By George B. Eichorn
Fifty years and counting. That’s the milestone reached by Michigan’s only annual PGA Tour event, staged at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc.
Yet there’s a pall over this golden anniversary Buick Open as Tigers Woods, the No. 1-ranked male golfer in the world, is skipping this tournament and our state as he is in a total shutdown of the sport he loves to have knee surgery. Woods also canceled an appearance earlier this week at Comerica Park where he was to stage an afternoon clinic.
Woods did not win in 2007 yet was a huge draw at Warwick Hills. Brian Bateman, ranked 408th in the world, pulled a shocking victory with a “life-changing putt” in Grand Blanc. Bateman became the first player to achieve his first PGA Tour win at the Buick Open since Tom Pernice, Jr. turned the trick in 1999.
Former Buick Open champions in the field at press time are Bateman, Woody Austin, Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard, Billy Mayfair, Rocco Mediate, Tom Pernice Jr., Kenny Perry and Scott Verplank.
“It’s fantastic that so many former champions are committed to coming back and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the tournament with us,” said Larry Peck, Buick Golf marketing manager and Buick Open tournament chairman.
Mediate battled Woods at the recent U.S. Open in San Diego, forcing the superstar to an 18-hole playoff and one hole of sudden death before losing to the popular Woods. Mayfair, 42, has five career PGA Tour victories, including the Tour Championship in 1995. He will be playing in his 16th Buick Open. He holds the course record for nine holes when he shot a 27 on the back nine in the final round in 2001. Mayfair also shares the course record for 18 holes (with Woods) when he shot a 61 in 2001.
John Daly, Chris DiMarco, Fred Funk, Charles Howell II, Tom Lehman, Jasper Parnevik, Corey Pavin, Heath Slocum, Bob Tway and Bubba Watrson are also scheduled to compete near Flint.
Defending champ Bateman and the rest of the 2008 Buick Open field will compete for a record $5 million purse, including a $900,000 first prize and the keys to a 2008 Buick Enclave.
“Buick has long had an appreciation for excellence
whether in the perfect golf swing, or in the most elegantly crafted vehicle,” said Peck. “Our history with golf is exceptionally rich, highlighted by our 50-year long partnership with the PGA Tour, and other tournament sponsorships, including the Buick Open, Buick Invitational, and Buick Championship.”We’re also the official car of the PGA Tour and the PGA of America. So wherever you find extraordinary precision, elegance, and power, there’s a great chance, you’ll find Buick. Since 1982, we’re proud to say we’ve raised more than $9 million for charity with the help of our golf sponsorship.”
Activities at the Buick Open started Monday, June 23, with the PGA Tour players’ practice rounds and the Buick Dealers’ Monday Pro-Am. On Tuesday was more players’ practice rounds and Buick Family Golf Clinic. On Wednesday the OnStar Pro-Am was staged. The opening round is on Thursday, June 26 with subsequent rounds (two through four) Friday-Sunday, June 27-29.
All of the activities at Warwick Hills could not happen without the extraordinary efforts of the volunteers and staff personnel.
“The Buick Open has been incredibly fortunate over the years to have countless volunteers generously donate their time and ideas to the event,” said Peck. “Fortunately, all volunteer positions for 2008 have been filled.”
The inaugural Birdies for Buick Open Charities program will include 22 charities and will be administered by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint. The charities will be given the chance to raise funds by soliciting pledges from corporations and individuals. Each participating group or individual will pledge a designated amount of money for each birdie recorded at the 2008 Buick Open.
For example, if a corporation or individual pledges one dollar for each birdie recorded during the tournament, and 2,000 birdies are made during the event, that charity will raise $2,000 for their organization. A total of 1,786 birdies were recorded at the 2007 Buick Open.
Charitable partners of the Buick Open include AGA Booster Club, American Lung Association, American Red Cross, Boy Scout Troop 335, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint, Clarkston Athletic Boosters, Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Easter Seals, Flint Institute of Music, Flint Junior Golf Association, Goodrich Soccer Club, Grand Blanc Community Schools, Mt. Holly Ski Patrol, Sloan Museum/Flint Cultural Center, Visually Impaired Center and Whaley Children Center.
Buick Open admission is $35 for rounds Thursday through Sunday. Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. For ticket information, call 1 (800) 878-OPEN or go to
www.buickopen.com. Gates open at 7 a.m. Cameras are not allowed Thursday-Sunday. Coolers are not allowed on the course at any time. To reach the satellite parking locations from I-75, exit 108, Holly Rd., and head east on Holly Rd. From US-23, take exit 83 (Thompson Rd.) and follow the signs east on Thompson, north on Fenton Rd., east on Baldwin Rd., north on Saginaw St.
Buy George Eichorn’s book, “Detroit Sports Broadcasters On the Air,” for $19.99 or less at www.amazon.com Reach him at geichorn@yahoo.com.
