, the Big Reds of Lansing Central downed East Lansing 20-0 under 16 huge, newly installed floodlights at Pattengill field. An estimated crowd of 7,000 showed up for the town's first ever night contest. On Saturday night, Lansing Eastern and Albion battled to a 7-7 tie before approximately 5,000 in the city's second nocturnal game.

The success at the gate inspired others to pursue light for their fields. Benton Harbor, under new head coach Bill Moss launched the 1936 season under the lights before the largest opening game crowd on school record. A number of coaches from opposing squads paid a visit to Filstrup Field, both to scout the squad and to check out the floodlights.

Grand Rapids fired up the newly installed lights at Houseman Field on Friday, September 18, 1936 as the Detroit Lions played their annual Blue-White game, their final training contest of the pre-league season. The Lions, who had spent Thursday afternoon visiting with local students at the eight Grand Rapids area football fields, celebrated the end of camp before a crowd of over 5,000. The White squad, sparked by a 29-yard touchdown by Glenn Presnell, former All-American from Nebraska, defeated their teammates 7-0. A week later, Grand Rapids Central and Mt Pleasant faced off in the city's first ever night contest. The same night Godwin traveled to Lowell for another evening contest.

On October 9, Ann Arbor High School officials illuminated Wines Field for the first time, squaring off against Lincoln High of Ferndale. Comprised of 60 1,500-watt bulbs mounted on ten 52-foot poles surrounding the field, the system cost approximately $6,000. On hand for the event were Richard Remington, well-respected football official whose gridiron all-state selections for the Detroit News were considered the official squad in Michigan, L.L. Forsythe, principal at Ann Arbor High School, and Charles C. Forsythe, director of scholastic athletics in the state of Michigan.

The evening contest proved to be a real test for the equipment, as a fog settled over the field following a drizzling afternoon rain. The game ended in a 6-6 deadlock.

A report in the Ann Arbor Daily News stated that Remington felt "it was one of the most satisfactory lighting systems under which he had ever worked."

Charles Forsythe addressed the crowd over the public address system, and said the Ann Arbor system was "the best he had seen in the state." According to Forsythe, 13 fields in the state were now lighted: Albion; Ann Arbor; Coldwater; Detroit; Dowagiac; Grand Rapids; Iron Mountain; Ironwood; Jackson; Kalamazoo; Lansing; Lowell; and Monroe. Additional newspaper reports indicate that there were others. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, Niles and St. Joseph both had lighting plants in 1936.

The decision to add lights to an existing stadium was not always a popular decision. In 1937, Muskegon traveled to Benton Harbor for their first game under the lights. It was a huge event, as around 1,500 local fans made the trip to watch the contest.

"As I recall, the lights were too low," stated Rudy Kolenic, a halfback with the '37 Big Reds. "There was a lot of mist on the field, and it was hard to see. We called it the swamp land." Despite conditions that, according to Muskegon Chronicle sports editor Jimmy Henderson, were "far less effective for play than sunlight," Muskegon downed their Southwestern Conference rivals, 19-0.

Muskegon played their second night game in the fall of 1939 - again against the Tigers of Benton Harbor. Another large group followed the Big Reds south, and again, Muskegon emerged victorious.

The games had proven two things to the Muskegon officials. First - the Big Reds could still play football under what many considered inferior artificial light. Second - night football attracted people. The decision to light Muskegon's Hackley field was made.

Although located on the school's campus, the stadium is surrounded by many private homes. Fears about the effect on the surrounding neighborhood, worries about increased crime and the school's break with tradition were all cited as reasons not to light the field. The high cost of the job was also mentioned. The price was tagged at $4,000 - a huge sum of money in an era when adult tickets were 60 cents per game.

School officials went about the task of selling the project to a skeptical public. They circulated fliers to "Patrons of the Big Reds" requesting that 600 supporters of the project respond by purchasing season tickets in advance, at the reduced cost of $2.50 for five home contests. Four of the games were to be played at night. The fifth game, Muskegon's traditional season ending showdown with crosstown rival Muskegon Heights, remained on Saturday afternoon. The campaign was a success and lights were installed during the summer of 1940.

On September 20, 1940, a record season-opening crowd of 7,500 fans packed Hackley Stadium for the debut of Friday night football in Muskegon. The fans enjoyed a 22-0 Big Red victory over Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The same evening, 5,000 turned out in Flint for Northern High School's 18-7 victory over Toledo Catholic Central played under the lights at Atwood Stadium. The Flint Journal reported that this was "the first nocturnal grid clash here since 1930 when General Motors Tech and St. Michael and St. Matthew made use of an earlier version of a lighting plant." The following night, 3,200 gathered for Flint Central's 33-12 win over Caro also played under the artificial illumination at Atwood.

The process of lighting gridirons continued throughout the forties and fifties. The majority of suburban schools erected in the late fifties and sixties included money in their budgets for halogen gridiron lights. First installed at a high school in the Cleveland, Ohio area, the produce case a stronger light, more closely replicating natural illumination. Today, prep football under Friday night lights is the norm rather than the exception.

The original version of this article appeared in the MHSAA's 1998 Football State Championships game-day program.

Classic Michigan High School Football Stadiums

2010-08-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

Port Huron's Memorial Stadium

If you build it, will they come?

Both spectators and sportswriters at every level often romanticize the sports stadium. In Chicago, hope springs eternal for Cubs fans, as they reunite within the cozy confines of Wrigley Field. Red Wings faithful treasure winter nights at “the Joe” – the nickname for Joe Louis Arena located in downtown Detroit. Crazed University of Michigan fans and school officials, numbering 110,000 plus, celebrate being part of “the largest crowd attending a college football game in America,” at every home date at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Passionate battles were staged to save various sports cathedrals like Tiger Stadium and Chicago Stadium over the years.

At the high school level in Michigan, similar feelings permeate the air on Friday nights. From aluminum bleachers in a farmer’s field to brick-and-mortar architectural marvels in the city, the facilities come in all shapes and sizes. These athletic facilities are part of the pageantry that makes the prep game as thrilling as any professional or university athletic event. Memories are cast in these surroundings.

Owosso High School football stadium

Reinforced concrete stadiums from as early as the 1920’s, and Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects from the thirties and forties survive and thrive in Michigan. For many fans, these classic designs offer features not found in modern multi-use facilities. Arcades and covered passages created by the seating area provide unique opportunities, while design and architectural details inspire. Talk to a Muskegon High School aficionado about the band’s post game march through the “tunnel” following a home game at Hackley Stadium, or a Fordson follower about the old stadium in Dearborn. Quickly, you understand how the gridiron experience can differ. But what created the need for such memorials to athletic achievement?

Throughout the 1920’s the popularity of the gridiron grew exponentially. The rapid rise in interest was reflected throughout popular culture. Football was featured in magazines, in movies, and in song. Along with the popularity came larges masses of football fans.

At both the college and high school levels, contests against traditional opponents drew huge crowds. Athletic facilities were quickly becoming taxed by the demands of these large gatherings of humanity. Immediately, stadium fever had hit both college and high school campuses across the nation. New facilities were opened across the Midwest, including the horseshoe at Ohio State, Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, and, of course, the Big House at Michigan – the largest football only facility in the nation.

At the prep level in Michigan, the first city to act on the need for a larger facility was Bay City. Attendance at the 1924 season-ending game between Bay City Central and Flint Central - the outcome of which determined the Saginaw Valley championship and the mythical state title - overwhelmed Bay City’s athletic field. Attendance was expected to reach 1,500 fans; instead an estimated crowd of 10,000 arrived.

“The crowd that turned out for that game is well remembered,” reported the Bay City Times Tribune one year later, “as is the trouble that was experienced in seating them. Thousands of people were discouraged over conditions – there was but one small bleacher for seating purposes and finally the crowd overflowed onto the field, making play difficult.”

As a result, a number of businessmen from the city took it upon themselves to plan construction of an athletic stadium to handle the growing crowds. Ten month’s later, they proudly unveiled the result of their efforts.

Funded by the sale of bonds to the public, the structure was erected during the summer of 1925 at a cost of $45,000. Featuring two stands of solid concrete with 16 rows of seats, the stadium could seat 7,100 fans. Access to the seating area was provided by entry ramps located under the stands. At the time, the capacity ranked third in the state, behind the facilities of the University of Michigan and at Michigan State.

“In the new stadium, Central high of Bay City can boast of the finest athletic plant possessed by any high school in the state of Michigan,” stated the Times Tribune, “and the fact that it was procured and built without a penny’s cost to the board of education or the taxpayers of the city, but entirely through the efforts of a small group of local business men, makes the gift to the school – for that is what it virtually amounts to – all the more appreciated.”

The was facility was opened to the public on Saturday, September 26, 1926 for a gridiron contest between Bay City Central and Detroit Western. A crowd of 3,000 gathered for the season opener, won by Central, 14-0.

Elaborate dedication ceremonies were planned for the Saginaw Arthur Hill contest late in the season. The only Valley opponent on the Central schedule, the contest was expected to draw a crowd of over 5,000. However, nature did not cooperate as heavy rains force cancellation of the event.

The ceremony was re-scheduled for Thanksgiving Day against Pontiac Central allowing many of the local businessmen who had helped with the planning, financing and creation of the stadium to attend the event. Stands were decorated in the school colors of Purple and White, and a large speaker system was erected on the site to allow fans to listen to the speeches of the guest of honor. The newspaper ran an aerial photograph of the contest - a real rarity during that era. Bay City emerged victorious, 13-0.

Over 75 years later, the results are still on display. Re-christened Elmer Engel Stadium, (in honor of school’s greatest head coach) on September 23, 1973, over a million dollars have flowed into repair, renovation, and restoration of the facility. The results are indeed impressive.

In Jackson, high school officials opened a new high school and athletic complex in the fall of 1927. Built at a cost of $100,000, Withington Stadium opened for gridiron use on September 24 as Jackson faced Hastings. Named in honor of the Withington family, descendants of Jackson's Civil War hero, William Herbert Withington and donors of the property upon which the facility is built, the facility utilizes a classic horseshoe design. Featuring locker rooms for players, a ticket window, and an arched main entrance, the stadium was said to have a seating capacity of 10,000.

Two weeks later in the dedication contest played on October 8, Jackson downed Detroit Central 43-7. Festivities were held before the game featuring a parade of dignitaries, led by the high school band sporting new uniforms. Snaking through the business district, the group marched to the high school and on to the field. A crowd of 6,500 who had gathered for the ceremony and contest greeted them upon their arrival. A souvenir game program, featuring pictures of former J.H.S. gridiron stars from years past was also produced to commemorate the event.

After numerous alterations and improvements spanning 75 years of use, Withington still plays host to classic contests. Lights were added in 1931, and after years of debate, Astro turf was installed in 1980 as part of a $2.5 million renovation. The refurbished facility was christened in early September with a game between Jackson Parkside and Portage Northern, and rededicated before 2,000 spectators in November of 1980. Again, a host of dignitaries and marching bands entertained those in attendance. Since that time, the site has hosted numerous MHSAA playoff contests.

The 1920’s represent a period of gridiron dominance for Muskegon High School. During the seven-year span 1920-26, Muskegon won or shared the mythical state championship four times. The success of the Big Reds, and the resulting demand for tickets brought to light the need for a new facility. It became apparent that the old wooden bleacher at Hackley Field needed attention.

"We walked out to the bleachers at the football field" recalled former Muskegon head coach C. Leo Redmond years later, "(the director of finances for athletics) pulled out his pocket knife. He then pushed the blade completely into one of the wooden beams supporting the bleachers. ‘Dry rot’ he said. They would fall down if they have to support another season.”

A plan to replace the bleachers was publicly announced following the 1926 season at the football team's annual banquet in December. Students from the classes of '27, '28, '29 and '30 were asked to undertake the job of selling the bonds to the public.

"Principal John Craig talked to us Thursday night after practice," remembered Gont Miller, captain of the 1929 Big Reds. He said, 'We're going to ask you to get out and sell some bonds.' People really supported Big Red football. We sold all the bonds, and they built the stadium. It was quite an experience for a kid."

The Osborn Engineering Company of Cleveland, Ohio (builders of Michigan Stadium, Wrigley Field, and Notre Dame Stadium, among others) was employed to design and oversee the construction of the facility. Actual work started on June 15, 1927 and was completed in time for the first game against Muskegon Heights on Saturday, September 17. According to the files of Osborn Engineering, the concrete structure was completed in 24 days - July 20 to August 12.

"Impressive and colorful flag raising ceremonies marked the dedication of the new stands," stated the Muskegon Chronicle. "A massed assemblage of over 2,000 students who paraded on the field following the Heights and Muskegon High school bands, and close to 3,000 spectators in the stands stood at attention while the massed bands under the leadership of Ronald Hinchman played the national anthem, as the new flag was slowly raised to its position over the stadium."

The Big Reds posted a crushing 89-0 victory over the Heights. It was the first of nine shutouts posted by Muskegon en route to a 10-0 season and another mythical state title.

Hackley Stadium underwent massive renovations in the spring of 1996, Workers descended upon the facility and removed and replaced large timeworn sections of the concrete grandstand. With a host of improvements, the stadium sparkles like new.

On November 17, 1928, Muskegon shared in the opening of another grand structure – this one in Dearborn. Located on the north side of Fordson high school, the single concrete structure seated 5,000. Designed to mimic the high school’s English 16th Century Renaissance architecture, the stadium was a grand site. It featured an electric heat and lighting in the press box and outside telephone service. The arcade at street level, which included steam-heated locker rooms for both teams and space for concession sales, could be closed with iron gates at each arch. Muskegon picked up their 29th consecutive win in the contest by a score of 13-6, as more than 5,000 witnessed the event.
(Click here to watch newsreel coverage of the ceremony)

Sadly, the stadium was removed in the 1970’s due to its deteriorating condition.

Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck was the first WPA project (a massive employment relief program launched in the spring of 1935 as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal) completed in the Detroit area. Named after Dr. Maurice R. Keyworth, longtime Superintendent of Schools in the Hamtramck district, construction began in May 1935, and was completed in time for the football season. FDR himself attended the gala dedication ceremony on October 15, 1936. Since that time, the facility has hosted a number of events, including a performance by the legendary comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello on August 17, 1942. The show was staged for area residents who purchased at least $1 in bonds to support the World War II effort.

A renovation of the facility, including the installation of a new synthetic field was completed in 1999.

Wisner Stadium in Pontiac, Willman Field at Owosso and C.W. Post Field, dedicated in 1961, are other outstanding examples of the intimacy and beautiful setting created by some of these older facilities. Multi-purpose community fields, like Flint’s Atwood Stadium, built in the 1930s, Port Huron's Memorial Stadium and recently renovated Houseman Field in Grand Rapids have certainly hosted huge crowds and classic contests over the years. Recently constructed stadiums like Thirby Field in Traverse City, Rockford, and Lowell add luster to the array of facilities available in Michigan. Ford Field, the future home of the Detroit Lions, mixes the old with the new and will demonstrate the possibilities that the future holds for stadium design. Still, for many sports fans, there is nothing like a classic.

C.W. Post in Battle Creek

Click here to check out the MHSAA audio relating to this post

Mythical State Champions in Football

2010-04-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

The fun of mythical state championships is perfectly describe in the phrase itself. They are mythical - existing in only the imagination. There was no series of playoff contests to determine rightful claim on the honor. There was no computer simulation that ranked teams based on strength of schedule. Instead, the titles were claimed based on swagger and sweat: by players who played the game; coaches who lead the teams into battle; administrators and townspeople looking for a little notoriety for the city, town or burg; press writers who compared the scores and final results against schools in the same classification, the pronounced a winner.

The news traveled by word of mouth, conversation, a phone call, letter, or via a well traveled copy of a newspaper. Claims to the crown were often made by school on opposite coasts of the state. Seldom were the claimants able to square off in contest to narrow the field. Instead, the prize - bragging rights - was simply shared.

Or, subdivided...

Early on, it became obvious that the state's small schools could not compete with the juggernauts from the Michigan's biggest cities. Good old-fashioned American ingenuity quickly solved the problem. Claimants simply appended a little more descriptive text to the the phrase "Mythical State Champs".

I'm told East Grand Rapids claimed Michigan's "Class D" gridiron crown in 1926.

Richmond and Paw Paw battled to a 0-0 tie in their 1928 season finale, with each squad laying claim to Michigan's Class C mythical gridiron title.

Fortune Sullo's crack Class C squad from Michigan Center grabbed the 1936 title.

A banner at Bath High School proclaims their 1947 and 1948 Class D football teams as mythical state champs.

North Muskegon's teams from 1941 and 1942 are certainly strong contenders for Class C honors.

The North Muskegon football squads of 1941 and 1942 compiled a streak of 15 consecutive shutout victories, going undefeated, untied and unscored upon from the sixth game of the 1940 season through the fourth game of the 1942 schedule. No other Muskegon area prep grid team have gone through a s ingle season of all shutout victories, let alone compile such a record over a two-year period.

Click on the image for a larger view

At Dearborn Fordson High School, a plaque on a school wall lists the 1930 team as "Class B Football Champions"

But the '30 season might also show Bessemer, Coldwater, Lowell, Ovid and Vicksburg as "Football Champions" as it appears each may have finished the year undefeated.

Some years back, I penned an article on Mythical State Titles that focused on Class A stake-holders in Michigan. Research was lacking beyond Class A.

Click here to see the article.

Not much has changed in that area - so I post this entry.

I'm chasing names of other schools in Classes B, C and D that have laid claim on the crown to add to the schools listed above. My focus is primarily on the span 1950 and prior as I've assembled data from 1950 and beyond from Associated Press Polls.

I would, however, love to see what you have. Scans from scrapbooks, newspapers and yearbooks. Photos of banners, signs and plaques denoting a claim. I'd be thrilled to be able to compile a complete run of the final Free Press or News polls, as my collection is spotty at best.

Drop me a line at peschstats@comcast.net

I'd love to hear your stories!

