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Sports

SPORTS

Ford Field has lacked wins, let it lack fans

What do the Red Wings and Pistons have in common, besides the fact that they both actually win? Your answer: Great ownership, great coaches, a top-notch front office staff, and general managers that fans can trust to make the right decisions. The polar opposite of these characteristics lies in the pathetic Detroit Lions, whom I find myself rooting against every week because sadly that might be the only way that changes (for the better) are made. Instead of your Mike Illitches and your Bill Davidsons, the Lions are owned by a man, William Clay Ford, whose family name has been famed in the auto industry.

SPORTS

Monday musings

Tom Keller
November 28, 2005

• Pro golfer Fred Funk got tons of publicity this weekend for wearing a pink flowered skirt for the third hole of the Skins Game, his penalty for being outdriven by Annika Sorenstam. Meanwhile, John Daly is upset about the lack of coverage he got for appearing at his local putt-putt golf course wearing nothing but a thong. • The Pistons are continuing their strong start, knocking off Milwaukee on Saturday to improve to an NBA-best 10-2. How good are things going for the 'Stones?

SPORTS

MSU struggles in Paradise Jam

Eric Fish
November 28, 2005

MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie knows her No. 9-ranked Spartans still have a lot to prove after dropping two of three games in the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands during Thanksgiving weekend. "We're just getting started," McCallie said in a written statement.

BASKETBALL

ONLINE UPDATE: Time for a win

Esther Gim
November 24, 2005

Lahaina, Hawaii — By the time the third-place matchup rolled around Wednesday afternoon, the MSU men's basketball team had played four games in five nights. And the fatigue showed as the Spartans committed 27 turnovers, more than twice that of Arizona.

SPORTS

Season ends for MSU this weekend

Yvette Lanier
November 23, 2005

Hanging from the rafters above the wooden floors of Jension Field House are five banners. The one in the middle is for a 1996 NCAA national semifinal appearance. It's been almost a decade since the MSU volleyball team celebrated a conference championship, and this year won't be any different.

SPORTS

Spartans head to Virgin Islands

Ethan Conley
November 23, 2005

Calling the women's basketball team's next stretch of games "a step up" is an understatement. After relatively easy victories against UC Santa Barbara and Western Carolina, the No.

SPORTS

Let's not engrave the Pistons' trophy yet

Every year in the NBA, there's a team that sprints from the starting line with its engine pumping on all cylinders. Two years ago it was the Lakers, last year it was the Suns, and this year it's the Detroit Pistons, who are playing better than anyone had any right to expect. So just how good are these Pistons?

SPORTS

Shimek nabs Big Ten Player of Week award

Chris Barsotti
November 22, 2005

MSU senior forward Liz Shimek earned the second Big Ten Player of the Week honors of her career for her performance last weekend. On Friday, Shimek set a career high for points with 26 and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Spartans to a 86-55 victory over UC Santa Barbara. Shimek was not done there, though, as she came back on Sunday and set a new career high for points by dropping 28 on Western Carolina, pacing the Spartans to a 84-61 victory.

FOOTBALL

Smith: 'We're making progress'

Eric Fish
November 22, 2005

Following Saturday's 31-22 loss against Penn State, the Spartans trotted off the field while watching the Nittany Lions celebrate a Big Ten championship on the turf of Spartan Stadium. After a perfect 4-0 start slipped away, the Spartans finished at a 5-6 mark — giving them a sub-.500 record and bowl absence for the second consecutive season. Still, MSU head coach John L.

ICE HOCKEY

Melting under pressure

Yvette Lanier
November 21, 2005

With less than a minute remaining, MSU scores a tie-breaking goal. Fans cheer and players celebrate. But wait — the referees have to review the play. Munn Ice Arena goes dead silent. The ref turns around and gives a signal.

SPORTS

Monday Musings

Tom Keller
November 21, 2005

• Federal prosecutors want access to hundreds of urine samples of Major League Baseball players seized in 2003 as part of the BALCO steroid scandal investigation. This is the most demand we've seen for urine since R.

FOOTBALL

For Penn State, a perfect ending

Eric Fish
November 21, 2005

After the final seconds ticked away in Saturday's contest at Spartan Stadium, Penn State's players summed up years of commitment and determination by euphorically running over to the numerous fans that traveled to watch them clinch a Big Ten Championship and BCS bowl bid. "Guys were just celebrating, carrying the Big Ten Championship thing around," Nittany Lions quarterback Michael Robinson said.

FOOTBALL

Nittany Lions clinch Big Ten title with win

Matt Bishop
November 21, 2005

Senior offensive guard Gordon Niebylski just stood there, bewildered, tears welling up. He didn't want to leave. But he had to. He was surrounded by blue and white, as Penn State had just clinched a share of the Big Ten title. As he was heading into the tunnel, Niebylski turned around to give the field one last look before walking down the tunnel one last time.