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By George Eichorn
Have the Detroit Tigers turned the corner on their 2008 season, or not? A recent string of six straight victories and eight out of nine wins has many people wondering if this is the real Tigers team which experts predicted in the cold months of the winter and sunny days in Lakeland at spring training.
The Tigers are 31-37 at presstime, only six games in back of the first place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division. Just five days previous to the six wins, the Bengals were 11 games out of the lead. A three game sweep of the Sox and the same over the Los Angeles Dodgers brought many cheers and smiles to the faces of Tiger fans packing Comerica Park during the recent home stand.
As a team the Tigers are fifth in A.L. hitting at .266, fourth in slugging percentage (.421), fourth in runs batted in (315) yet only sixth in hits with 625, seventh in doubles (128), sixth in home runs (70), 13th in steals (25).
Let
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s take a closer look at the team as we near the end of June already.Outfield — Leadoff man and center fielder Curtis Granderson has just seven doubles, three triples, three stolen bases and a paltry .250 batting average. He is not performing up to expectations. His road back from a fractured wrist suffered late in spring training has been rocky. The Tigers need Granderson to start hitting consistently.
Since Jacque Jones left the team and left field permanently, Leyland has tried Gary Sheffield, Marcus Thames, Ryan Raburn and others out there. The best solution appears to be Thames who just gets the job done whenever called upon even though he has not been an everyday player. In Sunday
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s win over the Dodgers, Thames hit his third homer in three games and 10th overall in 2008.A fixture in right is All-Star Magglio Ordonez, the defending A.L. batting champ. Maggs is first among Detroit regulars with his .310 bating average and has 10 HR and 42 RBI yet everyone knows he
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s capable of batting higher than that.Raburn, Brett Clevlen, Inge and Sheffield also have contrived in the outfield to varying degrees of success. Clevlen in particular has shown he has a great arm.
Infield — The game of musical chairs has apparently stopped with Miguel Cabrera ensconced at first base and Carlos Guillen at third. Of course, Placido Polanco holds down second and Edgar Renteria shortstop. The fielding is a big question still although Guillen looked like Brooks Robinson on a couple of players last weekend against the Dodgers. Polanco has slipped a bit from his near-perfect play but no need to worry. Renetria doesn
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t have the range at short but the club must grin and bear it. Hitting-wise, you have three .300 hitters in Cabrera, Guillen and Polanco and a solid .280 or so hitter in Renteria.Catcher — Leyland was smart to rotate Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez and Brandon Inge at catcher. It allows them an opportunity to both play while especially not wearing out Pudge
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s arms and legs game in and game out. The move seems to have helped each one of them — thus far — at the plate and behind the plate.Designated hitter — Sheffield is rehabbing in Lakeland and expected to be back on the team as early as week
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s end. But can he be the Sheff on old? The Tigers are probably stuck with him unless a team has the money to pay at least some of his huge salary. Jeff Larish, up from Toledo, has filled in with mixed reviews. Leyland also uses an everyday player at DH on occasion.In the pitching department, the Tigers are just 11th in earned run average (4.60), 12th in wins (32) and dead last in strikeouts (367). Detroit is at or near the bottom of the A.L. in shutouts (1), complete games (1) and saves (14). Hence, the awful start for Jim Leyland and pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and their staff.
In the pitching department, the Tigers are just 11th in earned run average (4.60), 12th in wins (32) and dead last in strikeouts (367). Detroit is at or near the bottom of the A.L. in shutouts (1), complete games (1) and saves (14). Hence, the awful start for Jim Leyland and pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and their staff. Let
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s look closer.Starting pitching — The loss of Jeremy Bonderman to a blood clot and Dontrelle Willis to his wildness and eventual exodus to Lakeland hurts the Tigers immensely. The club needed 12 or more wins from each of these two young pitchers and they will not get them. This puts additional pressure on hard-luck starter Justin Verlander (just 3-9 with a 4.65 ERA), ageless Kenny Rogers (4-4 and 4.74 ERA) and Nate Robertson (5-6 and 5.46 ERA). Then there is star rookie righthander Armano Galarraga with his excellent 6-2 record and 3.31 ERA. Rookie Eddie Bonine started last Saturday and should get another look or two before Leyland can decide if he is the answer.
Relief pitching — After a very difficult start, the relievers have come along nicely. Todd Jones (12 saves) is still a roller coaster as closer as evidenced by his performance last Sunday. The good news is that more help is on the way as Fernando Rodney has rehabbed from his right shoulder tendonitis and Joel Zumaya is working his way back the parent club with his right shoulder surgery recovery.