BCAM’S RETRO MR. BASKETBALL

2010-03-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

For 30 years, BCAM – the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, in association with the Detroit Free Press, has sponsored the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, given to the state’s top prep senior. Lansing Eastern’s Sam Vincent was selected in the spring of 1981 as the recipient of the first award.

BCAM is proud to announce a new project designed to recognize the sport’s top high school players from years past.

“Retro" Mr. Basketball - honoring the state's top senior prep basketball players will span the years 1920 through 1980. The project will evolve over the next ten seasons. This year, BCAM honors seniors from 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980. Next year, the organization will honor seniors from 1921, 1931, 1941, 1951, 1961 and 1971. In 2019, the list will be complete.

As with the current honor, the goal is to focus on high school careers. Hence, information pulled from All-State and All-Tournament teams is used to guide the committee as they select nominees for the award.

While gathering statistical information on players from the 1920s and 1930s present challenges, BCAM did not want to avoid honoring athletes from the era when the center jump was a dominate feature of the game.

“BCAM has considered trying to go back to years previous to 1981 and coming up with players that that would have been named Mr. Basketball if there was such an award at the time,” notes BCAM executive director Tom Hursey. “The Retro Mr. Basketball project accomplishes this goal. The basketball fans of Michigan will enjoy going back in time and either agreeing with or finding fault with our committee’s winners. Either way it will be fun reminiscing about days gone by.”

Here are this year’s nominees and winners of BCAM’s Retro Mr. Basketball.

(Winners are listed first in ALL CAPS, followed by those selected as nominees by the committee in alphabetical order.)

1980
TIM MCCORMICK – CLARKSTON
6-10½ center, McCormick earned 2nd team Parade Magazine All-American honors. Earned top All-State honors from the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, and the Associated Press. Averaged 24.7 points and 17.6 rebounds per game as a senior.

M.C. “Tony” Burton III - Grand Rapids Catholic Central
The son of former Muskegon Heights and University of Michigan star M.C. Burton, the 6-6 Burton was selected as a 1st team Class B selection by AP and the Free Press and earned Dream Team status from the News.

Randy Morrison – Olivet
Earned All-State honors in both his junior and senior season at Class C Olivet. Scored 479 points in 14 games.

Anthony Scott – Grand Rapids Creston
6-4 forward, averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds a game as a senior.

1970
RICK DREWITZ – GARDEN CITY WEST
Averaged 29 points a game, the 6-7½ Drewitz scored 42 points in the Class A semifinals as West fell victim to Pontiac Central and Campy Russell, 84-79.

Dave Freeman - Battle Creek Central
A 60 percent shooter from the floor, Freeman averaged 20 points per game for the Bearcats.

George Kubiak - Carrollton
Top ballplayer for the Class B runner up. Averaged 25.5 points per game as a senior, scoring over 1,000 points in his two season with the varsity.

Larry Tatum – Muskegon
Shot .723 from the floor and averaged 24 points for the Big Reds.

1960
PETE GENT – BANGOR
“Accumulated a 22.6 scoring average shooting with either hand,” noted Hal Schram in his Free Press All-State write-up. The 6-2 Gent scored 21 as Bangor knocked off top-ranked Grand Rapids Lee, 57-45 for the Class C state title. An author, he penned several books, including “North Dallas Forty” following a pro career in the NFL.

Bill Chmielewski – Detroit Redeemer
Standing 6-10, Chmielewski averaged 23.4 points and 18 rebounds per game for the Class B state champs. A 4th team Parade Magazine All-American.

Doug Herner - Lansing Sexton
Member of the 1959 and 1960 Class A state champions. Scored 290 points in 22 games as a senior.

Fred Thomann – Taylor Center
Scored 415 points in 19 games for a 21.9 average

1950
CHARLIE PRIMAS – DETROIT MILLER
A three-year veteran for coach Will Robinson’s Trojans, the 6-2 Primas earned top All-State recognition from the Detroit Times, the Free Press and the News as a senior. He led Miller to two consecutive Metropolitan League titles. Played college ball at Wayne State.

Milton Mead – Bay City Central
Established a new Saginaw Valley League scoring mark with 269 points in 12 contests. Played at the University of Michigan.

Jim Plecas – Detroit Catholic Central
Three-letter winner, established a new Parochial League record as a senior with 232 points in 12 games. Led Catholic Central to the Class A semifinal round of the tournament in 1950. Attended Yale.

Art Spoelstra – Grand Rapids Godwin
Top player in the Grand Valley League, the 6-8 center received 1st team All-State kudos from the Detroit News and the Detroit Times, and second team honors from the Free Press. Led Godwin to the Class B state semifinals in 1949, and the finals in 1950, where the unbeaten Wolverines were upset by Ishpeming. Attended Western Kentucky, then played in the NBA.

1940
RALPH GILBERT – FLINT NORTHERN
Honorary captain of the Free Press All-State team. An honor-roll student, he scored 101 points in 18 games as a senior. Led Northern to back-to-back Class A titles in 1939 and 1940.

Roy Clark – Pontiac Central
According to the Detroit Free Press article covering the All-State team, “many persons considered Clark the best basketball player ever to play at Pontiac." Scored 206 points in 18 games.

Jack Fultz – Keego Harbor
Earned 11-letters during his high school career in basketball, football and track. Scored 287 points in 22 games for the Class C state runner-up squad. Outstanding passer.

1930
JOHN TOOKER – KALAMAZOO ST. AUGUSTINE
Captain and center for coach Harv Freeman’s Class C state champs. Dominated his position, and his ability to take the tip-off on nearly every occasion in the title game led to Augustine’s 40-9 win over Lansing St. Mary in the title game. Also a state track champion.

Hank Ceasor – Port Huron
A top all-around athlete in Port Huron, Ceasor earned 1st team All-Tournament honors for the Class A quarterfinalists.

Emanuel Fishman – Detroit Northern
Known for his one-handed push shot, Fishman hit the game winner with 35 seconds remaining as the Eskimos defeated Kalamazoo Central 16-14 for the Class A state championship. (Detroit Public League schools dropped from MHSAA state tournament competition the following year, and didn’t return until 1962.) Co-captain at Northern, he was considered the city league’s outstanding performer for the season.

1920
HARRY KIPKE – LANSING CENTRAL
A 12-letterwinner, including three in basketball, Kipke served as captain and guard in his senior year. Was honored on the All-Tournament team when his team advanced to the semifinal round of the Class A tourney. Later played and coached at the University of Michigan.

Bruno Smokiewicz – Detroit Northwestern
Starred for Coach Bert Maris on league championship teams in 1919 and 1920, state title squads in 1917 and 1920, and a state runner-up in 1919. Named to the 1920 All-Tournament team. Later played pro ball for ABL's Detroit Lions and the ABL's Detroit Pulaski Post.

William Springsteen – Detroit Northwestern
One of six Honorable Mention players on the 1919 All-Tournament team, Springsteen earned 1st team all-tournament team honors in 1920. Also All-State in football as a center in the fall of both 1918 and 1919. Played college football and basketball at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Played professionally for the Frankfort Yellow Jackets of the upstart National Football League in 1925-26.

About BCAM: The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan was incorporated in the summer of 1976. The purpose of BCAM was for the betterment of basketball in the state of Michigan. Over 30 years later, BCAM has shown that it is the voice of high school basketball in Michigan. BCAM has also gained respectability nationwide by being a leader in clinics, academic awards, scholarship programs, websites, awards for players and coaches, official – coach relationships, and as a policy setter for national concerns.

A seat next to a legend...

2009-11-28T17:26:00.000-08:00

Life is funny.

As a kid, I spent summer nights falling asleep to the sweet sounds of broadcast team Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey relay the play-by-play fortunes of my beloved Detroit Tigers. A small transistor radio, tucked beneath my pillow captured the signal.

Thirty-five years later, I've spent the best part of two days sharing time with Carey, high atop Ford Field, watching high school kids chase gridiron glory on the field turf below. Our wide-ranging conversations spanned the early days of his career, to his travels in retirement, to the health of his old broadcast partner.

Now 81 years old, Carey's tones and mind are still as sharp as ever. Looking over all-state basketball teams from the 1930's and 40's he recalled the names and antics of many of the state's former all-time greats. Thanks to my proding, he described his career path from Mt. Pleasant to Saginaw to Detroit. Among the memories, he recalled his selection in 1973 by old Tigers' general manager Jim Campbell as Ray Lane's replacement as Ernie's broadcast partner on WJR. Over 150 others had made audition broadcasts in hopes of landing the cherished spot in the booth.

"Campbell's tone, as he said that they had made a choice, led me to believe I wasn't the one," recalled Carey, "then he gave me the news."

For 19 years, Carey traveled with Tiger for WJR, serving as engineer and sidekick on Tiger broadcasts. Suitcases and hotels in American League towns served as home.

As we watched the Division 8 battle between Beal City and Crystal Falls Forest Park, he remembered covering Beal City's run to the state basketball semifinals in 1953 for Mt. Pleasant's WCEN. Soon after he was working in Saginaw.

He spoke of his father, a geography teacher, and reluctant politician. He mentioned his love of travel, acquired as a kid on vacations with his family.

We discussed our love of sports stadiums. As I recalled my trips to major leage ballparks with my sons, I noted our hope to visit Fenway one day. With the joy of a child in his voice, he mentioned his desire to visit Wrigley Field. That one caught me off guard, but of course his travels with the Tigers were before interleague play.

This weekend was his first trip to Ford Field, and it ended with a trip to the press conference following Detroit Catholic Central's victory over Sterling Heights Stevenson.

Heading out, he thanked me for making his visit most enjoyable, then said goodbye to my sons by name. A true gentleman from our greatest generation.

Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine a life that would lead to meetings with such amazing people.

Today, another was added. I'll treasure the time forever.

What's in a Nickname - the best of Michigan Prep Sports

2009-11-27T17:50:00.000-08:00

Without sports, who would cheer for Nimrods? Or, for that matter, Martians, Dreadnaughts, River Rats or Devils dressed in red, blue or green?

A total of 764 Michigan high schools sponsor athletics. With the exception of nine schools, all have christened their athletic teams with a nickname, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Some 619 Michigan miles separate the "Speedboys" and "Speedgirls" of Bessemer from the Kicking Mules" of Temperance Bedford. In between, we find prep teams outfitted in regalia with designs that span the full array of Crayola colors.

At last count 43 variations of "Eagles" soar above the state’s high school athletic fields, while 29 "Panthers" prowl the state’s sidelines. Print and broadcast media carry stories about the 26 individual lineages of "Vikings" that populate this great state.

Within the state’s borders, sports fans might confront "Maroon Giants" and "Green Dragons."

"Gremlins" attempt to sabotage athletic success, while Swashbuckling "Swordsmen" and axe-wielding "Lumberjacks" stand in the way of triumph.

Scanning the landscape we see a wildlife refuge that includes "Bears." "Pumas," "Zebras," and a host of other animals.

Biblical and mythical figures dot the landscape. On any given night, one might find "Cosmos" clashing with "Rocks," or "Comets" battling Shamrocks."

Nickname trivia has been played by sports fans for many years. Within the state, there are 226 possibilities, of which 136 are unique. Of course, these numbers ignore schools that have been shuttered due to consolidation and economics.

In 1986, ESPN’s "Sports America Show" compiled a list of the 10 top nicknames for high school sports teams. Two schools from Michigan landed on the list.

Nearly 20 years later, as nation would come to know the "Nimrods" of Watersmeet. In 2004, the small school district earned fame and fortune thanks to an appearance in ESPN’s "Without Sports" advertising campaign. Next was a guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Instantly sports fans around the globe were clammering for Nimrod appareal. In 2007, the Sundance Channel arrived to film an eight-episode series entitled "Nimrod Nation". focusing on life in the town.

Geographically located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Ottawa National Forest, Watersmeet began using the Nimrod nickname in 1904. According to biblical accounts in the Old Testament, Nimrod was "a mighty hunter before the Lord." It is said that residents and school officials adopted the name because the forest is prime hunting land for waterfowl, deer, and bear.

The Kingsford Flivvers were the state’s second representative on the list. In 1920, Henry Ford contacted Edward G. Kingsford, a real estate agent and the owner of an Upper Peninsula area Ford dealership, to facilitate the purchase of 313,447 acres of land in the U.P. for Ford Motor Company. The husband of Ford's cousin, Minnie Flaherty, Kingsford completed the deal, and on Dec. 29, 1923, the charter for the newly formed Village of Kingsford was approved. Ford built a world-class facility to manufacture the wooden components for Ford automobiles.

In honor of their association with Ford, Kingsford High School selected "Flivvers," a nickname for a Ford Model T, to serve as the moniker for their athletic teams. The logo, of course, features an illustration of a Tin Lizzy.

ESPN’s original list could have easily been expanded to encompass hundreds of nicknames from across the nation. The state of Michigan itself overflows with unusual or unique nicknames, past and present.

Start with "Martians." At Goodrich High School, students and school officials are often asked, "Why would anyone want to be named after little green men from outer space?"

The 1898 H.G. Wells novel War of the Worlds, and the 1938 Orson Wells radio adaptation of the novel did much to popularize the definition of Martians as most people know it. However, Goodrich’s use of the term "Martian" is actually a mythological reference to Mars. The son of Jupiter and Juno, the king and queen of gods, Mars was the god of spring and growth in nature.

Prior to the 1930s, Goodrich athletics were known as the Goodrich Gladiators. At that time, Goodrich was still a farming community and the school system bore the official title of "Goodrich Rural Agricultural Schools" – hence the appropriate selection of "Martians" as a nickname.

The Vassar Vulcans also take their name from Jupiter and Juno offspring. Vulcan was the god of destructive fire, and the brother of Mars.

"It’s allowed the student body to be creative when they’ve attended games," notes Dave Bossick, a former sports editor for the Tuscola County Advertiser. "At a Regional girls basketball game a few years ago Vassar played Swan Valley. A handful of students were dressed up as Romans/Vulcans. They had the faux twigs and leaves and togas on...It was very funny and one of the lasting memories I’ll have of watching student cheer groups from Michigan."

Travel to the northern-most expanses of the U.P. for additional examples. Since the basketball season of 1946-47, Houghton High school athletic teams have been known as the "Gremlins". A creature of folklore, coined during the Second World War, Gremlins are know as mischievous, mysterious and mechanically inclined – an ideal moniker for a prep athletic squad.

"The Calumet High School team nickname has been the 'Copper Kings' since the early 1950s," notes Bob Erkkila, a sports historian from the area. "The school ran an area-wide contest with the ‘Copper Kings’ being selected over such other popular entries as ‘Miners’ and ‘Red Jackets.’ The nickname was in honor of the great copper mining heritage here in our area."

Industry, economic growth and the pride that is associated within a community can play a large role in the selection of a nickname. The city Dearborn was named after Henry Dearborn, an American Revolution General and former Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson. However, for many years, the world headquarters of Ford Motor Company and the legacy of the company’s founder, Henry Ford, have cast a huge shadow in the community. The influence of Ford appears in the nicknames of two of the city schools. Dearborn Fordson, nicknamed their teams the "Tractors" – a direct reference to a product manufactured by Ford in the early years of the company. Alumni remember halftime of football games usually included a trip around the field by a 1917 Fordson Tractor.

Dearborn Edsel Ford High School, named after Henry Ford’s only child, opened in the late 1950s. The school is nicknamed the "Thunderbirds," after the Ford personal luxury automobile introduced with great success in 1955.

At a 1939 assembly at Mancelona High School, a suggestion was made that the school should call their football team the "Ironmen." The name was selected to honor the Antrim Iron Works Company, an iron manufacturing plant located about a mile south of town that opened in 1882.

Using the charcoal method to manufacture iron, at one time it was one of the largest employers in northern Michigan. The students backed the proposal with a vote. The Iron Works closed in 1945, and for a short period of time the team took on the nickname "Polar Bears," but according to legend, students rebelled, and the nickname was restored. Today, a bigger-than-life sculpture of an Ironman stands outside the school.

The mineral baths of Mt. Clemens were once world famous. According to period advertisements, the area’s sulphur-rich waters could cure a host of ailments, and over the years the city’s bathhouses attracted a variety of celebrities and sports luminaries including Hollywood stars Clark Gable, Mae West and Eddie Cantor, boxing’s Jack Dempsey and baseball’s Babe Ruth.

According to former athletic director Richard Chapman, the school’s nickname, "Battling Bathers" dates to the 1920s. "It started when we played a Bay City school in football," Chapman was quoted as saying in an Associated Press article in 1974. "They were ranked No. 1 in the State and we weren’t supposed to have a chance, but we lost only 6-0. The Bay City coach said, ‘Those battling bathers put up quite a fight.’ The quote was publicized, and the name stuck."

In 1926, magician and illusionist Harry Blackstone Sr. purchased over 200 acres of land on Angel Island located on Sturgeon Lake near Colon to serve as a retreat from touring during the hot summer months. Ranking behind only Houdini in notoriety, Blackstone and an Australian magician, Percy Abbott, formed the Blackstone Magic Company in 1927. After a disagreement, the business was dissolved, but Abbott stayed on, married a local girl and opened the Abbott Magic Novelty Company. In 1934, Abbott hosted the city’s first magic convention, "Abbott’s Get Together," with 80 magicians visiting. With that, the city of Colon declared itself "Magic Capital of the World." For years, the high school athletic teams have called themselves the "Magi."

Public input is often solicited when selecting a nickname. The Ann Arbor News sponsored an essay contest to find a nickname for the Ann Arbor High in 1936. The first prize of five dollars was awarded to Richard J. Mann, an Ann Arbor High graduate, who was one of six to suggest "Pioneers" to the district. In later years, Mann would serve as president of the Ann Arbor school board.

In the 1940s, poultry farms in the city of Zeeland produced 18 million chicks per year, providing employment for 3,000 workers. Highlighting the city’s status within the industry, Zeeland Public Schools called their prep teams the "Chix."

According to Holly Arens, an athletic administrative assistant at Zeeland West, an attempt to alter the mascot and school colors failed in the late 1970s.

