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Sports

SPORTS

Edmonton's style of play trapped Detroit

There's an old saying that goes "Beware the fury of a patient man." In the case of the Edmonton Oilers, it's more like the fury of a patient team which is exactly what has Red Wings fans nervous after splitting the first two games of the playoffs with their Canadian nemesis. Two giveaways were enough for the Oilers to win 4-2 on Sunday, and two power-play goals nearly propelled them to a win in the series-opener on Friday night. How did the Oilers do it?

SPORTS

Former Detroit Red Wing in town

Eric Fish
April 21, 2006

It was Game 3 of the 2002 Stanley Cup finals. The best-of-seven game series between the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes was tied 1-1 and game three was in the middle of a triple overtime. Taking a drop pass from Tomas Holmstrom, Igor Larionov skated into the Carolina zone and angled toward the net.

SPORTS

Who will be QB heir to Stanton in 2007?

Eric Fish
April 21, 2006

The spread offense has been a continuous force of production for MSU's offense since John L. Smith took over the head coaching job in December 2002. The spread offense all starts with the quarterback. Former signal-caller Jeff Smoker had a career senior year in 2003 with the passing-style offense, and Drew Stanton is set to become the next great product of Smith's football philosophy as he enters his senior year this fall. But aside from Stanton, redshirt freshman Domenic Natale and sophomore Brian Hoyer are competing for the backup spot this spring and for the starting spot in 2007. "There's no problem with that because it'll bring out the best in both of us," Hoyer said of the competition with Natale. As of now, Hoyer is the backup.

SPORTS

DVD features little of everything

Eric Fish
April 21, 2006

Very few athletes get the chance to close out a professional career at the way Igor Larionov did in "Farewell From Moscow: The Igor Larionov Farewell Game." After hanging up his skates following the 2003-04 season, the former Detroit Red Wing took advantage of the 2004-05 NHL lockout season and invited his friends and former teammates to Moscow, Russia on Dec.

SPORTS

International flavor

Steve Highfield
April 21, 2006

Most incoming college athletes have to deal with lack of playing time and balancing academics with athletics. For Sarah Andrews, a junior on the MSU women's tennis team, the biggest concern was getting a Social Security number. Andrews is from Australia and never had been to America before coming in August 2003 for MSU's International Orientation Program.

SPORTS

Spartans season marred by unusual 'streakiness'

Eric Fish
April 21, 2006

After losing standouts Jimmy Chestnut and Andrew Ruthkoski at the end of last season, the MSU men's golf team is in the midst of a season with a young, inexperienced roster. The eldest members of the team are three juniors, but seventh-year head coach Mark Hankins said the group is slowly making headway. "As we go along, these guys continue to learn and get better as the season progresses," Hankins said.

FOOTBALL

Defensive link tinkered as Ryan moves inside

Ethan Conley
April 20, 2006

The MSU football team's defensive linemen have been shuffled around throughout the spring practice schedule as the coaching staff searches to find a combination that works best. Senior Clifton Ryan, who tallied a team-high three sacks as a defensive end during the 2005 campaign, has switched over to defensive tackle.

SPORTS

Gymnastics team sends 1 to NCAA nationals

By Alex Altman For The State News Even while growing up in Canada where college gymnastics did not exist, Kristen Coleman dreamed of the opportunity to compete against the best collegiate gymnasts in the country.

SPORTS

MSU, Central Michigan play today in Lansing

Tom Keller
April 19, 2006

MSU baseball head coach David Grewe might want to think about putting in for overtime pay. After three extra-inning games against Penn State last weekend, Grewe's Spartans have now played six extra-inning contests this season — more than they played the past two seasons combined. "I think it says something about our kids competing," Grewe said.

SPORTS

University fines Penn State coach for discrimination

Jon Styf
April 19, 2006

State College, Pa. — Penn State fined women's basketball coach Rene Portland $10,000 after concluding she violated university policy in her treatment of a player who was perceived to be a lesbian. The university said Portland would be dismissed for any future violation of the school's nondiscrimination policy.

BASKETBALL

New recruits know how to win

Steve Highfield
April 18, 2006

When Isaiah Dahlman and Raymar Morgan were both participants in the Nike All-American Camp this past summer, they talked a lot with each other and formed a friendship. After Dahlman committed in early September to play basketball for MSU as part of its 2006 recruiting class, he called Morgan, who then committed to MSU less than a month later.

FOOTBALL

Work in progress

One of the team's sore spots last season — at place-kicker — has a positive outlook after Saturday's 115-play scrimmage at Spartan Stadium. Sophomore Todd Boleski missed his first 38-yard field-goal attempt but didn't disappoint after, nailing two field goals at 32 yards, and then at 40, 47 and 55 yards. The defense also showed signs of improvement, which senior defensive tackle Clifton Ryan said is "more athletic and (can) run the ball better than we did a year ago." The first-team defense faced a first-team offense undergoing changes with three new starters on the line. After the game, head coach John L.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
April 17, 2006

NASCAR driver Greg Biffle's girlfriend faces a reprimand after she had a pit-road confrontation with driver Kurt Busch's fiancee last week. Race officials wouldn't disclose the exact nature of the argument, but did say it involved a bumper sticker and Calvin peeing on something. Ohio State fans are uniformly upset about proposed changes to the school's football uniforms. The main point of contention: The buckeye stickers that are attached to a player's helmet for good play are reportedly being replaced by scratch-and-sniff smiley face stickers. The St.

SPORTS

Come playoffs time, it's a whole new NHL season

Some people dig March Madness while others live for the NFL and NBA playoffs. And a large percentage of the United States is fascinated with the MLB playoffs (which seem to last deeper into October each year). Not to say I don't enjoy watching those events, but the NHL playoffs are my sports Christmas, and, to my delight, are soon to be back. There are so many things to watch for come playoff time.

FOOTBALL

Youthful look

The college careers of wide receivers Kyle Brown and Aaron Alexander are over. Now it's time for seniors Matt Trannon, Jerramy Scott, Kerry Reed and junior Terry Love to help the offense live up to the expectations as one of the Big Ten's best. In 2005, the passing game was the deadliest attack for the Spartans.