In the meantime, Leyland calls upon righties Danny Bautista, Freddy Dolisi, Jones, Zach Miner, and lefties Casey Fossum and Bobby Seay. Aquilino Lopez and Clay Rapada were sent down to Toledo, not that they pitched poorly but just had to make room on the roster for Bonine and Rodney.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or write him at 33490 Groesbeck, Fraser, MI 48026.
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How sweet it is – 4 Stanley Cups in 11 seasons. That has a nice ring to it: 4 in 11.
Now, the first one in 1997 was tremendous and always cherished. Detroit hockey fans waited far too only between that Cup and the previous one won by Gordie Howe and Company. In 1998, it was special to get back-to back titles yet happiness turned to tragedy as the limo carrying two Red Wings and the masseur was involved in an awful wreck.
Then came 2002 with its outstanding label. Steve Yzerman, Dominik Hasek, Brendan Shanahan, Brett Hull and others led the Red Wings to their third Cup in six years yet many skeptics still did not want to call the Red Wings a dynasty.
Well, then came 2008, with a new look and many new players on Detroit. Triumph came despite the new NHL with its salary cap restrictions and movement of players. The Red Wings still proved they are a team of the ages. This team is officially a recent dynasty in my book, right alongside the New England Patriots of the NFL and San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.
True, we have the regulars on hand such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom, Chris Chelios, Hasek, Chris Osgood and late addition Darren McCarty. Even Pavel Datsyuk was on that 2002 Cup champion. This time, the Red Wings did it with several new faces who tasted from the hockey’s sacred chalice for the first time in Detroit.
Led by Conn Smythe Trophy (Most Valuable Player) winner Henrik Zetterberg, this new wave of players were vital in the Red Wings march to their 11th Stanley Cup. Johan Franzen, Dan Cleary, Mikael Samuelsson, Brian Rafalski, Brad Stuart, Dallas Drake, Niklas Kronwall, Brett Lebda, Tomas Kopecky, Andreas Lilja, Darren Helm, Jiri Hudler and Valtteri Filppula all contributed to the wonderful ride to the promised land.
Yes, the Red Wings are to be exalted highly for what they have been able to achieve. Despite cap restrictions and salary restructuring, General Manager Ken Holland, assistant Jill Nill and the entire front office under the leadership of a man deserving to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame, senior vice president Jimmy Devellano, have performed well.
And speaking of Hall of Famers, owner Mike Ilitch is already enshrined in Toronto and will have company soon as The Captain, Steve Yzerman, will be a first-ballot electee into the hallowed Hall come a year or two. Yzerman has made a nice transition into the club’s front office and is learning a lot under Holland and Nill.
Who else from these 4 in 11 years Stanley Cup dynasty Red Wings would you put into the Hall of Fame some day? Larry Murphy and Slava Fetisov are there already, the onetime Red Wings defensemen. You have to know that Chelios will be a lock and Hasek too. Then you have Lidstrom of course. Former Red Wings Shanahan and Brett Hull should be elected too. What about Osgood who distinguished himself with a 14-4 record and 1.55 goals against average in these playoffs and won his second Cup? He may deserve a good look.
Others with possible Hall of Fame credentials include former centers Sergei Fedorov and Igor Larionov and current stars Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Holmstrom and Draper are less likely to get much support. Former coach Scotty Bowman is already in the Hall and maybe Mike Babcock, should he sustain his winning ways in the years ahead, has a shot at entry. Besides Devellano (Cups with Detroit and the New York Islanders) the Hall should someday swings open its doors for Holland.
Now, with all this Hall of Fame past and current Detroit flavor, it’s no wonder we can these Red Wings a team of destiny. Hockeytown glory has returned to Detroit. Sure, some crowds were too sparse during the regular season but a tough economy and competition from the Tigers, Pistons and Wolverines took a bit out of the hockey attendance figures at Joe Louis Arena.
The parade last week further solidified the Motor City as the top hockey city in North America. You fans deserved and received from the champion Red Wings players – a great deal of gratitude. To a man, the players applauded the fans and the hard working grit that Detroit shows. That attitude has rubbed off and worked wonders on this machine called the Detroit Hockey Club, Inc.
Also, what a special moment to see Red Wings defenseman Lidstrom be the first player to lift the Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh and the first European to captain an NHL championship team or any major sports team from North America. It was likewise classy for Fox Sports Net television announcer Ken Daniels to fill in for radio broadcaster Ken Kal – ill with laryngitis — in that finals Game 6, and then to hand the microphone back to Kal for the stretch call. Daniels is a pro’s pro and it showed. Kal was obviously bummed missing the entire game on radio but got his shot at the very end of the broadcast.
Buy George Eichorn book, “Detroit Sports Broadcasters On The Air” — which features exclusive photos of hockey announcers such as Daniels, Kal, Mickey Redmond, Paul Woods, Budd Lynch, Bruce Martyn and Sid Abel – for $19.99 or less at www.amazon.com. Reach him at geichorn@yahoo.com.