"They wanted to change the mascot to the "Golden Bears," recalled Arens, a student at the time, "because ‘Chix’ was too weird." Students were asked to vote on the proposal, and chose to keep the existing nickname. "They liked having something different," said Arens.

As the new millennium approached, the possibility of change surfaced again. Growth in the area meant that a second high school would be built. Scheduled to open in August 2002, the community was asked to weigh in on an issue, "What should the nickname and school colors be for the new high school?"

A total of 777 entries came in with a myriad of suggestions, from Chewbakas and Darth Vaders to Power Ducks and Bunny Hoppers. Still, more than 70 percent of the entries suggested they keep "Chix" and the brown and gold school colors.

Five nickname and school color combinations were presented as final candidates at a town meeting. A vote was cast by 6th-12th graders throughout the district. The students stuck with tradition and kept the "Chix" name and color scheme for the newly renamed Zeeland East High School.

Using the same phonic, they chose "Dux" to represent athletics at the new school, Zeeland West. It seems a fitting choice for two schools built right next to each other.

In Michigan we have the "Blue Streaks" (Ida) and "Thunderbolts" (Mio). Once there was the "Blue Bolts" from Dollar Bay but they changed their nickname to the "Bays" some years back.

We also have "Fighting Bees" (Bath), "Fighting Tigers" (Battle Creek St. Philip), and "Fighting Scots" (Caledonia). Once we had the "Fighting Knights" from Clinton Boysville, but the school lost a battle for survival in the late 1960s.

Of course we have "Fighting Irish" (Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, Kalamazoo Hackett, and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep). Those Irish use green as a primary color. Interestingly, "Irish" can also be found at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, however, there is no "Fighting." Their primary uniform color is red.

Like a nickname attached to a friend, the name might be endearing.

Gladwin was nicknamed the "Flying Goshawks" after an aggressive raptor native to the area. The name was shortened many years ago to the "Flying G’s". Their logo incorporates the head of a Goshawk.

Occasionally, a nickname comes from an off-the-cuff remark or even a disparaging comment. A new high school located on the shore of the Huron River in Ann Arbor, built near an old medical waste site, was scheduled to open in 1967. According to some residents, the building would serve students from "the wrong side of town." During construction, students scheduled to transfer to the new school were often referred to as "River Rats" by their classmates.

When Huron High School opened in 1969, plans were in place to use "Hurons" as the sports nickname. But, to the surprise and disappointment of many members of school administration, the transferred students embraced the derogatory remark and wanted to use "River Rats" as their nickname. An attempt by school officials to find an alternative failed, and for several years, Huron operated without an official nickname. In spite of this, local newspapers began referring to Huron teams using variations on the "River Rats" name. Wrestlers were called "Mat Rats". Members of the baseball team were referred to as "Bat Rats". Eventually, school administrators relented, and the name became a symbol of pride.

In at least one instance, inspiration was found in the circumstances surrounding a construction delay. In Detroit, Charles E. Chadsey High School was built to honor the former Detroit Superintendent of Schools from 1912-19. Scheduled to open in time for the start of the 1931-32 school year, delays meant that students began the school year at the adjacent Munger Intermediate School after its classes had been dismissed each day.

On Columbus Day, Oct. 12, 1931, the building was finally ready for occupancy. Hence, the athletic teams were christened the "Explorers."

History, of course, can play an important role in the selection process. In some cases, the nickname is unusual, yet completely logical.

John J .Pershing High School in Detroit opened in 1930. Naturally, teams were nicknamed "Doughboys." A West Point graduate, General Pershing led the American Expeditionary Force – the United States Military force commonly known as Doughboys – that were sent to Europe in 1917 when the U.S. entered World War I. In honor of his accomplishments, Pershing was given the highest rank possible for a member of the military, General of the Armies of the United States, following the war.

In Dexter, another important figure from WWI served as inspiration for the team nickname. In 1906, the British Royal Navy introduced a revolutionary battleship to their fleet. The design of the HMS Dreadnought, propelled through the water using steam turbines, featured an innovative "all-big-gun" armament. The advances where adopted by nearly all battleship builders and Dreadnoughts became a generic term used to describe the style of battleship. Dexter High School took on the American spelling, "Dreadnaughts" as the team nickname after WWI as a local manufacturer made parts for the massive ships.

Inspiration can also be found in consolidation of schools into a single larger consortium. When the Iron River, Iron River Bates and Stambaugh schools chose to consolidate into a single district, a need arose for a new nickname and mascot. On Feb. 8, 1968, Brandon Giovanelli, art teacher at Stambaugh High School was given five minutes to design a mascot for the newly consolidated district of West Iron County. He created a "Wykon" - a three-legged mythological creature. The term was coined by Floyd Carlson, a school counselor and Donald MacDonald, a football coach.

Occasionally, nicknames are created by the media, such as Kalamazoo Central’s "Maroon Giants." Former Kalamazoo Gazette sports editor Jerry Hagen began using the term when referring to the school’s athletic teams in the mid-1930s, which were comprised of some students of unusual size for the era.

Of course, nicknames can spur controversy. East Jordan is one of four state schools using a "Red Devil" for a nickname. The district made national news in 1987 as they debated the appropriateness of their chosen nickname in the New York Times. The school board was given a petition with over 200 signatures requesting a new name and team logo. The request was countered by a second petition, prepared by the school’s cheerleaders that contained 500 signatures, asking that no change be made.

Some 40 years previous, the school had changed its nickname from "Crimson Tide" when McCarthy-ism and Communist concerns were at a peak. This time, no change was made.

The original version of this appeared in the MHSAA's 2007 Football State Championships game-day program.

I continue to look for the stories behind the nickname. Feel free to contact me with details on your school's nickname or mascot at peschstats@comcast.net

Willy DeVille

2009-06-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

This one really has nothing to do with sports. Today, I learned that one of my favorite musicians has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. That breaks my heart.

I first heard of Willy DeVille from my best friend Jeff. After returning from an extended trip to California, "Muggs" as he later became known among my circle of friends, had been told about the band Mink DeVille by cousins in the Golden State. The band broke about the time that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hit the airwaves.

Now these were the days before e-mail, cell-phones with unlimited minutes and "social networking". Word among 15-year-olds traveled the old-fashioned way, via postcard. Or, in this case, via conversations following Jeff's return home. (The postcard arrived late). Always interested in discovering new music, we engaged in the pursuit often.

Eventually, Jeff tracked down a collection of his music. Back in the day, our music was procured from exotic places called department stores (Zody's, Meijer, J.C. Penny's) and independent music shops like Beerman's Music and Believe in Music. Tunes arrived in the format of the 45 or the LP. For a 15-year-old living on allowance and lawn mowing jobs, birthday, report card and Christmas money, a single purchase could make quite the dent in the wallet.

With such limited resources, an investment in vinyl, combined with the basic design of the media, meant that you gave an artist a chance. LP's were listened to multiple times, from start to finish; 45's were flipped to check out the "B" side. A band that on first listen might not shine often emerged to become a favorite. Top Forty hits that were must-haves sometime faded from our play lists due to over-exposure on radio.

Long-standing favorites emerged from that era that still populate this Pesch household: Petty; Springsteen; Warren Zevon; Elvis Costello; Elton John; Aerosmith; Bowie; Alice Cooper; the Stones; Orbison; Pat Travers.

Jeff's cousin's recommendation of DeVille hit home, and I've followed him ever since. His simple tales of romance reminded me of one of my Dad's favorite bands, The Drifters. Today, those tales still thrill me (and maybe still taint my perception of reality).

(Speaking of The Drifters, I remember repeatedly playing the 45, "I'll Take You Where the Music's Playing" written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich on my inheited RCA player sometime around the fourth grade - look for the single edit!).

Fortunately, the internet arrived, allowing me to track DeVille's output as he fell from favor. "Big in Europe" as the old saying goes, his latest release Pistola, had to be acquired via eBay and "imported" from a reseller Florida.

So I'm sadden to learn that my continuing quest for his music may soon be over.

Check him out.

Catching up

2009-04-18T13:46:00.002-07:00

It's been awhile...so I thought I should jump out here and punch out some updates on the world of sports - as seen through the eyes of yours truly.

Full Disclosure - I'm writing this while listening to UFO's Strangers in The Night. Playing via Rhapsody's Music site. A great chance for the Pesch Family to preview tunes before purchasing. Relatively inexpensive and quite the handy application for a guy who's brain is creating "Mix Tapes" in his head as he types.

Or, as is the case today, it provides the chance to listen to stuff in the Pesch collection when I'm too lazy to stroll across the room and dig out the CD. In some cases, I have the exact disc in my collection. In others, as is the case with this UFO disc, I own the original release on vinyl.

Anyway - What a great album. This Caroline Records version includes two extra tracks not found on the vinyl. (Check out the Rock of Ages Blog for some interesting reviews on classic and current releases from the genre.)

I'm not one to download much music. I love liner notes and album artwork, and I'm really not too keen on the idea that my music collection could be wiped out by a lost MP3 player or a hard disk crash. I haven't added that terabyte network backup unit to the household yet, although I'm sure it's coming. Things are getting better now that things are moving toward DRM-free, but right now, those CDs stored in their jewel cases are wonderful backups in my book.

Like newspapers, I'll miss them when they're gone.

Anyway. Now that the mood is set, on to sports.

......

I've got to say I never thought I'd see Antoine "The Judge" Joubert's finals record of 47 points in a state final game topped. Or, as Steve Finamore wrote on his blog, "overruled". Also, never though that I'd see his nickname changed to "Antoine Who".

Congratulations to Keith Appling on one fantastic game. And to Joubert, who's coaching Oakland Community College's basketball team. Izzo lands another one...

......

Track 3 - Let It Roll - I love this band!

......

Wishing for speedy recoveries to two of my favorite people. First - my heartfelt condolences go out to Walter Michael who not only broke his hip, but who also saw his incredible streak of trips to the basketball state finals come to an end. A member of The Greatest Generation, Walter has been going to the the finals since 1946. Thank heavens he's alright, and that FSNDetroit carried the games - allowing him to watch. Walter vows to be back in Breslin in 2010. Let's raise a glass to toast him!

Second - I see heart surgery has put Homer's Scott Salow on the sidelines for the season. I had the chance to "chat" with Scott (via e-mail) in the aftermath of Homer national record 75 consecutive baseball wins streak. A great individual . Testing revealed the need for bypass surgery at age 39.

"I blame it on my genes," said Salow in the Jackson Citizen Patriot earlier this week.

I wish him the best and look forward to seeing him again in the dugout.

......

Track 10 - Doctor Doctor... Michael Schenker is "Something Else"!

......

It's baseball season, and that means I get to watch my oldest son battle it out on the baseball diamond for my alma mater this year. Jamie's playing for Muskegon High School's JV squad and having a grand time. Win or lose, I love interscholastic athletics! Gives the "old man" the chance to dig through the archives and visit some long-buried documents unearthed in the early days of my research career. Did you know Muskegon established the original longest win streak in baseball? Or that it was topped by the team that ended Muskegon's run of 55 straight?

......

Caught the West Michigan Whitecaps' home opener this year. My kids learned that baseball in April can be a cold affair.

And no, we didn't attempt to devour a 5/3 burger.

I'm awfully glad that the 16-year-old that claimed the honor of eating the first one doesn't live at my place. I couldn't afford to feed him.

One cast-iron stomach stood out among the rest. Steve Landis, 16, of Walker, refused to break concentration amid his pursuit of glory. He continued to cram a fistful into his face during the singing of the national anthem.
As the Kenowa Hills High School student neared the end, he ferociously forked up toppings to become the first Fifth Third Burger challenge winner.
"I wasn't quite sure. Should I be proud of him or not?" said his mom, 43-year-old Barb Landis.
His father, 45-year-old Dick Landis, insisted an empty stomach wasn't the key to his success. He said his son warmed up by eating a hearty breakfast and following that up with a trip to a Chinese buffet for lunch.

......

What a crime that Melvindale ABT was stripped of the Class C title. First time in MHSAA history that a title has been taken away - although some claim there should have been others. I feel bad for Michael Talley - both of them - and I wonder why the issue of eligibility wasn't uncovered sooner.

Did Lofton Greene have to deal with such challenges during the heyday of River Rouge? The controversy then was related to student counts and Rouge's constant presence in Class B.

I guess it's the price of today's world of charter schools and the school of choice option.

It's said that the logic behind this premise is that competition between schools for a student's dollars would enhance/improve the level of education being provided. Looking at the devastation that it's had on some districts, I question that. In many cases, it has created an opportunity for segregation to thrive. I thought that's what the aftermath of 1954's Brown vs. the Board of Education was supposed to fix.

......

Track 14 - Too Hot to Handle...appropriate...

That's all I've got for the moment. Time for some breakfast!

Say fairwell to Pontiac's Chiefs.

2009-03-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

The story is heartbreaking, and, I'm afraid only a sign of things to come.

In December, the Oakland Press reported the news. Pontiac Central to Close?

Word was a community advisory committee had recommended that Pontiac Central and Pontiac Northern should merge into one at Northern's campus.

While the site name is rather chilling, Lawrence Porter wrote a excellent article on the subject for the World Socialist Web Site. Dr. Brian Yancy, head principal at Central, spoke on the school's history and the impending close.

“Central is the oldest accredited school in the state,” he added. “It was established in 1849 and has the largest alumni association in the state. It is coming up to its 150th anniversary. This is what disheartens people in the community and the surrounding area about Pontiac Central.”

Yancy also commented on other issues, noting that Central had one of the finest marching and concert bands in the country. Students from the school had participated in the statewide contests in robotics.

And he briefly touched on the athletic history at the school.

“The sports program has a history that is unrivaled in the state,” stated Yancy, adding that no other school can claim to have had two Olympic gold medalists, one in track and field and the other in swimming."

He also highlighted the grim reality that the school faced.

“Our poverty levels are so high that we have a ‘school-wide’ lunch program. It is more efficient to say that everybody in the building is in poverty than to try to tease out the small percentages that are left.”

Pontiac Central was truly one of Michigan's finest.

Muskegon band alumni recall the unofficial rivalry the school had with Central when it came time for state competitions.

Track fans may recall Steve Elliott, who owned the state's Class A mile record at 4:08.2; Vivian Fischer, who won the state's Class A shot put event with a 43 3 1/2 toss in 1981; Bill Tipton, who twice hurdled 13.4 for a national prep record. Those with a deep knowledge of the sport, (like my friend Jim Moyes) will recall Russell Cowan, winner of the 100 at the Michigan Agricultural College (now known as Michigan State University) Invitational meet in 1916 and 1917. Worldwide, of course, they should know the name of Central's Olympian, hurdler Hayes Jones, who earned gold in 1964 in Tokyo.

Maxine Joyce "Micki" King earned the gold metal in the three meter springboard diving event in the 1972 Olympics.

Fans may recall Central's football heros: Edward Salter, Claude Daniels, Malta Reihe, Bill Coxen, Charles Brown, Leroy Jackson, Ervin Walker, Jerry Rush, Kelvin Gooding, Eldren Milton, Kahn Powell, Alger Conner, Bob Schnitker, Rich Braun, Jim Engleman, Ed Revis, Neal Peterson, Mike Shorters, Jack Weiss, and Walter Beach.

Other know wrestling coach Steve Szabo and golf's Thomas Deaton.

Basketball fans from around the state may remember Hubert Price, Roy Clark, Sam Baker, Esmo Woods, Willie DeWalt, Hudson Ray, John Bandy, Jesse Evans, Tony Styles, Larry Cole, Tim Marshall, Dennis Threlked, Eli Parker, Thomas McGhee, Jamel Gooding and of course, the Russells - Frank, Walker D. and Campy. Fans of the post-season still talk about the drought that came upon the Chiefs and their coaches Art VanRyzen and Ralph Grubb's come tournament time.

Still others may remember specific games. Back when I was blogging for MLive, I asked readers to send me information on the greatest games that they had ever witnessed. "SClark" delivered this gem.

Greatest Game:
2002 District semifinals - Pontiac Northern at Pontiac Central.

Central came out on fire led by Lamar Searight and Akeem Price's three-point shooting. The Chiefs had a 15-point lead and looked ready to unseat the defending Class A champions.

Lester Abram and Derrick Ponder helped Northern fight back. Ponder was all over the floor, stealing the ball, rebounding, sacrificing his body to keep the Huskies' season alive. Mike Morris came off the bench for Northern and nailed a couple of threes.

The end of regulation is hazy as far as the score. I believe Central led 51-49 when Northern guard Dominique Hardiman missed a shot instead of feeding Abram down low. Central rebounded and Price went to the line with about 7 seconds left and a chance to clinch. He made the first, missed the second.

After a timeout, Abram hit the shot of the tournament: a left-wing three-pointer, falling out of bounds to tie the game at 52, sending it to overtime. They played two OTs and were still tied!

In the third OT, Northern started to take control. Near the end, they had a 72-69 lead, Central missed, Northern rebounded and threw it down-court to Abram who was wide open with about 15 seconds left. Amazingly, Abram missed the dunk to clinch it! The ball bounded to Central at mid-court, then a wild scramble ensued to try and send it to a fourth OT. Two three-pointers missed with Central getting the rebound each time.

Finally, the Chief's Markese Cole had an open look for three in the left corner, right in front of us. He had to hurry the shot and missed it as the buzzer sounded, giving Northern the 72-69, 3-OT victory. Cole fell back into the stands and just laid there as the Huskies celebrated. It was an unforgettable scene and atmosphere. Ponder looked like Kellen Winslow Sr. after the playoff game against the Dolphins.

Northern went on to win their second straight title, but had Central won that game, they could have easily been the 2002 champ.

After that game, I try to catch at least one Northern-Central battle each year.

Personally, I made a visit to Central a few years back for the 2006 Michigan High School Basketball All Star Game. Featuring the likes of Tory Jackson, David Kool, Deshawn Sims, Tajuan Porter, Ramar Smith and Central's own Maurice Abraham, it was a relaxed, fun-loving affair.

The school was one of the modern concrete bunkers, but the gym bled history. The trophy cases, and the walls of the gym highlighted the tradition of the Chiefs.

