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Sports

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
November 13, 2006

The Detroit Tigers traded three pitching prospects to the New York Yankees last week for disgruntled power hitter Gary Sheffield. The Tigers then traded another minor-leaguer to get a muzzle for Sheffield. Several tennis players at this weekend's WTA Championships reportedly were upset that models were used as ball retrievers. Event officials counter that it's the only way they can get Anna Kournikova on the court for the finals of a tournament. Three different Johnsons — Jeremi, Rudi and Chad — scored the Cincinnati Bengals' first three touchdowns Sunday. It was the first time three players with the same name scored in one game since Huey, Dewey and Louie Duck. Two-time major champion John Daly filed for divorce last month with his fourth wife. Tabloids are already predicting how long it will take for Daly and fellow recent single Britney Spears to become Hollywood's new power couple. Rasheed Wallace has been called for a league-leading four technical fouls in the Detroit Pistons' first seven games, part of a league-wide crackdown on in-game complaints by players. NBA commissioner David Stern said if Wallace doesn't stop complaining to the referees soon, the league will have no choice but to send him to his room and put him in timeout.

BASKETBALL

Izzo introduces highly touted recruits

Steve Highfield
November 9, 2006

About eight hours before his team kicked off its 2006-07 season, head coach Tom Izzo was busy introducing one of the most touted recruiting classes of his tenure. Guards Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Chris Allen, who signed letters of intent Wednesday, make up a three-guard class that's ranked No.

BASKETBALL

Top priority in tonight's opener: Cut turnovers

Ethan Conley
November 8, 2006

Ever wonder where all of Roy Williams' and Jim Boeheim's hair has gone over the years? Maybe it's a pesky gene that caused the tops of their heads to become bare as their coaching victories piled up. Or maybe they've just spent too many years pulling their hair out because of turnovers. And if that's the case, Tom Izzo's hairline might not be far behind. The Spartans committed 38 combined turnovers in their first two exhibition games, including 21 against Northern Michigan on Nov.

SPORTS

Torn ACL sidelines Aitch for remainder of season

Matt Bishop
November 8, 2006

MSU women's basketball sophomore Lauren Aitch, who appeared in 32 of 34 games last season, will be out for the season after tearing her right ACL last week. Aitch, a 6-foot-1 center from Lansing, averaged 2.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.3 minutes a game last season.

FOOTBALL

Reader mail Next MSU coach should only be paid for wins

Has anyone considered changing the football coaches' salaries paradigm? Instead of paying these coaches large guaranteed contracts and for a guaranteed number of years, why do we not offer them a set salary and then for each game they win, they get a guaranteed payment? This would force coaches to actually coach and tie their paycheck to their success, instead of the current system in which these coaches get paid if they win or lose and then the universities have to buy out the large contracts for coaches who failed to produce. For instance, a football coach could have a base salary of $500,000 and then get $100,000 for each game won.

FOOTBALL

Izzo: I let Smith down

Steve Highfield
November 7, 2006

After MSU football head coach John L. Smith was fired Wednesday, his basketball counterpart, Tom Izzo, said he wanted to be involved in the hiring of Smith's replacement. On Monday, Izzo reiterated those statements and took some personal blame for the way Smith's tenure at MSU played out. "I think I let (Smith) down because I didn't know him as well, I didn't jump in there with the help I could give him," Izzo said.

SPORTS

No excuses for football turnout Sat.

Correction: The column should have said the MSU football team's record is 1-5 in the Big Ten. Any MSU student fan would love to tell you how die-hard they are — how blue-collar, how unwavering. But they're wrong. After Saturday's showing at the MSU vs.

BASKETBALL

Izzo: 'A lot of work ahead'

Matt Bishop
November 6, 2006

With the regular-season opener right around the corner, MSU head coach Tom Izzo hoped to find some answers to the many questions surrounding his team during Sunday's final exhibition game against Northern Michigan. Will the freshman class be able to contribute?

SPORTS

Friday should be example of fan turnout at Munn

Where were you Friday night? If you weren't part of the 7,092 fans packing Munn Ice Arena as the fourth-largest crowd in the building's history, then you were missing out on what was the best crowd atmosphere I've ever been part of — in any sport. The "Go Green, Go White" chants were booming throughout the arena, the students were loud, vocal and energetic, and the entire place was simply electric beyond what my words can accurately describe. But that begs me to ask another question: Where have you been? Granted, Friday's game against Michigan was the first big game of the season for the Spartans, but MSU is a top-ranked team coming off a CCHA Championship — and a team that missed a trip to last year's Frozen Four by one lousy goal.

ICE HOCKEY

On the offensive

Eric Fish
November 6, 2006

Ann Arbor — It took the Wolverines 10 contests against the Spartans to finally beat their intrastate rival Saturday night, 6-2 — the first time in nearly two years.

BASKETBALL

Morgan shoulders scoring output

Matt Bishop
November 6, 2006

Freshman forward Raymar Morgan sure knows how to make a great first impression. In his first collegiate game, Morgan wowed the crowd Sunday at Breslin Center with his athleticism and well-rounded play, scoring 16 points and adding 12 rebounds in 30 minutes to lead the Spartans to a 74-63 win against Northern Michigan. "I was excited, probably a little too excited at times," Morgan said.

SPORTS

Monday Musings

Tom Keller
November 6, 2006

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was injured in a sideline collision Saturday. Paterno was taken to a nearby hospital, where he got an MRI for half-price with his AARP discount. Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers won the fifth Gold Glove of his career. Commissioner Bud Selig happily shook Rogers' hand as he presented the award, then needed adhesive remover to pry himself free. Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens acknowledged he sometimes sleeps during team meetings. The admission sent Owens' value skyrocketing in fantasy football leagues that give points for irresponsibility. Race car driver Paul Tracy might miss the season's final race after he crashed a golf cart while drunk. Tracy said he could fight through the injuries he sustained, but the genitalia his friends drew on his face after he passed out might be too much to overcome. Tennessee State women's hoops coach Tracee Jones won $265,000 on the NBC game show "Deal or No Deal" that aired last week. In a related story, MSU football head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

A step behind

Steve Highfield
November 6, 2006

Something unusual happened Saturday at Spartan Stadium. The MSU defense came to play. It forced a turnover and brought pressure on the quarterback.

FOOTBALL

Wiley: Smith's ouster 'unprofessional'

Ethan Conley
November 6, 2006

The Spartans had enough trouble winning games without any extra distractions looming overhead. On Saturday, they played their first game after being hit with a midweek knockout punch — they learned they would finish the season under the direction of a coach whose days were numbered. Athletics Director Ron Mason announced the firing of John L.

SPORTS

Simmons brothers turn focus to leadership skills

Joey Nowak
November 6, 2006

Despite having personal success that most collegiate athletes would only dream of, senior wrestlers Nick and Andy Simmons are more focused on leading their teammates than furthering the filling of their own trophy cases. "Hopefully, I can lead these guys and show them how to win," Andy Simmons said.

SPORTS

Special teams come through, offense fails

The MSU special teams gave their best, most emotional performance of the season Saturday. It also was the riskiest. The Spartans caught Purdue off guard in the third quarter, perfectly executing a surprise onside kick.