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NBA Hoops Chatter
George Eichorn: I am both disgusted and disappointed that the Detroit Pistons lost the NBA Eastern Conference Finals to the Boston Celtics in six games. Rasheed Wallace and, in the first half, Tayshaun Prince, cost the Pistons that deciding game last Friday at the Palace. Coach Flip Saunders can shoulder some blame too. He should have played Jason Maxiel more in place of Wallace when everyone in the building knew that ‘Sheed was struggling big-time out there on the court. The Pistons again proved that you just cannot show up – even on your home floor – and be entitled to a victory. Three years ago it was Miami, last year it was Cleveland and now the Celtics proved they wanted it more than the Pistons did.
Scott Morganroth: I’m not surprised that the Pistons lost to Boston because the Celtics proved they were the better team and were hungrier. What bothered my about this series was not seeing the Pistons going as deep into their bench as they did during the regular season. Arron Afflalo and Amir Johnson should have played much, much more than they did. The only bright spot in this series was the emergence of Rodney Stuckey.
Eichorn: I think Saunders must go. The man simply cannot take a team into the NBA Finals as was shown the past three seasons here with losses to the Heat, Cavaliers and Celtics. Also, it appears that many of his players may be dancing to their own music on and off the court. Let’s put it this way, Saunders is a solid coach but the team needs someone who is willing to kick some booty when needed, to keep some discipline on the bench and in the locker room. I’m convinced that Flip is not that coach.
Morganroth: The easiest thing to do is to fire Flip and even though Michael Curry is the coach in waiting, is he really the answer right now? When the Pistons fired Rick Carlisle, they had their succession plan in line in Larry Brown that subsequently paid off with a title. Even if Saunders were to get fired, there are enough teams that would be waiting in line to hire him. He does well in the regular season and with the NBA being an offensive oriented league, his teams would score points and put posteriors in the stands.
The Pistons had a good year winning 59 games in making it to the conference finals. Do you think that Pistons fans that watched them play in Cobo Arena and the early years of the Pontiac Silverdome would ever complain about reaching the conference finals year in and year out. I understand that the championship standards are higher these days but the fans are getting their money’s worth compared to the bad old days.
Eichorn: I think Rasheed has to move on but it is going to be difficult for team president Joe Dumars to move his large salary for 2008-2009. ‘Sheed is talented yet inconsistent as was proven in the Boston series. It’s time to make room for youngsters like Maxiel, Afflalo and Jonson, or obtain a veteran center such as Jermaine O’Neal or Kurt Thomas who can step in and help Detroit win the East. Rasheed was at his best when his old buddy Larry Brown from North Carolina was here to act as a father figure.
Morganroth: Trying to figure out Rasheed’s future would be like tackling the Rubik’s Cube. The Pistons couldn’t have won a title without him. Should he leave as a free agent after this season, you know Brown and Michael Jordan would love to have him in the Tar Heel State playing for the Charlotte Bobcats. Brown loved Wallace and since Jordan’s teams in Washington and Charlotte have never made the playoffs, Michael might actually show that he as executive qualities. He’s been a failure so far. I know Joe Dumars will be smart enough to figure this out.
Eichorn: Well, well, well…ABC and ESPN got what they wanted in the Boston match up against the Los Angeles Lakers. The league and networks could not have scripted this any better. Kevin Garnett of Boston told me following his Game 6 win over Detroit that he can still remember watching the Boston-LA games on Sunday afternoons as a teen at home, listening to Dick Stockton and Hubie Brown. He’s right. This is a Finals series made for the ages. The ratings should skyrocket with Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant in the best-of-seven series. I predict a Lakers’ series win in six games.
Morganroth: The Boston-LA series is to the NBA as the Red Wings-Pittsburgh Penguins is to the NHL. ABC and NBC each got their dream matchups therefore ratings should be strong. I’m glad that Allen, Garnett and Pierce will get their chance to win a title. The late Al McGuire would be proud that his student — Doc Rivers – finally has a chance to win a championship on his own. The two won one together with the Marquette Warriors in 1977. I’d like to see the Celtics pull this one out.
How often can a league say that every team in one conference such as the Western would win 50 games to get in the playoffs? The Lakers truly earned their way to the finals. But this season proved that you could see big names like Jason Kidd and Shaquille O’ Neill change hands but that doesn’t guarantee a trip to the finals. San Antonio still battled hard but I was happy to see the New Orleans Hornets make a great playoff run. I was in New Orleans this past December and drove through the areas hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and was sick to my stomach. In the East, Orlando and Philadelphia are making progress but I’m real surprised at how hard the Miami Heat has fallen two years after winning a title. Seeing their stadium less than half full when the Pistons were here was very sad.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com and Scott Morganroth at scottbullm@aol.com.
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