Like many other urban centers, the district once hosted one public school, and grew to the point that a second was added. Soon the district will return to that original level. Only this time, it will leave behind unused or underused buildings in the wake - additional urban decay in an area that can ill-afford more.

When will we learn there is little to gain from abandoning our cities and their schools, only to build new ones on untapped ground?

We blame those that are left behind for destroying our cities. In reality, it is those that leave that insure those cities will fail.

An old-fashioned small town celebration

2009-03-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

"We haven't been together since our 50th reunion,'' said Rollie Dunsmore, who lives near Ida and was a starting guard on the 1948 team.

Ron Montri of the Monroe News slipped in a little information for readers on the Milan reunion that took place at halftime of the team's game with New Boston Huron on February 27th.

Jana Miller of the Milan New-Leader included a photo of the team's five remaining members for readers.

Photo by Hiroshi Onuma

Surviving members of the 1948's MHSAA Class C basketball state titlists: Left to Right: Wayne Tooman, Rolland Dunsmore, Sherman Collins, Dick Trim and Harlan Benjamin.

In addition to re-presenting the trophy, the players were honored by a team banner that now hangs in the Milan High School gymnasium.

The five returning players were also surprised with the creation of a small college scholarship in the 1948 team's name that will be awarded to a single athlete each year.

With center Al Benjamin, forwards Carl Tschirhart and Al Bassett and guards Sherm Collins and Dunsmore at guard, Milan rolled past heavily-favored Saginaw SS Peter and Paul, 45-42.

Montri notes that Benjamin recently died in Tennessee and that Tschirhart also is deceased.

"I feel privileged to be on that team because those guys were good,'' said Dunsmore, who is 77. He was a junior when Milan went 21-0 in 1947-48.

Collins' daughter, Julie Frontera shared some more information from the night.

It was an emotional evening as a few of the guys weren’t in the best of health, but they were all so happy to see each other. There were even three of the original cheerleaders who came!! They have all remained friends throughout the years and there were lots of hugs (and a few teary eyes) all around...

My Mom told me that back in ’48 there wasn’t much to do in Milan at all except rally around the team and this team was capturing the attention of each person. On Friday nights there were lines of cars headed to the high school game or to the opposing team and she said that Milan fans would really support their team!! This was big time for them!!

It's too bad that there aren't more schools out there that take the time to recall their history and put together an evening like this for the old teams.

Only wish I could have been there for this one. I love these old trophies!

March Madness - on it's way to a basketball court near you.

2009-02-25T02:56:00.000-08:00

It won't be long.

The Girl's District Tournament launch March 2, 4 & 6, while the Boy's District Tournament kicks off the week after, March 9, 11, 13.

Digging around the "archives" known as my haphazard filing system, I stumbled upon a Xerox copy (honest - it was made on a Xerox copy machine!) from the earliest days of my high school sports research. Surprising I had the foresight to make the copy, as my sole focus at the time was Muskegon Big Red Football. I had yet to meet Dick Kishpaugh, the gentleman who would ultimately guide me to this hobby.

Anyway - this one, I believe, came from the collection of Gontram Miller. Gont was an old Muskegon football captain, and kept a wonderful scrapbook prepared for him by his mother. Look at the officials working this event - the "Sixth Annual State Championship".

This is now part of a collection of old MHSAA tournament finals programs. The Collection for boys basketball is pretty much complete from 1947 and beyond, but we're on the lookout for anything from 1917 - 1946.

Can you help? Please contact me at peschstats@comcast.net. While we'd love to have an original for the collection, a "Xerox" or scan of the program would be WONDERFUL!

Milan basketball fans are in for a treat!

2009-02-21T10:04:00.000-08:00

Fans of Milan High School basketball are in for a treat next Friday, February 27th. Milan, Michigan that is...

The school counts Charles E. Forsythe, the first director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association among its alumni.

Located about 16 miles south of Ann Arbor, Milan has its own Athletic Hall of Fame. The school shares its name with perhaps the most famous high school in America. (You may have heard the story of the basketball team from Milan, Indiana. If not, I suggest you pick up a DVD copy that tells the tale from Amazon).

On Friday, the Michigan school will pay tribute to their lone state championship basketball team.

On the eve of spring, 1948, the Big Reds of Milan completed an undefeated season by grabbing the state's Class C cage crown. Undefeated is indeed an accomplishment, but it was the final two games of the MHSAA tournament that insured the accomplishments of this group of high school athletes would be remembered over 60 years later.

During Friday's semifinal round at Jenison Fieldhouse that year, Milan rallied for a 36-34 come-from-behind overtime win over Charlevoix. While Al Benjamin led Milan with 14 points, it was forward Carl Tschirhart who emerged the hero. Tschirhart, whose name was not included on the roster of the finals game-day program, scored the game-tying basket, then launched the winning shot with 13 seconds remaining in the extra frame. He finished with nine points.

Bob Carey, who would become a three-sport star at Michigan State then play from 1952-56 in the NFL, led Charlevoix with 11 points. Milan coach Fred Sukup missed the fireworks as he was hospitalized with an acute appendicitis late Thursday.

Saturday's contest pitted Milan against the Midgets from Saginaw SS Peter and Paul. Heavy favorites, Saginaw was riding a 52-game win streak.

"Best played basketball of the night was found in the Milan-SS Peter and Paul game", wrote Goerge S. Alderton, sports editor for the Lansing State Journal. "The teams were evenly matched and they traveled at a dizzy pace all the way. There were 45 fouls called, most of them due to the driving pace."

Lead by center Art McColgan, the state's top scorer, Saginaw opened up an eight point lead early in the second quarter, but the taller Milan squad rallied back to take a 23-22 lead into the locker room at halftime. Battling close to even in the second half, the game was tied at 33, 34 and 37 as the teams began their march to the finish. The driving pace took it's toll as Milan found three starters whistled to the sidelines on fouls including their leading scorer, Sherman Collins.

A basket by Al Benjamin broke a 37-37 tie to give Milan the lead as the game neared it's conclusion. But the Saginaw parochial squad pulled to within a point, 43-42 on a long shot by Francis Kruske with under a minute remaining to play in regulation. According to the United Press report on the game,

In the melee which followed, Tschirhart came up with the ball and let loose a long shot which swished the nets and doomed SS Peter and Paul.

Tschirhart's basket with 15 seconds remaining gave Milan a 45-42 win. Watching from his wheelchair was Coach Sukup. He had been brought to East Lansing by ambulance from an Ann Arbor hospital.

"My forever young and wonderful 79-year-old Dad is flying home from Florida to be here" notes Julie Fontera.

"Dad" is Sherm Collins, who finished with 14 points in the title game.

"He is healthy, active, plays and teaches tennis weekly or more, in Florida and in the summers in Michigan" continues Fontera. "He shoots hoops with the grand kids, is studying bowling books right now for when his knees can’t handle the tennis courts anymore, is an avid historical collector, volunteers and helps out many people and attends every one of his high school reunions and is happily married for 54 years!! What more could you ask for??"

Indeed!

Here's the roster from the 1948 game program - sans Carl Tschirhart. Rich Rezler of the Ann Arbor News tells me those highlighted are expected to attend.

3 – Rodger Sanford
4 – Roland Dunsmore
5 – George Holmes
7 – Dick Trimm
8 – Al Bassett
9 – Sherman Collins
10 – Wayne Tooman
12 – Al Benjamin
13 – Gene Gauntlett
14 – Dave DeTar
26 – John Taylor
28 – Harlan Benjamin

Rich also notes that Friday's opponent is New Boston Huron.

It should be a great night!

A Cage Fight with a pair of old Southwestern Conference foes

2009-02-11T02:18:00.000-08:00

From a fan's perspective, when it comes to high school basketball, Muskegon Heights is the place to be if you enjoy prep basketball.

The crowd loves their hoops, and they pack the place in support of their Tigers. Led by PA announcer John Mason and a crowd that arrives early, the house rocks. An independent, the Heights bring in some of the state's most talented teams. For first time visitors, it must rank as one of Michigan's most intimidating places to play. The open expanse of their lobby to the gym is lined with trophies, most highlighting the school's achievements in prep basketball. From the rafters hang banners celebrating their success in state tournaments. Come showtime, the place is electric.

It was all on display this past Saturday evening when the Maroon Giants from Kalamazoo Central, ranked No. 3 in Class A, came to town. The Tigerettes even made their first appearance of the season, entertaining the crowd with a dance number during halftime.

Word was the Class B Tigers would have their hands full against the visitors, who feature 6-5 junior forward Devin Oliver and 6-5 senior center Doug Anderson. K-Central ran rampant against Rockford 77-52, and according to Frank Majerle, father of former NBA star Dan, and current Rockford coach Steve, it could have been much worse.

"I doubt Heights will be able to stay with them," said Majerle while watching his grandson, sophomore Ryan Majerle, drop in 21 points against conference rival, Muskegon.

As expected, it was a "March Madness" match-up played out on a chilly February evening at the Heights.

The Tigers, ranked No. 5 in Class B, held their own on the court, leading 33-32 at the half, then jumped out to a 39-32 lead to open the third quarter. Scott DeCamp of the Kalamazoo Gazette was on the scene to capture the festivities as well as the action down on the floor. Sadly, my local paper ran a "From Local Reports" version of the game. (DeCamp, by the way, is the former sports editor of the Grand Haven Tribune, and a Ravenna graduate.)

While Anderson picked up two quick fouls, and landed on the sidelines for much of the first half, Oliver delivered 24 points and 12 rebounds, including 16 before the half, to lead K-Central to a 82-70 win. A 13-4 run late in the third was the difference. Heights hit only 35 percent of their shots from the floor - a credit to Kalamazoo's defense, height and depth. But, with a hot hand and solid free throw shooting, the result certainly could have been different.

DeCamp notes that, with 11 straight wins, the Maroon Giants haven't lost since falling to Detroit Country Day at the end of December. He then quotes senior T.J. Cameron.

"I guess we feel that we can make it all the way to the Breslin (for the state semifinals and finals)," Cameron said. "We feel like that - we can make it to the Breslin."

It was, indeed, a big-time win in a big-time environment for the Maroon Giants against an old Southwestern Conference foe (any of my readers remember the old SWC, Gene Thomas and Bob Quiring, and all those state titles?). They'll need many more come March, when the foes turn into the cream of Class A from Saginaw and Detroit.

Setting sights on Breslin is great, but I hope the Maroon Giants take it one game at a time. I'd love to see them win in Class A. They have made a total of 11 trips to the finals, however their last crown came in 1951. They have made only a single appearance in the title game since then, in 2001.

Stephen Bell, who posts his High School Basketball Bulletin for MLive.com also has a great write-up on the game. Concerning the Heights,

The game's best dunker wasn't Anderson, who had one, but Heights' 5-9 senior Lemarcus Beckem. He plays more like a 6-5 athlete than a guard. Beckem jumped over two players, one from each team, for a put-back jam. But he did miss two dunk attempts at unfortunate times in the second half. Also for Muskegon Heights, 6-6 junior Julian Plummer is coming into his own and is becoming an impact inside player. He was a man on the glass, and is more agile and athletic than I remember, going out of his space to get the ball. 5-9 Heights senior Ricarri Stimage was typically fearless. He hit some 3s but became a volume shooter unable to finish at a high rate inside. But Stimage had to carry the backcourt workload, because 6-2 senior Sean Davis misplaced his game. He continued to force the issue, with no reward. He may have been suffering from PTSD after Anderson blocked two of his shots, throwing a layup into the bleachers then coming out to get a piece of a three-point attempt.

Stimage finished with 21 points, while Plummer had 12, with 15 rebounds.

I'd also love to see the Tigers at Breslin. They will be a long shot this year, but I would never count them out. At the Heights, the regular season is simply a warm-up for the post season. Fans always expect a long run come tournament time, and rightfully so. The Tigers have been to the finals on 13 occasions. Only River Rouge, with 19 trips to the title game, has more. Along the way, the Heights has won six crowns. Their most title in 1979, while finishing the year as runner-up in 1993, 2003 and 2005.

MHSAA State Basketball Crowns School	Titles
River Rouge	19
Muskegon Heights	13
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian	12
Flint Northern	11
Kalamazoo Central	11
Detroit East Catholic	10
Detroit Southwestern	10
Saginaw Buena Vista	10
St Joseph	10
Benton Harbor	9
Detroit St. Martin dePorres	9
Saginaw	9
Detroit Pershing	8
Detroitry Day	8
Kalamazoo Christian	8
Bridgman	7
East Grand Rapids	7
Flint Beecher	7
Grand Haven	7
Jackson	7
Lansing Sexton	7
Saginaw Arthur Hill	7
Covert	6
Holland Christian	6
Lansing St. Mary	6
Orchard Lake St. Mary	6
Reed City	6
Saginaw Nouvel	6
Saginaw SS Peter-Paul	6
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian	6
Detroit Northern	5
Detroit Northwestern	5
Detroit St. Theresa	5
Grand Rapids South Christian	5
Highland Park	5
Ishpeming	5
Kalamazoo St. Augustine	5
Muskegon	5
Pontiac Central	5
Stevensville	5
Detroit St. Andrew	4
Flint Central	4
Flint Northwestern	4
Grosse Pointe St. Paul	4
Harbor Springs	4
Holly	4
Mt Pleasant	4
Negaunee	4
Niles	4
Saginaw St. Stephen	4
Sturgis	4
Albion	3
Alma	3
Ann Arbor St. Thomas	3
Bath	3
Brimley	3
Buchanan	3
Charlevoix	3
Chassell	3
Crystal Falls Forest Park	3
Dearborn Fordson	3
Detroit All Saints	3
Detroit City	3
Detroit Cooley	3
Detroit Redford	3
Detroit Rogers	3
Detroit Southeastern	3
East Lansing	3
Flint St. Matthew	3
Flint St. Michael	3
Fowler	3
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian	3
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills	3
Grand Rapids Union	3
Holland	3
Lakeview	3
Maple City Glen Lake	3
Marshall	3
Mt Pleasant Sacred Heart	3
Okemos	3
Shelby	3
Three Oaks River Valley	3
Willow Run	3
Ypsilanti Central	3
Allendale	2
Baraga	2
Bay City All Saints	2
Beal City	2
Berrien Springs	2
Birmingham Brother Rice	2
Britton	2
Cass City	2
Coldwater	2
Dearborn Divine Child	2
Detroit Austin	2
Detroit Catholic Central	2
Detroit Central	2
Detroit Holy Redeemer	2
Detroit Murray-Wright	2
Detroit Renaissance	2
Ecorse	2
Ewen Trout Creek	2
Ferndale	2
Flint Carman-Ainsworth	2
Flint Holy Redeemer	2
Flint Holy Rosary	2
Flint St. Mary	2
Freesoil	2
Grand Rapids Christian	2
Grand Rapids Godwin	2
Grandville Calvin Christian	2
Gwinn	2
Hamtramck	2
Holt	2
Horton	2
Houghton	2
Howell	2
Hudsonville Unity Christian	2
Iron River West Irony	2
Lansing Eastern	2
Lansing Everett	2
Manton	2
Mass	2
Milan	2
Mio AuSable	2
Muskegon St. Joseph	2
Oak Park	2
Pontiac Northern	2
Port Huron	2
Redford Bishop Borgess	2
Romulus	2
Southgate Aquinas	2
St Clair	2
St Ignace	2
Stephenson	2
Traverse City	2
Adrian	1
Algonac	1
Allen Park Baptist	1
Alpena St. Anne	1
Alpena St. Bernard	1
Ann Arbor	1
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard	1
Ann Arbor Pioneer	1
Ann Arbor University High	1
Ashley	1
Auburn Hills Avondale	1
Baldwin	1
Bangor	1
Bark River-Harris	1
Baroda	1
Battle Creek Central	1
Bay City St. James	1
Bellaire	1
Belleville	1
Benton Harbor St. John	1
Benzie Central	1
Boyne City	1
Brethren	1
Brooklyn	1
Byron Center	1
Cadillac	1
Carson City	1
Cassopolis	1
Cedarville	1
Cheboygan	1
Clarksville	1
Coopersville	1
Copemish	1
Corunna	1
Dearborn	1
Decatur	1
DeTour	1
Detroit Cass Tech	1
Detroit Crockett	1
Detroit DeLaSalle	1
Detroit Kettering	1
Detroit Mackenzie	1
Detroit Servite	1
Detroit St. Martin	1
DeWitt	1
Dimondale	1
Dryden	1
Eben Junction-Superior Central	1
Elk Rapids	1
Elkton-Pigeon-Bayport	1
Evart	1
Ewen	1
Farmington	1
Fenton	1
Flint Hamady	1
Flint Powers	1
Fremont	1
Gaylord St. Mary	1
Gobles	1
Grand Blanc	1
Grand Rapids East Christian	1
Grand Rapids Lee	1
Grandville	1
Greenville	1
Grosse Pointe	1
Hamilton	1
Hanover	1
Harper Woods	1
Haslett	1
Highland Park St. Benedict	1
Hillsdale	1
Iron Mountain	1
Jackson St. Mary	1
Kalamazoo Hackett	1
Keego Harbor	1
Kent City	1
Kingsley	1
Lake Linden	1
Lake Odessa Lakewood	1
L'Anse	1
Lansing Catholic Central	1
Lansing Waverly	1
Leland	1
Leroy	1
Ludington	1
Maple Rapids	1
Marine City	1
Marion	1
Marlette	1
Marquette Bishop Baraga	1
Marquette Pierce	1
McBain	1
McBain Christian	1
Menominee	1
Merrill	1
Michigamme	1
Michigan Center	1
Muskegon St. Mary	1
Negaunee St. Paul	1
New Buffalo	1
Newberry	1
Northport	1
Olivet	1
Owosso St. Paul	1
Parma Western	1
Peck	1
Pellston	1
Petoskey	1
Pewamo-Westphalia	1
Pickford	1
Pigeon	1
Portage	1
Portland St. Patrick	1
Powers North Central	1
Redford St. Mary	1
Remus	1
Rock	1
Rockford	1
Roscommon	1
Roseville Eastland	1
Saginaw Carrollton	1
Saginaw Eisenhower	1
Saginaw Lutheran	1
Saginaw St. Mary	1
Sand Creek	1
Scottville Masony Central	1
South Haven	1
Southfield	1
Southfield-Lathrup	1
St Clair Shores Lake Shore	1
St Clair Shores Southlake	1
St Joseph Catholic	1
St Louis	1
Stambaugh	1
Stockbridge	1
Three Oaks	1
Trout Creek	1
Unionville-Sebewaing	1
Vanderbilt	1
Wayland	1
Weidman	1
Whitehall	1
Williamston	1
Wyandotte Smith	1
Zeeland	1

Fastest to 1,000 points - is Central Lake's Jasmine Hines the one?

2009-01-29T03:03:00.000-08:00

Central Lake's 6-3 sophomore Jasmine Hines picked up her 1000th point on Tuesday in a heartbreaking 55-54 loss to Onaway on Tuesday. Hines, who scored 646 points as a freshman, ended the evening with 36 points, 22 rebounds and seven blocked shots. The millennium mark caused Antrim Review sports editor Michael Smith to pose a question.

In state history among the girls, who was the quickest to 1,000? Jazz, as she is known in Central Lake, got there in her 34th varsity career game.

Wow – fastest to 1,000, huh? I can’t say that I have an answer to that.

As a comparison, Stephanie Hass, who spent her prep career playing ball at Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian (1998-2001), finished her varsity career with 2,732 points. That's tops in state history. Hass scored 567 in 22 games as a freshman, and 677 as a sophomore in 22 games. Unfortunately, I don’t have a game-by-game breakdown.

As a sophomore, she averaged, 30.77 points-per-game, So she would have needed about 14 games to hit 1,000 point mark. Hass certainly may have done it sooner (she had a 52-point game as a sophomore). Hass finished her career with 642 in 21 games as a junior, then 846 in 22 as a senior. She then took her game to Saginaw Valley State.

At a minimum, it sounds like Hines' is on a "Hass-like” pace. That's exciting! McCabe has her ranked at No. 15 on his annual list of the state's top ball players. Michigan State has already inquired about securing her ability after high school. I'm sure they won't be the last!

Hoopfest at MSU's Jenison Field House

2009-01-27T04:33:00.000-08:00

March Magic Hoopfest Plays At Jenison Field House
During MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Jan. 26 - No one venue has seen more high school basketball championships in Michigan than Jenison Field House in East Lansing. For 31 years, one of the toughest tickets around was for the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Boys Basketball Finals.

Among the most storied memories in Jenison Field House:

"The Shot" - A jumper by Bob Davis that bounced around the rim and finally went in at the final buzzer to give Lansing Everett an 80-79 overtime win against Highland Park in the 1959 Class A Final;
The ferocious comeback in the final 45 seconds of the 1972 Class B title match when River Rouge scored the game's final eight points in a 65-64 win over Muskegon Heights - the last of the 12 championships the Panthers won under the state's all-time winningest coach, Lofton Greene;
The Game of the Century in 1958 where two future professional stars - Dave DeBusschere of Detroit Austin and Chet "The Jet" Walker of Benton Harbor squared off for the Class A title, which was won by Austin, 71-68; and
Three Upper Peninsula teams - Stephenson in Class B, Crystal Falls in Class C, and Chassell in Class D - all winning titles at Jenison Field House in 1956, and all by two points. Two years later, Chassell would win its third straight crown at Jenison, and it was also the last victory in what is still the longest winning streak in boys basketball history in Michigan - 65 games.

The memorable names to have played in the building in Final or Semifinal games includes: Earvin "Magic" Johnson of Lansing Everett; "Marvelous" Mel Peterson of Stevenson; Spencer Haywood and Ralph Simpson of Detroit Pershing; John Sperla of Flint St. Matthew; Jay Smith of Mio; M.C. and Ed Burton of Muskegon Heights; Pete Gent of Bangor; Wayman Britt of Flint Northern; Kimm and Paul Griffin of Shelby; Ernie Thompson of Saginaw; Antoine "The Judge" Joubert of Detroit Southwestern; L.C. Bowen of Benton Harbor; Jim Sarno of Covert; and numerous River Rouge players, including Willie Betts, the only player to ever start on four consecutive championship teams.

Twenty years since Jenison Field House saw its last high school basketball action and 35 years since it last hosted the championships, the building will come alive with yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's players and fans as it is transformed into a hardwood haven again when the inaugural March Magic Hoopfest takes place in conjunction with the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center, March 26-28.

The March Magic Hoopfest is being conducted in a partnership between the Greater Lansing Sports Authority, a division of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau; and the MHSAA, with vital support coming from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Michigan State University. The Hoopfest will cover the 40 thousand square feet of the Jenison Field House floor with a variety of basketball activities for all ages.

"The March Magic Hoopfest will take a great weekend of high school basketball games and help turn the MHSAA Championships into an event which will involve the Lansing area and the thousands of visitors coming to town," said John Young of the Greater Lansing Sports Authority. "If you're coming to the championships, the Hoopfest is a destination to visit before and after the games; and if you're not coming to the games, the Hoopfest is a wholesome, inexpensive, family activity."

"Some of our fans will remember the days when the buzz in the Lansing area each March was the weekend of the high school boys basketball semifinals and finals," said John E. "Jack" Roberts, executive director of the MHSAA. "All of the teams meeting for the opening luncheon and staying downtown across from the State Capitol at the old Jack Tar Hotel; games not only in the Field House, but in the Upper Gymnasium at Jenison, the old Civic Center downtown and at member schools - it was truly a community event.

"The March Magic Hoopfest will build on the excitement of the games for the fans of the participating schools, serve as another focal point of fun for spectators who continue to make attending the championships an annual affair, and involve the Lansing community in a whole new way."

A number of different basketball skills stations will surround the Hoopfest's Center Court area, which will feature youth and wheelchair basketball games. Center Court will also serve as the site of pre-game pep rallies for the participating teams the days of the semifinals. A Hall of History will feature the showing of championship games of years past, life-size photos of finals stars, and display boards from the Hometown Hoops Exhibit from the Michigan Historical Museum.

On the third day of the Hoopfest, a basketball clinic will take place for junior high/middle school students, conducted by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

The Greater Lansing Sports Authority has committed to conduct the Hoopfest for three years. When the MHSAA Girls Basketball Semifinals and Finals return to the Breslin Center in 2010, the Hoopfest will take place on back to back weekends.

Admission to the March Magic Hoopfest is $2 per person, and fans attending the MHSAA Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals will be admitted free with their game ticket. The Hoopfest will be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on March 26 and 27; and from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on March 28.

Muskegon's Tony Annese headed to Grand Rapids Community College

2009-01-21T14:40:00.001-08:00

It's been rumored for some time. But rumors surrounding Tony Annese and Muskegon football are nothing unique.

But this time, the rumor appears to be true. Mlive notes that Grand Rapids Community College has hired Muskegon High School's Tony Annese to head the state of Michigan's only junior college football team.

The veteran coach leaves Muskegon on a high note. After stepping down from the varsity job at the end of 2007, Annese returned to the helm when school officials had trouble filling the position in a timely fashion. This season's squad made an unexpected run to the MHSAA Division 2 state crown. The title was the school's third gridiron title in five seasons and 17th overall.

Annese leaves Muskegon with a 92-15 mark, while his career total stands five wins shy of 200.

My life began on February 9, 1964.

2009-01-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

Those who know me know my love of the printed text.

Among my favorites - magazines.

And among my favorite magazines - Rolling Stone. I now have a lifetime subscription. No idea if Jann Wenner and clan still offer this as an option, but I'm thrilled to own one.

Another favorite, although relatively recent, is Esquire. Subscription is inexpensive. Writing's great. And, it contains my regular favorite feature among all publications.

Titled "What I've Learned," the piece taps into the collective knowledge of those still older than me.

It seems to always contain at least one line that nails my thought pattern.

Here's one from Little Steven (guitarist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, he played Silvio Dante on HBO's The Sopranos):

February 8, 1964, there was not one single rock 'n' roll band in the country. February 9, the Beatles played The Ed Sullivan Show. February 10, everyone had one. In the garage. "Garage rock" is traditional rock 'n' roll. If you think of it as the early Stones, you're fine.

My life began on February 9, 1964.

I love that.

When did your life begin?

Michigan's representatives on the list of McDonald's High School Basketball All-American Nominees

2009-01-16T13:17:00.000-08:00

It's always fun to check out the kids nominated for McDonald's All-American honors. This is the 32nd year for the boys game, while only the eighth year for the girls. Check out Michigan's selections, as well as the state's alumni. Interestingly, there are 35 guys but only one girl from the Great Lakes State to earn McDonald's All-American honors - can you name her?

Can you name the years when Michigan was represented by more than one player?

Enjoy!

The 2009 McDonald's High School Basketball All-American Nominees

GIRLS
Name, High School, City, State
Kimberly Bee, Communication & Media Arts High School, Detroit
Talisha Bridges, Kalamazoo Lox Norrix High School, Kalamazoo
Juanita Cochran, Arthur Hill High School, Saginaw
Sarah Davis, St. Clair High School, St. Clair
Kiah Douglas, Arthur Hill High School, Saginaw
Jourdan Erskine, Saginaw Heritage High School, Saginaw
Demeisha Fambro, Crockett Technical High School, Detroit
Michelle Gaedke, Edsel Ford High School, Dearborn
Emma Golen, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Mariah Gordon, Belleville High School, Belleville
India Hairston, Flint Hamady High School, Flint
Elizabeth Hamlet, McBain High School, McBain
Shaakira Haywood, Plymouth High School, Canton
Jasmine Homles, Communication & Media Arts High School, Detroit
Nya Jordan, Detroit Community High School, Detroit
Rennica Lee Merida, Thurston High School, Redford
Gabrielle Machado, Pontiac Northern High School, Pontiac
Ashara Maxie, Detroit Consortium College Prep High School, Detroit
Kimberly McKinney, Flint Hamady High School, Flint
Chenise Miller, West Bloomfield High School, West Bloomfield
Amber Moore, Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills
Kelsi Robinson, Plymouth High School, Canton
Jenny Ryan, Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Saginaw
Jessica Schroll, H.H. Dow High School, Midland
Iniqua Snell, Detroit Community High School, Detroit
Faziah Steen, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Briauna Taylor, Livonia Franklin High School, Livonia
Brittany Taylor, Livonia Franklin High School, Livonia
Shareena Taylor, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Samantha Theut , Cardinal Mooney High School, Marine City
Jasmine Thomas, Flint Hamady High School, Flint
Courtney Townsend, Martin Luther King High School, Detroit
Sami Tucker, East Lansing High School, East Lansing
Bethany Watterworth, Lake Orion High School, Lake Orion
Destiny Williams, Benton Harbor High School, Benton Harbor

BOYS
Name, School, City, State
Eso Akunne, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor
Douglas Anderson, Kalamazoo Central High School, Kalamazoo
Matt Balkema, Warren Cousino High School, Warren
Willie Cruz, L'Anse Creuse High School, Harrison Township
Zach Eddy, Stevensville-Lakeshore High School, Stevensville
Demetrius Ford, Detroit Cody High School, Detroit
Javontae Ford, Forest Hills Northern High School, Grand Rapids
Austin Fowler, Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills
Jordan Fowler, Holly High School, Holly
Michael Fugate, Lakeland High School, White Lake
Holden Greiner, Traverse City St. Francis High School, Traverse City
Austin Harper, Grand Haven High School, Grand Haven
John Hoskins, Warren Connor Creek Academy, Warren
Matt Howe, Gull Lake High School, Richland
Nic Jobe, Ida High School, Ida
Travonn Jones, Hartland High School, Hartland
Donnavan Kirk, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Anthony Manno, Dearborn Divine Child High School, Dearborn
Alex Marcotullio, Warren DeLaSalle Collegiate High School, Warren
K'allante Miller, Oak Park High School, Oak Park
Shane Moreland, Flint Powers Catholic High School, Flint
Jordan Morgan, U of D Detroit Jesuit High School, Detroit
Derrick Nix, Detroit Pershing High School, Detroit
Marshawn Norris, Napoleon High School, Napoleon
C.J. Paquin, Cedarville High School, Cedarville
Jamar Ragland, Detroit Loyola High School, Detroit
Da'Shonte Riley, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Nate Robertson, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor
Joe Simon, Marquette High School, Marquette
Ben Simons, Cadillac High School, Cadillac
Dion Sims, Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School, Orchard Lake
Thomas Staton, Clarkston High School, Clarkston
Jamie Stewart, Livonia Clarenceville High School, Livonia
James Still, Detroit Community High School, Detroit
Booker Stoudmire, Belleville High School, Belleville
Drew Valentine, Lansing Sexton High School, Lansing
Andrew VanDierendonock, Wyandotte Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte
Korey Vandussen, Zeeland East High School, Zeeland
Shayne Whittington, Lawrence High School, Lawrence

McDonalds Alumni
Girls
Tiffanie Shives, 2005, Lansing Christian H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State

Boys
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, 1977, Everett H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State, Los Angeles Lakers*
Tim Andree, 1979, Brother Rice H.S., Birmingham, MI, Notre Dame
Tim McCormick, 1980, Clarkston H.S., Clarkston, MI, Michigan, New York Knicks*
Barry Spencer, 1980, Catholic Central H.S., Redford, MI, Notre Dame
Eric Turner, 1981, Central H.S., Flint, MI, Michigan, Detroit Pistons*
Sam Vincent, 1981, Eastern H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State, Orlando Magic*
Antoine Joubert, 1983, Southwestern H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan
Kevin Smith, 1983, Everett H.S., Lansing, MI, Minnesota
Roy Marble, 1985, Beecher H.S., Flint, MI, Iowa, Denver Nuggets*
Derrick Coleman, 1986, Detroit Nothern H.S., Detroit, MI, Syracuse, Detroit Pistons*
Anthony Pendleton, 1986, Flint Northwestern H.S., Flint, MI, USC
Terry Mills, 1986, Romulus H.S., Romulus, MI, Michigan, Indiana Pacers*
Mark Macon, 1987, Buena Vista H.S., Saginaw, MI, Temple, Detroit Pistons*
Matt Steigenga, 1988, South Christian H.S., Grand Rapids, MI, Michigan State, Chicago Bulls*
Chris Webber, 1991, Detroit Country Day H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan, Golden State Warriors*
Jalen Rose, 1991, Detroit Southwestern H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan, Phoenix Suns*
Kenyon Murray, 1992, Battle Creek Central H.S., Battle Creek, MI, Iowa
Jon Garavaglia, 1993, Aquinas H.S., Southgate, MI, Michigan State
Willie Mitchell, 1994, Pershing H.S., Detroit, MI, UAB
Robert Traylor, 1995, Murray-Wright H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan, Cleveland Cavaliers*
Albert White, 1995, Inkster H.S., Inkster, MI, Missouri
Winfred Walton, 1996, Pershing H.S., Detroit, MI, Fresno State
Mateen Cleaves, 1996, Flint Northern H.S., Flint, MI, Michigan State, Seattle Supersonics*
Shane Battier, 1997, Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills, MI, Duke, Houston Rockets
Dane Fife, 1998, Clarkston H.S., Clarkston, MI, Indiana
LaVell Blanchard, 1999, Ann Arbor Pioneer H.S., Ann Arbor, MI, Michigan
Jason Richardson, 1999, Arthur Hill H.S., Saginaw, MI, Michigan State, Charlotte Bobcats
Marcus Taylor, 2000, Waverly H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State
Kelvin Torbert, 2001, Northwestern H.S., Flint, MI, Michigan State
Paul Davis, 2002, Rochester H.S., Rochester Hills, MI, Michigan State, Los Angeles Clippers
Anthony Roberson, 2002, Saginaw H.S., Saginaw, MI, Florida, Golden State Warriors*
Brandon Cotton, 2003, St. Martin DePorres H.S., Detroit, MI, Detroit
Olumuyiwa "Olu" Famutimi, 2003, Northwestern H.S., Flint, MI, Arkansas, San Antonio Spurs*
Joe Crawford, 2004, Renaissance H.S., Detroit, MI, Kentucky
Malik, Hairston, 2004, Renaissance H.S., Detroit, MI, Oregon

Mark Ingram, the New York Giants, Ferlin Husky and Facebook

2008-12-19T02:14:00.000-08:00

Tossed my profile out on Facebook a while back. Still unsure of this social networking thing - but I must say that I'm stunned by:

a) What people will reveal in a public forum. I'm a computer guy and understand the damage that can be done with such information.

b) The ability of such tools to link people...

1) I'm talkin' long lost people from your past.
2) to people that you didn't realize you had a connection with.
3) with incredible talents and interest unknown previously to you.

I guess we really are only Six Degrees away from Kevin Bacon. Well - maybe seven...

c) The new links that you can find

Check this one out - An article by a Facebook friend, Tom Skinner, connect to me by - what else - prep sports.

A Fallen Star.

I remember when the phrase was so innocent.

Prep Basketball season in Michigan

2008-12-15T02:56:00.000-08:00

As historian, one of the lists that I'm trying to complete is a list of teams, sores, coaches and win-loss marks for the participants in the final rounds of Michigan's state basketball tournament.

I have the teams and scores. I don't always have the coaches and team records.

I'm chasing the information for both the boys and girls:

Here's an example from my girls listing...

Year	Class	Round	Team	Coach	Record
1979	C	SF	Addison	Tom Britsch

1993	A	QF	Adrian

2001	D	QF	Adrian Lenawee Christian

1974	B	QF	Algonac

1975	C	SF	Allen Park Cabrini

1974	D	QF	Allendale
1975	D	F	Allendale

1990	A	QF	Alpena
1991	A	QF	Alpena

1997	A	QF	Ann Arbor

1978	D	QF	Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
1984	C	QF	Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard

1995	A	QF	Ann Arbor Huron		22-5

1974	A	QF	Ann Arbor Pioneer
1994	A	QF	Ann Arbor Pioneer

1973	D	SF	Ann Arbor St. Thomas
1974	D	SF	Ann Arbor St. Thomas

1979	C	QF	Armada

1982	D	QF	Ashley	Carl Wayer
1983	D	QF	Ashley	Carl Wayer

1993	D	QF	Athens

1989	D	QF	Auburn Hills Oakland Christian

1975	D	QF	AuGres

1980	D	QF	Baldwin

1978	D	QF	Battle Creek St. Philip
1980	D	QF	Battle Creek St. Philip
1989	D	QF	Battle Creek St. Philip
1996	D	QF	Battle Creek St. Philip		19-7
1997	D	QF	Battle Creek St. Philip
1998	D	QF	Battle Creek St. Philip

as well as one from the boys.

Year Class Round Team Coach
1962 B QF Escanaba Holy Name John Butrymowicz
1970 B QF Escanaba Holy Name
1971 B QF Escanaba Holy Name 20-1

1953 C SF Escanaba St. Joseph Thomas St. Germain

1939 C QF Evart
1947 C F Evart Thomas Hill

1974 D QF Ewen Trout Creek
1993 D QF Ewen Trout Creek 22-3

1944 D QF Fairview J.A. Gisvold

1921 B F Farmington
1924 C SF Farmington
1925 C QF Farmington
1946 B SF Farmington Robert Hutton
1949 B QF Farmington Robert Hutton

1945 B QF Fenton
1946 B F Fenton Ivan William
1965 B QF Fenton Leroy Decker

1949 A SF Ferndale Roy Burkhart

1939 C QF Ferndale St. James

1984 C QF Flint Academy 21-4
1985 C QF Flint Academy 19-4

1945 C QF Flint All Saints
1948 C QF Flint All Saints Ray Seidel

1922 A QF Flint Central
1923 A QF Flint Central
1925 A QF Flint Central
1926 A QF Flint Central
1927 A QF Flint Central
1944 A QF Flint Central Dick Evans
1948 A SF Flint Central Richard Evans
1951 A SF Flint Central John Hoekje
1955 A SF Flint Central Joseph Dowdy

You get the picture.

Can you help?

Follow those links and see if your team is out there.

You can e-mail me at peschstats@comcast.net

Charles Rogers and Jeff Putnum make moves.

2008-12-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

The story of Saginaw's Charles Rogers is a sad one. I had the pleasure of watching him play in high school. In 1998, the team traveled to Muskegon and defeated the Big Reds 36-29.

The Trojans won the Division 2 state title in 1999. Quarterback Brandon Cork connected on a 60-yard TD to Rogers in the first quarter. Running back Terry Jackson scored on a 17-yard run, then broke the plane for the two-point conversion in the fourth quarter as Saginaw downed Birmingham Brother Rice 14-7 for the Division 2 state title. Rogers was something special. After starring for MSU, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions. But injuries and three failed drug tests meant his playing days were over.

As usual, Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press nails it.

In September he was arrested and charged with assault and battery and later pleaded no contest to trespassing charges and received a deferred sentence. But he tested positive for Vicodin and has now been ordered to enter the sobriety-court program in which he will undergo daily drug testing.
Charles Rogers is only 27 years old.
It’s all so disappointing. I genuinely liked Rogers. I thought he was a good kid.
But they all start out as good kids.
Why this blog about Rogers?
Well, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, the players on the Free Press All-State Dream Team will be honored at the Dearborn Inn at our banquet with the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
The 23 youngsters will be dressed in tuxedos and treated like kings.
They should remember that in 1999, Charles Rogers was one of them.

Speaking of the Free Press, word is big news will be coming out of Detroit next week, and this time it won't focus on the Auto Industry. This will relate to the News and Free Press.

Hard to imaging that one day, newspapers as we know them will no longer exist.

In Friday's prep edition, Mick also told the tale about Davison football coach Jeff Putnam stepping down. I hope the Cardinal's mascot is crying again, as this is truly sad news. The Flint Journal's Bill Khan broke the story on Monday, December 8.

Putnum has led two varsity squads (Lapeer West 1985-1997; Davison 1999-2007) duing his varsity coaching career, posting a 159-77 record. His Lapeer West squad won the MHSAA state title in Class A in 1995. At Davison, he finishes with a 76-34.

Davison has lost a good one. As many know, his team had Muskegon on the ropes in the Division 2 semifinal this year. The Cardinals were an outstanding squad, and were led by a stellar sophomore quarterback in Jake Thompson. (I hear he's a pretty good golfer as well.) I was looking forward to seeing what Putnum's team would do next year.

In true 21st century, politically correct fashion, the word from the district was direct, positive...and said absolutely nothing.

Athletic Director Scott Thurlow said Putnam will be missed.

"Jeff has developed a winning tradition and has done a wonderful job taking our football program to the next level," Thurlow said. "He takes the game beyond the X's and O's and instills values and good character in his players. We wish him the best."

On a sports talk show, Khan spoke more on the subject, and indicated that Putnam has no issues with Thurlow. Apparently, the issues is higher in the ranks.

Is it Putnam? Is it administration? I honestly don't know.

But, I am amazed at the challenges that high school athletics face from some high school administrators, school board members and parents. The issue of the importance of sports within the education process has always been with us. Dig back in the archives, and you'll see the same questions raised in 1908. It was no different in 1800's.

Like most involved with athletics, I, believe they are a privilege. I also believe prep sports are an extension of the classroom. They taint how students look at themselves. They taint how school districts are perceived. The taint how a villages, towns, cities and metro statistical area view themselves, and how others view them. They are the foundation of may traditions that we know.

I'm a graduate of Muskegon High School, with children who are enrolled in the district. I have seen the important lessons that are taught by participation. I know the importance that they play in the lives of many kids. I understand the role that they can play within a school district. And I completely understand the importance of finding quality coaches to lead.

Ask Terrence Taylor - now a graduate of the University of Michigan. For those counting, he's out in three and one half years.

Ask Ben Evans, a graduate of Colgate.

Check with Jason Ruud, a student at Hope College and Dwight Quinn, now a teacher within the Kalamazoo Public Schools district.

Ask Andrew Jados, now working in New Jersey. Check in with Grand Valley State University graduate, Callistus Eziukwu.

Ask Elan Banks, the quarterback who led this year's team to the state title, whose father is currently stationed in Korea as a member of the U.S. Army.

Ask Jason Hannett. His mother is staying in Texas.

Ask my oldest son, who wants to play baseball at Muskegon. Ask his best friend, Terrance Spears, who wants to play the game as well.

For some, prep athletics meant a chance to go to college. For others, their athletic careers are only now beginning to reveal their role in life.

Those I mention are all kids enrolled in or who are recent graduates from Muskegon High School. I could go on for hours if I begin speaking about the former athletes that I met from across the state.

Whether the district is urban or suburban, I still believe some of life's most valuable lessons can be found on a districts playing surfaces. Just because a child lives in what we call a "traditional family," it doesn't mean that he has nothing to learn from such an experience.

I seen the studies.

From Fortune magazine - 95% of Fortune 500 executives participated in high school athletics. 47% of Fortune 500 executives were National Honor Society members.

From Minnesota - Student-athletes have a higher grade point average (2.84) than non-athletes (2.68).

From North Dakota - Students who participate in athletics missed an average of 4.9 days of school per year, including 0.7 days for athletic contests. Non-participants missed an average of 10.8 school days per year.

From the National Federation of State High School Associations - 96% of dropouts in 14 school districts in seven regions of the nation were not participating in an athletic program.

More importantly, I've talked to the people who have participated.

It's sad to see quality coaches step aside.

It's sad to learn about those few, statistically, who made it, but were unable to handle the pressures of the limelight.

And it's sad to see the media headlines again focused on the fall of one, instead of the success of so many others.

Erin Cameron celebrates at Applebee's

2008-12-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

(I wonder who the Hometown Hero was?)

While we're on the subject of swimming, my buddy Tim Barrett sent me a nice link from the Monroe News on Gibraltar Carlson's Erin Cameron. Check this out...

Erin Cameron made swimming history for Gibraltar Carlson Saturday.

The junior became the first Carlson swimmer to win a state title and she did it twice, both in state-record times.

Ordinary kids doing extraordinary things! That's what I love about high school sports.

Cameron set state records in the backstroke (55:68) and individual medley (2:05.40), winning those events by two and five seconds, respectively.

Cameron celebrated with a meal at Applebee's

"I ate some pretty bad stuff for me," she said. "I had a nice hamburger and some chocolate cake. I haven't had anything like that for at least the last two weeks."

Cameron made the U.S. Open cut in the backstroke and her Senior Nationals cut in both events. She will compete in Nationals Dec. 4-7 in Atlanta.

Thought this was rather interesting as well...

Milan's Maura Donahue repeated as a double state champion and broke the state record in the 500 freestyle...

Donahue repeated as champion in the 200 (1:52.51) and 500 freestyle (5:00.00). Her 500 time broke the state record. She needed it as runner-up Leigh Holmes of Alma was just 15/100ths of a second behind in 5:00.15.

"The last 50 yards, my heart was in my throat," said Milan coach Dan Heikka. "Maura is just a gutsy kid. I was very proud of her."

Donahue said she took the early lead, but Holmes came from behind. "It was neck and neck for probably about 10 laps," the Milan senior said. "I was just trying to put on the speed while still having something left. In the last four lengths, I really started to pick it up."

The NFL has the Manning's - Archie, Payton, and Eli. Milan, Michigan has the Donahue's.

Maura plans to study nursing in college, possibly at the University of Indianapolis where her sister, Meghan, is a swimmer. Their mother, Sally Donahue, was a state champion for Milan in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Oh - and the Hack House Museum.

Jaclyn Shetterly makes it to state...

2008-12-11T02:24:00.001-08:00

One of the most wonderful things about age is that it allows you the chance to sit back and enjoy kids succeed in athletic endeavors. It might be at little league. It could be in a sport other that football, basketball, baseball or hockey.

What is really wonderful is that sometimes, you actually know the kid!

Sometimes they sneak up on you while you're reading the newspaper.

This happened to me recently as I thumbed through my Muskegon Chronicle over breakfast.

There it was...courtesy of writer Dave Tomczak

The future of girls high school swimming in West Michigan has arrived, or at the very least, it's getting started.
Starting on Friday, 22 area girls will be heading to state meets, 13 of which are either sophomores or freshmen.
In Division 1, Grand Haven's Gretchen Spoelman (sophomore) will swim the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 medley and freestyle relays, while Muskegon Catholic Central freshman Carolyn Neville will compete in Division 2 in the 100 freestyle.
In Division 3, Ludington sophomore's Julianna Rhodes and Beth Sonefeld will join freshman Jordan Evans in the 200 freestyle relay, Fremont sophomore Destiny Noordyk will swim the 100 backstroke and sophomores Meg Bouman (100 freestyle and three relays), Laura Lukkari (two relays) and Erin Kuster (200 freestyle relay) will represent Spring Lake.
Leading the way in this youth movement is the freshman foursome of Jacklyn Shetterly, Samantha Kuipers, Sarah Hunt and Emily Brown of Mona Shores.

Whoa! Back up Ron!

Jaclyn Shetterly - headed to state!

A little more reading and I learned...

Hunt, Brown and Shetterly also join Morgan Thompson in the 200 freestyle relay, while individually, Shetterly will race in the 100 freestyle and Kuipers swims in the 100 breaststroke.

Very cool!

You see, Jaclyn's dad is Ray Shetterly. "Ramone" - to his friends...

He's the guy that I called one day several years back when I snagged press passes to a Notre Dame football game.

Ray was my nemeses during those days when the Michigan-Notre Dame game was truly an event. He's Green and Gold. I'm Maize and Blue.

When I received the passes, I called and asked Ray what he was doing on the upcoming Saturday. As it turned out, he was free. So I sprung the question, but noted a caveat.

"Ray - would you like to go watch the Irish...from the press box?"

Naturally, he accepted.

But then I warned him. "You have to remember, there is no cheering in the press box."

So off we went to the game. We pulled South Bend, then parked about 25 feet away from the classic structure. Press passes also meant press parking. This was back in the days before the remodel. So we got to ride up to the box in that old freight elevator that they used. Certainly not one of today's modern stainless steel cubes designed to rocket one to the top of the world, it was a leisurely ride.

We were deposited in the old plywood-like structure that sat atop the stands. Our seats were in the front of the box - somewhere around the thirty-five yard line.

Ray's eyes were wide. I'd been here before, thanks to my friend Dick Kishpaugh, so I was a vet.

Shortly after kickoff - Ray asked if I wanted something to eat. I said sure. He asked what they were serving, and what it cost.

Hot dogs, chips and soda. And there was no charge.

"Really?"

"Ray," I said, "you've got to remember, we're working press. Notre Dame wants us here so we can write wonderful things about the team and promote the University."

"Sometime during the first half, some folks behind us let out loud "Go Irish" as the team did something great on that historic field that lie below. Almost on cue, a young ND undergrad wandered down, tapped on the gentleman's shoulder, and politely reminded these lads that this was a working press box, and there would be no cheering."

Ray leaned in and said, "I guess you weren't kidding."

Then - a short time later, he leaned in again with a remark that I'll remember until the end of my days.

"They don't know we're just two regular guys from Muskegon."

Ray was right. That's really all we were. Two regular guys from Muskegon.

The Irish won that game, as I remember. We also took home a copy of Notre Dame's press guide that day - another courtesy of the university.

On the way home, I asked Ray if he wanted to stop off someplace for dinner. On this afternoon, however, Ray wanted to get back. Plans were to go shopping with his girlfriend.

Julie, it turned out, would be the "one". These days, it's the two of them that dash off to some athletic venue.

But now, the game has even more meaning, as it now involves a participant that is a little more personal.

Congratulations Jaclyn!

Muskegon County and the 2008 Football Finals at Ford Field.

2008-12-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

Well - as all have no doubt read, the two-days following Thanksgiving were glorious days for the west side of the state, and especially for Muskegon County.

Add to it two crowns for Kent County - Rockford and East Grand Rapids, one for Ottawa County - Holland Christian and quarterback A.J. Westendorp, and one for Grand Traverse County - Traverse City St. Francis - and you had quite the event.

For those interested in such things, this was the second time in state history that four schools from a single county earned state football crowns.

The other occasion? 1999, when Walled Lake Western, Farmington Hills Harrison, Orchard Lake St. Mary and Detroit Country Day all won championships.

While watching the games from seven stories up, I had the chance to think about what I really love about high school sports.

Certainly, one of the most wonderful components is the prominence of the high school band in the pageantry. From the pregame entrances to the playing of the National Anthem to halftime, to post game exit, the showmanship is nothing short of amazing.

One of the lists that I want to compile is the sports-related traditions found at high schools across Michigan (Please send me your favorites at peschstats@comcast.net). Most that I've uncovered to date involve the marching band.

This year's state finals highlighted a few. Thanks to the wonders of youtube, you can play witness to many more. Here are some I've uncovered:

Marching Bands

Entrance:

Double-Time at Mu skegon High School.
The band enters the field of play from the Jefferson Street side of the field. They use a double-time chair step, to enter historic Hackley Stadium to the delight of the crowd.

Each week before a home game, the members of the Oakridge High School marching band take a crash course under the direction of director Mr. Stansell. During pregame the results are unveiled as the band makes the trip to the opponent's side of the field to deliver a version of the visitor's fight song. A true touch of class!

National Anthem: As noted in the Detroit Free Pr ess,

Making music together

The Ubly and (Traverse City) St. Francis marching bands combined before the Div. 7 game to play the national anthem. "The idea was our athletic director's," said Cress Smith, St. Francis' band director. "I contacted (their school), faxed them our parts and we practiced in the stands before the game. We only had about 15 minutes together. They did really well together; it was a beautiful blend."

BTW - did you get to read the heartfelt story about Ubly's trip to the state finals by Joanne C. Gerster in the Detroit News? If not, check it out online before it disappears...

Halftime: How about that script Orion formation by the Lake Orion Marching Band at halftime of the Division 1 contest. It even included the dotting of the " i " ah-la Ohio State.
(Follow this link for details on the "i- Dot" tradition at OSU).

While we're on speaking about the Dragons, did anyone else notice Ubly's football roster included 34 players, while Lake Orion's cheerleading squad numbered 33?

Let's not forget Rockford's "R"...

Being a Muskegon alum, (and since I have a son in the band) I must mention that moment when Muskegon's marching band raised their "BIG REDS" banner and paraded it across Ford Field during their halftime show. The Muskegon faithful exploded applause and cheers. Nothing like tradition. Five MHSAA playoff titles and 12 mythical state crowns and 739 victories (interesting...Lofton Greene won the same number of basketball games during his varsity coaching career!) dating back to 1895. The win total ranks in the top ten nationally and is number one in Michigan. Learn more about the Big Red Band at www.mhsbigredband.org.

Give me a band like the Muskegon Heights Marching Tigers for my halftime entertainment. Fun...Fun...Fun!

Exiting: Then their was Inkster! Filling the mezzanine of beautiful Ford Field with their thundering drumline-sound as they danced their way to the exit. It was a site to see, and the perfect end to a day of football.

Now we head to basketball season. Check out this GREAT video of the Holland Christian Drum Circle. Now that's what I call a drum solo!!!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T05:24:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, one of my favorite things about the holiday ended a number of years ago. Detroit's legendary sportswriter Joe Falls - would write an article each Thanksgiving, offering public thanks for those people, places and things in his life. I loved those articles, and though I'd bring it up again. Sadly, I can't point you to a sample on the internet. Closest I can get it this link about Joe's passing in the New York Times. (Hey, my visit to the Times offered up a recipe for Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup Ummm. I think I'll pass.)

In my eyes, Joe was a wonderful guy. He appreciated talent. He cherished those people who helped him do his job. He seemed to have a soft spot for the hard-working guy who went to work every day, doing what he was paid to do. Handling those things that we often take for granted

Despite what he might say, he had some ego. He had high expectations of those he worked with and around. He had high expectations for those in the profession. Respect was earned. He was unimpressed with titles or those who thought that they desired special treatment. He loved sports, writing, and the fans. He loved to offer his opinion, and it was heard nationally.

In my original blog, I once recalled one of Joe's stories.

I remember the story he told about how he got involved with Special Olympics and why they were so important to him. He told the tale of a Special Olympian who was competing in a swimming event. Suddenly, in the heat a race, in the middle of the pool, the boy stopped swimming. A volunteer swam out to talk to him and to coax him to continue.

As he told the story, Joe reminded me that he had covered some of the greatest sporting events in the world, and had witnesses some classic sports moments during his years as a reporter.

"The crowd erupted as he began to swim. Never have I been so touched or have I heard such applause,"

Joe reminded me that he had watched Super Bowls, World Series games, Stanley Cup finals, Kentucky Derby races. He stated that, in his eyes, it was the greatest sports event he had ever witnessed. I believe that.

(Hey - here's a bit more on Joe)

Joe's Thanksgiving Day articles were a thank you to life's simple pleasures, as well as a salute to those who had touched his life.

So - in honor of Joe - I'm offering up some of those things that I'm grateful to have in my life. I hope you take time to do the same.

To my ex-wife Pam: Thank you for our sons, Jamie and Evan.They continue to bring joy, love, and laughter to my life. They continue to help me grow. Thanks for bringing them into this world, and for giving me the chance to raise them.

Thanks to my parents for everything they have provided me, including the opportunity to raise those sons. Mom got them off to school every morning following the divorce. She allowed me to earn a living. This woman guided me through childhood, and now was assisting with parenthood.Thanks to my father, who now insures they return safely, takes care of Mom, and adds to my education on life with his stories of days gone by, and his shards of wisdom.Thanks to the two of them for remaining together through thick and thin, and for their sacrifices to raise me and my two sisters and two brothers when we were kids, and still, now that our age states that we are adults.

Have I ever mentioned Bo, my Mom and Dad's Boston Terrier? Funny dog. She'll play fetch for ever. Sculpted like an athlete, she brings joy and laughter to us all. So, thanks to Bo. And while we're at it, a nod should go out to my oldest sister's dogs, "Poe", a pug, and Riley, the family's bulldog. Another one who's mastered catch. And to Laura, Greg, Camry and Cayla, for taking care of the kids during the summer months as well!

Thanks to the Kishpaugh's for embracing me during my days at college, and for never letting go. I think of them nearly every day, and about the passionate way they lived life. Thank you Shirley, for passing along "The Kishpaugh Collection," and for sharing your husband with me and so many others.It was a life that was long, but still too short.It was wonderful to speak with you the other night.I hope to see you soon.

(Now there is nothing like your cousin appearing in the pages of a national publication, or appearing on national television, when you're growing up!

Long before I ever met Joe, I knew of his writing. Because of certain event out of my control, Joe was well known to my family as he once played host to a cousin of mine, Bob "Ma" Pesch on a visit to Detroit.

Thanks to the writing skills of his friend, Tim Sullivan, and my cousin's taste for the delicacies available at a ballpark, "Ma" earned national acclaim in Sport magazine for his efforts eating Brats at Milwaukee County Stadium. Sullivan's entertaining piece was followed up with another - this time to The Sporting News.

Hailing from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Sullivan wrote TSN columnist Joe Falls about the Art of Catching Foul Balls. In the piece, Sullivan detailed the "three man team" approach that he and his friends, "Ma" Pesch and Randy Wievel. The trio had developed a set of "Do's" and "Don't", then shared their knowledge with Joe's national audience in a March 1972 edition of the publication. Among the tips - use a blocker, who can seal off an aisle allowing the other members of the team to chase down the ball.

In an "only in America" moment, the article landed the three friends a trip to Detroit's Tiger Stadium courtesy of Joe Garagiola and NBC. Appearing on "The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola" on a Monday night, they demonstrated their skill in one of Garagiola's classic pre-game clips. Their host, of course, outdid them, scoring a home run ball hit to a section at "The Corner" that he had bought in whole.

"Garagiola got mad at me when I ordered two lobster dinners at the Hotel Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit prior to our filming," recalled Sullivan years later. "He smiled, however, when Ma Pesch ordered a double cheeseburger.

Ron LeFlore of the Tigers wasn't too pleased with us either when Ma and Wievel ran over his tomatoes in deep center at Tiger Stadium.

What fun we had!"

During their stay, they got to meet Joe. Falls claimed that the three had nearly eaten him out of house and home.)

So - thanks to Ma Pesch, Shoe and Wievel for being an inspiration!

Continued thanks to the folks at Warner Brother's for those classic cartoons. Thanks for restoring them, and for six editions of the Golden Collection on DVD. So, this is the end the series, but not the end of the restorations and releases, huh? Please keep your promises...I've seen more than one series abandoned.

Speaking of which, I'm still thankful to the powers that be for FINALLY releasing those two seasons of "Leave it to Beaver". (Turn down the speakers before following that LITB link!) Now where are the rest!!! Do I have to subscribe to NetFlicks?

And thanks, whoever, for that first season of WKRP. Even if you would license the original music. The characters were the best! Might have to watch the Turkey episode today. Now - how about Season Two.

Thanks for online shopping, and to DeepDiscount, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, and all those other shopping sites. Thanks for all those wonderful sales, and for making the world a little flatter! The Orbison Box set, (This one's a steal right now!), Dylan's Bootleg series (as is the latest - Tell Tale Signs, as is Rare and Unreleased), Keaton discs, The Inspector cartoons... Shopping is fun again.

Now, about my needs for an addition to the house so I can store all this stuff....

Potbelly's Sandwich Works - "They must be good," said the instructor. "There is always a line out the door at lunchtime." She was right - check 'em out yourself! But Ann Arbor, Chicago, East Lansing and Troy are too far away to reach on my lunch hour. When are you coming to Muskegon?

Thanks to those Muskegon Community College teachers for giving me a C minus on term paper covering Muskegon Big Red Football. They couldn't understand the effort.

Now my version of heaven (should that be a capital H?) has a great sound system. The music you hear is played loud, and includes all your favorite tunes. For me, that's one very long playlist. The best part is that you can still hold conversations without issue. And, once you arrive, of course you can check in and hang out with whomever (or is that whoever?) you please. Past, Present, Future. Plus, you get to check out ALL the answers to the questions you have. Find out the answers to all those nagging questions that you've always wondered about. What would have happened if I had chosen MSU over WMU for my college education. Did drinking all that Pepsi shave years off my life? Did Oswald really act alone? Which Black Crowes 45 had the live version of She Talks to Angels that was recorded in Atlanta? You know, the important stuff!

What's this have to do with Thanksgiving? I'm not sure, other than I'm thankful for curiosity and imagination.

While I'm doling out appreciation, I need to send a nod to the Damfinos, who continue to preach the gospel according to Buster Keaton. What better than an agenda that focuses on laughter?

And thanks to the folks at the Frauenthal Theater (AKA, the Bill Bodell Theater) for saving, then caring for such a beautiful place, and allowing us to show Keaton films in an over sized 1920's movie theater that is tough to fill! They belong there.

Thanks to the residents of Bluffton, for letting me lead tours though their amazing neighborhood, and for busting out their font doors to share their wealth of knowledge. An Actors Colony in Muskegon - WOW!

I'm thankful and thrilled to have the chance to watch Muskegon area high school football - where the quality of the game is reflected in this weekend's Football finals. Thanks to WMRR for broadcasts from Jim Moyes, Gene Young and Joe Coletta. (Listen to the amazing 4th quarter of the Davison comeback...)

Continued thanks to Sally, Ella, and the rest of the waitresses at Glenside Pub. The Pepperoni, Sausage and Ham Pizza is the best. But the Monday night special is pretty close.

More kudos to my sister Terri and the staff of Mercy Hospital for saving my live on that summer morning. Thanks to Dr Leonard Kurello for resolving the issue, and checking in on me yearly (how's Alaska?), and to "Mookie" aka Robin Boersma for making the journey amusing...

My extreme gratitude to Outback Steakhouse for the always-crisp salads and the Outback Special. Oh - and for variety on their kids' menu...here's another When are you coming to Muskegon?

To Western Michigan University for the degree, as well as teaching me that colleges are a business designed to make money... I wonder if any of that little yellow plastic ammo is still wedged in the "rugs" at Burnham from the battles that I used to wage with my friends on their visits. Sorry, Kelly's Mom, for that shot to the forehead!

Thank you Paul Reid for the opportunities that you have provided me, and the two days off at Turkey Day. And to the entire staff of the MHSAA for everything that you have done for me. J.J., Rob, Nate, Jack, Andy, and the rest of the crew. It is always a treat to work with you wonderful folks! Special thanks for taking care of my sons!

Once again, thanks to Jack, Doug, Matt and the rest of the Parchment gang for inviting me over after for the football finals for wonderful conversation. And, of course to Bo, for baking those wonderful Apple, Banana Cream, and Chocolate pies! See you Friday in Detroit!

And finally thanks to Jessie, Cleda, Kenny B, Donna, Julie, Chris, Carol, Skip, Eric, Albert, Doug, Frank, Todd, Mark, Mark, Tom, Tom, Bill, Jill, Dave, Sally, Cheryl, Lisa, Ann, and Beth; Theron, Donelda, Bob . My school days were great thanks to you.

To Eric - You're right. I still don't know what you mean. I didn't know you long, but your impact was huge. I trust Heaven is wonderful and includes baseball cards.

To Gail, Shelly, Betsy, Julie, Becky and Robin...thanks for the diamond memories.

To Kerry for some of the finest memories of my life: Shake races, teaching me to drive a stick (I'll go over, you go under), roadtrips, "Screech, Slam, and Scream", Stripes matinees, a 21st birthday celebration, Rocky Horror, postgames at the beach, and all those late-night calls and crisp green salads. You, too, altered my life. I had no idea it could be so fun!

To Jamie, helping me understand, expect and accept more from life. Your sermon at Our Savior's that Christmas Day was amazing.

So, that means I need to acknowledge Griz, Kay, Kathy, and Karla; Jim, Sue, Jeff, and Johnny - thank you for sharing.

To Barb, Becky and Mark, Renee, Jim, and Chip - thanks for grabbing me and the typewriter. To Linda, Barb, Sue, and Kelly - thanks adopting me, the flowers and a night I'll never forget.

I wonder what you're up to.

To Valerie Ann, for doing her best in trying to help me forget it.

To Bruce, Bruce, and John - thanks for sharing the room, the car and the laughter.

I sincerely hope each and every one of your lives are grand!

My love to Angela, Scott, Laura, MaryAnne, Michelle and Simone, Brooke, Evan and Sherry (you're still one of the funniest and caring people I've ever met - best of luck in your new life!), and Brenda - thanks for sharing my life after.

To Brenna, Elijah, Sharon, Roger and his family; to Scott, Mike, Muggs, Markus, Ramone, Binz, Git, Lynn, Sherry, Julie, and Mary for the friendships through all these years.

To Ron and Elsa, Clyde and Janet, Laura, Greg, Terri, Steve, Kurt, Liz, Pete, Camry, Kayla, Leigha, Josh, and Sean - thanks for being family. I couldn't have picked a better one. My eternal gratitude to each of you.

To the Koski side: Lucy and Arne, Uno, Jim, Bette, Karl, Sylvia, A.J., Peggy, Abi, Maija, Amy, Ben, Sara, Matt, Andrew, Allison, Lyyli, and Aaron. To the Pesch Family: Henry, Mary, Forrie, Charlotte, Pete, Estelle, Bob, Norbert, Adeline, Margurett and Elmore, Bud and Margret, Steve, Jim, Sue, Brian, Terry, Carol, and Eloise.

In some way, every one of you has been a guardian angel. I've been lucky.

Thanksgiving is the day set aside to express gratitude for all that we have. I still like to think that we do this everyday. I know I try.

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you! Enjoy the day and may the Football Gods shine kindly on the Lions!

I was there, and I still don't believe it!

2008-11-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

Muskegon's comeback from 22-points down is, without question, the most amazing comebacks that I've ever seen. In 1985, I watched Traverse City beat the Big Reds 22-21 at Hackley Stadium on a perfectly executed flea flicker, after falling behind with less than 40 seconds remain in the contest. The touchdown negated a 95-yard interception by Muskegon's Donald Banks that had broken a 14-14 deadlock. The two-point conversion was all but a given as Muskegon fans and players were in shock at the turn of events.

I witnessed Mill Coleman of Farmington Hills Harrison engineer a classic comeback in the final two minutes against DeWitt in the 1989 Class B final. Coleman's passes and runs cut through DeWitt defense were really no surprise. His skills on the gridiron were incredible. In 1994, Belding and their deceptive wing-T offense overcame a 19-point halftime deficit to defeat Detroit Country Day, 50-41, in on the the wildest contests of the state championships ever.

Not exactly the infamous Harvard beats Yale 29-29 game of 1968, but...

Trailing by 16 with less than five minutes to play, this one appeared to be over. Down to a single time out, the Big Reds, it appeared, were through. Davison was controlling the ball. Muskegon could do little right on this afternoon at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

And then the tables turned.

Check out the various versions of coverage from the Muskegon Chronicle, The Flint Journal the Detroit Free Press, as well as the Free Press Photo Gallery for the emotion of the game.

Watch Michigan Sports Radio for the archive of the broadcast, or better yet, listen to the amazing 4th quarter of the Davison comeback by local broadcasting legends Jim Moyes and Gene Young.

The MHSAA semifinal found of of the annual tournament have hosted some of the state's most thrilling contests. Check out this article from a few years back.

Nick Ens of Grand Rapids Catholic sets new TD mark

2008-11-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

Nick Ens (184 of 301 passes for 2,850 yards) tossed five touchdown passes, including three to favorite target Michael Penny, to up his season total to 39 the season in Grand Rapids Catholic Centrals 42-35 double OT win over Kingsford. According to Burt Angeli of the Iron Mountain Daily

The Ens-to-Penny combination clicked for 75 and 60-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter to give the Cougars a 28-21 lead.
Kingsford sent the game into overtime when Ryan Kleisner plunged four yards in the end zone with 30 seconds remaining.
In the second overtime, Penny hauled in a 10-yard slant pass for the game-winner.
Ens wound up with 372 yards passing and five touchdowns.
Penny made seven catches for 199 yards.

Ens' total eclipses the previous total of 37, set by Josh Brehm of Ithaca in 2001. Brehm signed in early 2008 to play ball for the Hamburg Blue Devils of the GermanFootball League .

With the win, the stage is set for a Saturday showdown between Holland Christian at East Kentwood High School. Christian's QB A.J. Westendorp, has tossed thrown for 33 touchdowns this season.

The Maroons were 53-25 victors over South Haven on Friday in the Division 4 regional finals. Coached by former NFL player Willie Snead III, a varsity coach in Florida before taking the reigns at Christian this season.

Muskegon vs. Lowell - Time for turf

2008-11-12T02:24:00.001-08:00

The last time these two squared off it was a classic.

Hard to say if it will happen again, but there's little doubt this Saturday's Muskegon vs Lowell game is big in the eyes of fans, players, and coaches alike.

Thanks to Mother Nature - the game is headed to Grand Haven.

After hosting a season of football, plus two post-season contests, historic Hackley Field has had enough.

The field took a beating in last week's Hudsonville war. Worse, Muskegon's practice field, adjacent to the stadium did not fair well. Wilson field serves as parking for Muskegon's home games during the season. The ruts are deep, thanks to the wintery mix of rain and tire tracks.

So the decision was made to make the move, and host the contest on field turf at one-year old Gene Rothi Memorial Field at Buccaneer Stadium.

Muskegon Chronicle sports editor Tom Kendra notes that it's time that the school make the move to field turf.

What it takes to make the field playable on game day - namely keeping everybody off of it all week long -- is exactly the reason why Muskegon needs field turf more than any other school in the area.

Many MLive chat room folks are making an issue of the fact that Hackley does not have enough seating for Saturday's 1 p.m. regional championship showdown, which is true, but the stadium is plenty big for 99 percent of the events that it hosts. For those one or two mega-games every year, fans are just going to have to pack in and stand around the perimeter.

One thing that Muskegon can realistically do is ensure perfect field conditions and double the practice space for its football teams (not to mention allow unlimited band practices, soccer games and youth games) by putting field turf in Hackley Stadium.

You can take this for what it's worth, but last fall the crew from NFL Films laughed when we pulled up to Muskegon's practice field.

"This is where they practice?" one of the producers asked increduously, looking down at the tire grooves and mud on tiny Wilson Field, the practice site for Muskegon's varsity, junior varsity and freshmen teams.

There's been talk. This should illustrate the need for action.

Glendening - Seven touchdowns - IN THE FIRST HALF!?!?

2008-11-11T18:25:00.000-08:00

Huh?

Is that a typo?

Sounds like one of my classic cut-and-past errors!

OK - I watched East Grand Rapids tailback Joe Glendening a couple of times last year. You had to be impressed with his four touchdown performance against Orchard Lake St. Mary in last year's classic five-overtime affair, hosted late on a Saturday night in Detroit's Ford Field. You remember, that one that ended three hours and 25 minutes after kickoff. The one that decided the Division 3 state championship. Truly one of the state's all-time classics!

Well - I have to admit that I thought I might have had my contacts in backward when I read about Glendening's latest exploits in this past Saturday's Grand Rapids Press.

Until Friday night, the only time Joe Glendening scored seven touchdowns in a game was on his PlayStation.
Glendening, East Grand Rapids' 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior tailback rushed for 398 yards and seven touchdowns against Mount Pleasant Friday night - all in the first half. The Pioneers beat the Oilers 61-19 in the Division 3 district final at Memorial Field.

Guess it's time for a new category in the MHSAA State Record book.

Touchdowns Scored
Quarter (Minimum 5)
5 - Chris Zablocki, Lake Linden-Hubbell vs. Baraga (1st Qtr.) (10-10-1997)
5 - Marcus Ewing, Johannesburg-Lewiston vs. Bellaire (1st Qtr.) (9-17-1999)
5 - Lawrence Kimble, Muskegon Mona Shores vs. Zeeland East (1st Qtr.) (10-7-2005)
Game (Minimum 7)
11 - Cecil Hardy, Flint Central (Flint Central 106, Lapeer 0) (9-26-1914)
10 - Herb Dunphy, Lansing Central (Lansing Central 111, Lapeer 0) (1917)
10 - Floyd Brown, Saginaw (Saginaw 82, Alma 0) (1918)
10 - Duke Christie, Escanaba (Escanaba 102, Ishpeming 0) (1920)
9 - Fred Jacks, Muskegon (Muskegon 216, Hastings 0) (1912)
9 - Francis Tallent, Menominee (Menominee 150, Kingsford 0) (1929)
8 - Earl O'Shaughnessy, Keego Harbor (Keego Harbor 55, Saginaw SS Peter & Paul 19) (11-1950)
8 - Mike Golden, Frankenmuth (Frankenmuth 62, North Branch 6) (9-1-2005)
7 - Paul Smith, Saginaw (Saginaw 77, Marquette 0) (11-18-1922)
7 - Jim Mishler, Chesaning (Chesaning 71, St. Charles 0) (11-10-1967)
7 - Tony Ceccacci, Rudyard (Rudyard 62, Newberry 12) (1982)
7 - Tony Ceccacci, Rudyard (Rudyard 52, Cheboygan Catholic 0) (1982)
7 - Jordan Herrick, Birmingham Seaholm (Birmingham Seaholm 49, Birmingham Groves 17) (10-27-1995)
7 - Noel Aleman, East Kentwood (East Kentwood 48, Jenison 34) (10-11-2002)
7 - Charles Stewart, Farmington Hills Harrison, (Farmington Hills Harrison 65, Chelsea 64 2 OT) (11-1-2003)
7 - Trent Way, Midland Bullock Creek (Midland Bullock Creek 70, Bridgeport 32) (10-22-2004)
7 - Jason Plummer, Wyoming Lee (Wyoming Lee 69, Waterford Mt. Zion Christian 24) (10-22-2004)
7 - John Lewis, Three Rivers (Three Rivers 46, Byron Center 33 ) (8-26-2005)
7 - Lawrence Kimble, Muskegon Mona Shores (Mona Shores 49, Zeeland East 16) (10-7-2005)

Looks like we need to add a "Touchdowns scored in a half" entry.

And it might be time to add a Yards Rushing in a half category as well. Glendening's total of 398 yards doesn't crack the list for rushing in a game, which has a minimum of 400.

Now, I didn't catch the Pioneer's 61-19 blowout of Mt. Pleasant, and have yet to see EGR so far this year. With only a single loss to Lowell, it's quite possible I'll be checking them out again in downtown Detroit on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Win number 200 for Hopkins' Rex Weaver.

2008-11-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Congratulation to Rex Weaver on victory number 200!

Those reading the Jane Bos' article in the Grand Rapids Press on Monday learned that Weaver needed one more victory to join the 200 varsity career coaching wins club. Weaver record now stands at 200-83-1 with the team's 46-26 triumph over visiting Berrien Springs Friday night. He joins 45 others coaches on the list, highlighting those that have reached the mark over the years.

Coaching Records
Coaching Victories (Minimum 200) * = Active
374 - * Al Fracassa, Royal Oak Shrine; Birmingham Brother Rice (1960-07, 374-98-7) 8-3-0 in 2007
351 - * John Herrington, Farmington Hills Harrison (1970-07, 351-74-1) 9-3-0 in 2007
324 - * Mike Boyd, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (1965-68, 1970-07; 324-100-1) 9-3-0 in 2007
308 - Leo "Smokey" Boyd, Standish-Sterling; Saginaw SS Peter & Paul; Saginaw Nouvel (1953, 1956-99; 308-116-4)
304 - Jack Pratt, Flint St. Matthew; Grand Blanc; Flint Kearsley; Flint Powers Catholic (1958-76, 1980-06; 304-129-7)
300 - Walt Braun, Marysville (1956-1998, 300-98-2)
293 - Jeff Smith, East Lansing (1966-03, 293-93-2)
283 - * Tom Mach, Detroit Catholic Central (1976-07, 283-68-0) 10-3-0 in 2007
281 - * Ken Hofer, Stephenson; Menominee (1964-71, 1975-07; 281-122-2) 14-0-0 in 2007
273 - Bill Maskill, Sheridan, Galesburg-Augusta (1951-91, 273-84-2)
271 - * Bob Lantzy, Utica Eisenhower (1971-07; 271-102-1) 6-4-0 in 2007
250 - * James Reynolds, Detroit Martin Luther King (1974-2007, 250-106) 14-0-0 in 2007
245 - Mel Skillman, Saginaw MacArthur; Merrill (1963-03, 245-130-6)
243 - Jack Ver Duin, Wyoming Park (1962-01, 243-112-6)
245 - * Herb Brogan, Jackson Lumen Christi (1980-07, 245-58-0) 12-1-0 in 2007
245 - * Rick Bye, Sterling Heights Stevenson (1975-07; 245-91-0) 2-7-0 in 2007
239 - Richard Mettlach, Crystal Falls-Forest Park (1956-89, 239-73-6)
238 - George Barcheski, East Grand Rapids (1970-99, 238-53-3)
234 - Larry Sellers, Traverse City St. Francis (1973-00, 2002, 234-58-0)
234 - Don Lessner, Riverview, Erie-Mason (1967-01, 2004-06, 234-120-1)
233 - * Jack Schugars, Muskegon Oakridge (1979-07, 233-71-0) 11-1-0 in 2007
233 - Ike Muhlenkamp, Albion; St. Joseph (1965-01, 233-113-1)
233 - Dick Soisson, Kalamazoo Hackett (1950-90, 233-124-7)
231 - Jack Castignola, Trenton (1948-51, 1953-85; 231-88-6)
229 - Ron Warner, Lake Linden-Hubbell (1972-00, 229-61-1)
225 - * Ralph Munger, Frankenmuth, Rockford (1980-07, 225-76-0) 9-2-0 in 2007
224 - * Marc Cisco, Monroe Jefferson (1963-69; 1973-07; 224-164-4) 4-5-0 in 2007
223 - * Ernie Ayers, Sand Creek (1979-2007; 223-77-1) 10-3-0 in 2007
219 - Tom Moshimer, Dundee; Plymouth; Plymouth Salem (1959-00, 219-146-6)
216 - Bob Knight, Portage Central (1970-04, 216-108-0)
214 - Larry Ledlow, Schoolcraft (1982-04, 214-37-0)
213 - Bob Staskiewicz, Deckerville; Marine City (1977-04, 213-65-0)
211 - Dick Koski, Ontonagon; Negaunee (1964-66, 1968-99, 211-113-1)
211 - Chuck Gordon, Westland John Glenn (1977-03; 211-64-0)
209 - Oscar Johnson, Mt, Pleasant, Muskegon Heights; Baldwin (1925-63, 1979; 209-106-28)
207 - Bill Murray, Southgate Aquinas, Rawlins, WY, Clarkston (1977-07; 207-87)
206 - Glen "Dutch" Schrotenboer, St. Charles; Flint Central; Alpena; L.C. Bird High of Chesterfield, VA (1963-1991, 206-82-3, 120-55-3 in Michigan)
205 - * Bud Rowley, Oxford (1976-79, 1982-2007, 205-95-1) 8-2-0 in 2007
205 - Joe D'Angelo, Grosse Pointe St. Ambrose; Erie-Mason; Detroit Country Day (1967-69,1971-97, 205-75-4)
205 - Dave Woodcock, Jenison (1962-96, 205-84-0)
204 - * Joe Reddinger, Iron Mountain North Dickinson (1977-2007, 204-106-0) 7-3-0 in 2007
203 - Irv Sigler, Benton Harbor; Cheboygan; Sedrow-Woolley High, WA; Belding; Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (1971-87, 1989-00; 203-81-0)
202 - Art Paddy, Cass City; West Bloomfield; Orchard Lake St. Mary; Ortonville-Brandon (1946-51, 1957-77, 1981-86,1994-96; 202-92-9)
202 - Jack Streidl, Plainwell (1946-50, 1953-84; 202-102-9)
201 - Steve Spicer, Fowler (1971-95, 201-49-1)

From the Grand Rapids Press:

Hopkins' senior running back Cameron Crowe, who rushed for 334 yards in last week's win, finished with 223 yards on 20 carries against Berrien Springs and scored three touchdowns.

"This win was for coach. He's a great coach, he's a legend here," Crowe said. "I feel honored. I think our whole team feels honored to get his 200th win for him."

Hopkins scored 25 unanswered points in the third quarter, including a 71-yard touchdown run by Crowe sprinting around the right end.

Hopkins, now 9-2 on the season, will face top-ranked Muskegon Oakridge (11-0), next Friday at Oakridge.

Well - that was my introduction

2008-11-06T04:25:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that was over two years ago. I had a lot of fun cranking out those entries for mLive. But, when the request came to shorten the entries, but to blog more frequently, well, it was time to give it a rest.

So, I signed out.

Thanks to web.archive.org, you can still access those two years of entries, including my signoff.

I wasn't built to move that fast
Many years ago, a former boss reminded me that it is impossible to serve two masters.

I believe I now have five.

Welcome to today’s special edition of “For the Record”.

Well - after two years of incessant babbling on the beauty of prep sports, I've come to a conclusion.

The time has come for me to step aside.

The realization arrived the other night as I sat on the couch watching Bugs Bunny cartoons with my sons before bedtime. With one on each side, we laughed at the zany antics of my personal animation favorites. Each character is a comic genius. Of course, so were the artists that brought them to life.

In the back of my mind was the knowledge that I needed to dream up a weekly feature for the blog. Something that would keep readers on the edge of their seat, causing them to dash to the site like Ralphie in A Christmas Story did for the latest Little Orphan Annie melodrama on radio.

In the ultra-competitive world of websites, you see, eyeballs mean everything.

As I pondered the thought, I had to confront an issue that I've been wrestling with for some time now.

At what cost do I chase information for my hobby?

Looking across the room, I was reminded that we still hadn't taken down the Christmas tree.

Checking out my waistline, I was reminded that I need more physical activity, and more home-cooked meals.

A glance at the calendar says spring is not far away.

The time had arrived for some good old-fashioned cost-analysis.

A look at my oldest son reminded me that he enters high school next year. Granted, high school now starts in ninth grade, but that tells me I have as little as four years left to continue to try and impact his life in a positive manner on a daily basis.

A look at my youngest son reminded me that he enters middle school next year. His brother is his best friend, and in four years, that friend may trot off to college.

I have work to do. Neurotic Mom - can you offer any advice?

My self-imposed demands for the blog reduce the number of hours that I have available after my day at work. While I'll never be the type to constantly hover over the shoulders of my kids, I still spend far too much time in my struggles to write the perfect incomplete sentence. My pursuit of the proper word in this continued quest to butcher the English language seems endless.

Before you know it, it is 10:00 p.m. Kids should be in bed. My 5:00 a.m. alarm will be going off before I know it.

Did Jamie complete his Algebra 2 homework? Did I sign Evan's journal? Can it really be February?

My hobbies will never pay for my children's college educations. With luck, student loans, academic scholarships and perhaps my day job will provide for that. Maybe, I need to consider writing novels about imaginary visits with long-passed family members.

Anyway...

After two years of scribbling my thoughts, the time has come to step aside. After much consideration, I'm ready to pursuit other opportunities that life has to offer.

Thank you for allowing me free reign in designing what has appeared, and for allowing me the chance to move in a multitude of directions. Thank you for sharing your comments, information and kind words. Thanks for accepting my missteps, missing words and overall imperfections.

I hope that my rambling style has provided an occasional laugh, and a chance to revisit a hero or a moment from the past. Heaven only knows where I would be without Scorsese, Springsteen, Costello, Keaton or Kishpaugh.

As I stated in the beginning, the greatest joy of this hobby comes in the form of the people that I get to meet and converse with about this pageantry and purity known as high school sports.

Ideally, that will never change.

The Record Books are meant to be a place to highlight the amazing accomplishments of the state's extraordinary and ordinary athletes. A place to point to and say, "Remember when..." In my eyes, records should happen naturally - a situation where, in the pursuit of victory, an amazing accomplishment occurs.

It's a philosophy that I will always hold. I hope you will too.

Please keep me updated with additions and of course, corrections. I'll try to post the information in a timely fashion.

With the miracle known as the internet, and search engines like Google, I'm not hard to find.

I hope this is not the last day of our acquaintance.

My name is Ron Pesch. It was very nice to meet you…

In between, I "met" a host of wonderful readers, who took the time to contact me. Mark Behnke (who produced a great documentary on Hamilton's 1984 state basketball champs), Atif Lodhi, Matt DeYoung, Chris Gonzales, Bob Erkkila, Chris Givens, Jim Goebel, Andy Clark - my personal proofreader, of course Tim Barrett - who ranks among my top three all-time favorite employees at UPS, and many, many others.

Websites and connections at newspapers across the state were my "resources" for great information: Doug Donnelly at the Monroe Evening News (who, BTW, put out a GREAT book covering High School Basketball in the Monroe area), Dave Bossick, who is now stationed in Wisconsin, Chris Lau, Tom Lang, and the Son of Swami, Mick McCabe, at the Detroit Free Press, Tom Markowski, Terry Foster, the late Joe Falls, the long forgotten Richard Remington and many others at the Detroit News, mLive staff and their affiliates at the Ann Arbor News (Rich) , the Bay City Times (Bruce Gunther - now in flint, I think), the Flint Journal, (especially Bill Khan), the Grand Rapids Press (thanks Jane and Mary), the Jackson Citizen Patriot (Mike, Gary, and the rest of the staff), the Kalamazoo Gazette, (thank to Jack Moss, and of course the retired but still working Del Newell), the Muskegon Chronicle, (Tom Mike, Cindy, Ron and the as well as a number of fold in the newsroom!) and the Saginaw News, (Hugh, among others!) , the guys at the Lansing State Journal (Geoff) as well as many unknowns at small dailies and weeklies and the staff of the MHSAA.

Well, I guess it's time to stick my toes back in those blogging waters again, abet, this time at my own pace.

There have been many changes since my departure. I'm sure I'll touch on a number of them in upcoming entries.

In the meantime...

My name is Ron Pesch - and I endorse this message.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - Welcome to "For the Record"

2008-11-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

As historian for the Michigan High School Athletic Association, one of my tasks is to update the state record books for all sports sponsored by the MHSAA. With some sports, this involves numerous categories; for others, only a few.

In the "perfect" world (as it relates to high school sports history in Michigan) all noteworthy achievements dating back to the dawn of time (or more precisely, starting around the early 1890's) in the Great Lakes state would have been captured for posterity.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Rather, the records books are a work in progress. New accomplishments are added on a regular basis. Upon occasion, statistics are stumbled upon from years past and added to the site.

And sometimes errors are made.

Just the other day, I received an e-mail, pointing out a mistake. It was a problem with a listing in the girls basketball records for career three-point scorers. 158 - Heather Seyfred, Bridgman (73 of 460) (2002-04). I had keyed it in just a few days earlier.

Instantly, I was thrown back to the moment…A tap on the shoulder, accompanied by a little voice who wondered if I could please offer some help in the kitchen.

The most important task I have to accomplish in life is that of parenting. I’m a single Dad with full custody of his sons. Sometimes they need assistance: with homework; with growing up; with suggestions on what to draw. There are other requests. On this day, the need was for assistance with the production of a piece of Peanut Butter Toast. A slice of after-school heaven for an eight-year-old on a cold winter day in Michigan. (And occasionally, a pleasant diversion for a guy my age!)

Now, the statement, “I had keyed it in just a few days earlier” from a couple of paragraphs ago is not entirely correct. The line I had actually keyed in was Heather’s mark of 73 single season treys. Thanks to the miracles of modern point-and click technology, I then copied and pasted that same information into the career area. I then altered the total at the start of the line, changed the year to indicate the span of her prep career, and her total attempts from 210 to 460.

Then came Evan’s tap. And my train of thought was changed. Just like that, an error was made in the state record book. Of course this one was minor and easily corrected. The addition had been submitted by her coach, and was discovered when he checked the site to see if it had been posted. The record was there, but it was not completely accurate. Thanks to the e-mail, the correction was made.

It is a great privilege to record the accomplishments of Michigan’s high school athletes, and an honor to carry on the work of my friend, the late Dick Kishpaugh. A graduate of Battle Creek Central, Western Michigan University, and a longtime resident of Parchment, Dick proudly wore the title of state historian for 50 years. I have handled the honorary duties for 11 seasons now. Thanks to the arrival of the Internet, the record books in their expanded form are now available to the public for inspection.

But maintaining the Record Books is a hobby. It is not my livelihood. And this is not ESPN, where the feats of athletes are updated as they happen, with a scrolling message of details playing out at the bottom of the screen.

Instead, entries to the books appear on the site as they are submitted or discovered, and have been validated by school officials and/or newspaper accounts. Sometimes, they are amazing numbers that baffle logic and boggle the mind. Other times, they are achieved in a less-than-sportsmanship like manner. The purpose is to simply record that they occurred.

The intent of this blog is, I hope, to offer some perspective on what has been achieved in the past, is about to be attained, or was recently accomplished by a team or an athlete. I hope to point out links to interesting articles that I have stumbled upon, items of historical note, and generally discuss high school athletics in the state of Michigan. Along the way, you may learn a little bit more about what I consider to be the last athletic purity in America. Ideally, so will I.

To me, one of the great joys of this hobby comes in the form of the people that I get to meet and converse with about this pageantry and purity. Upon occasion, they are very recognizable names. In general, however, they are usually common men and women, boys and girls achieving uncommon things. The great majority of the time, they are good people with their hearts in the right place and their priorities straight, providing tips, insight and corrections.

Ideally, that will never change.

My name is Ron Pesch. It is very nice to meet you…