By Scott Morganroth
When my colleague George Eichorn sent me a photo that the remaining portion of Tiger Stadium was now being demolished, there were chills down my spine. That’s the last thing I need at the moment with back surgery scheduled for June 24Th and a hospital stay which figures to last as much as five days let alone a recovery process that could be up to 12 months. On January 1st, I took a few pictures of the last part of Tiger Stadium. It was a snowy, cloudy day with the temperature around 10 degrees. Three days prior, I had lunch with Ernie Harwell on my 46th birthday and asked him what the odds were of saving Tiger Stadium? Like all of us, he was hoping it would get preserved but didn’t appear optimistic. Although I currently live in Florida, when I heard that Harwell wasn’t getting enough cooperation & support from the city of Detroit and decided to no longer work on the committee to save the landmark, this was worse than the Lions 0-16 season. Bad seasons get fixed and franchises get turned around. But when landmarks get demolished as Harwell’s famous home run line, Tiger Stadium is "long gone." This man was loved by Tigers fans for his memorable calls. But when the same people who listened to his broadcasts in the city disrespected him in his efforts to save Tiger Stadium despite the fact that he was willing to donate some memorabilia and use a "Field of Dreams" concept, this was hard to swallow. The city’s Economic Development Corp. board voted 7-1 to finish the demolition. The non-profit group was unable to come up with $33.4 million for the redevelopment project therefore the of Detroit is paying $400,000 to handle the project. What bothers me about this is everybody is in a hurry to demolish the building but they have no plans what to do with the land for the economic development. Now when Metro Detroiters drive on I-75 by Michigan & Trumbull, there will be memories on a vacant piece of property. I have no problem tearing a building down as long as there is something that’s going to be built on the land! The remaining portion of Tiger Stadium could have been used for youth or Wayne State University baseball. The Tarters at Tiger Stadium would have a nice ring to it. While I’m unaware of the maintenance costs to run the facility, if all parties could have cooperated & worked together, something could have been worked out. What was left of Tiger Stadium would have made an ideal minor league baseball venue. When the city of Miami tore down the Orange Bowl which was the site of past Super Bowls, Orange Bowls, College Football National Championships, the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Dolphins, they’re using this historic site to build the Florida Marlins a long overdue new ballpark. If the Marlins keep former Tigers Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, this is where they’ll have a chance to have productive careers. Now the question remains, what will make the most sense for the Tiger Stadium site? If new Mayor Dave Bing wants to score points with voters as he did with the Detroit Pistons, he’ll address the Detroit Red Wings needs and build another Olympia Stadium. Despite the Red Wings heartbreaking attempt at winning a fifth championship in 13-years to the Pittsburgh Penguins, as much as Joe Louis Arena is a decent facility, it’s 30 years old and is one of the oldest stadiums in the NHL, thus it’s become outdated. It needs more suites and first class press facilities. We all know that accessibility will never be a problem at the Tiger Stadium site. The only way to increase economic development is by building newer restaurants, sports bars and memorabilia stores. Detroit needs to get this decision right! The national perception around the country is negative. With the auto industry in shambles, the casinos struggling due to lack of disposable income, the sports traditions keep the city in the news especially when the teams are winning. On Fathers Day, the Tigers drew over 40,000 at Comerica Park in their three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. Here is some advice to you Bing. Follow the city of Miami’s plan! It’s a good one because the only way to connect the past, present and future generations is by preserving historic sites and creating new traditions. It would be great to see the next Steve Yzerman playing at the Corner of Michigan & Trumbull. Scott Morganroth can be contacted at scottsports33@aol.com
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As told to Raymond Rolak at the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame Induction, June 18, 2009
At the weekly Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association meeting to highlight the 37TH NPASHF induction class, I was privileged to witness the close bond that has developed between Bobby Czyz and author Greg Smith. Czyz chose Smith to be his presenter at the NPASHF induction ceremony.
After Detroit Red Wing radio broadcaster Ken Kal finished the introductions of NPASHF inductee Andy Banachowski and Mary Ellen Verdeur, (the widow of Joe Verdeur), Czyz took over. “I like to talk but I work hard to back it up, I am proud of my Polish heritage. That is why I am here.” said Czyz.
Smith a resident of Cincinnati has chronicled the boxing and living history of Czyz. He has become an award winning journalist for his boxing series. They have a fascinating association. Czyz, is constantly front and center and Smith is in the background creating a narrative.
Czyz, a native of Orange, New Jersey had an impressive 24-2, amateur record. In 1979, he was named to the U.S. National Team. He was scheduled to box in Poland for some Olympic exhibitions. Then he was involved in a serious auto crash. He couldn’t box while he healed. “I couldn’t train because my nose had to set for two months.” said Czyz.
An alternate went in his place. In March of 1980 LOT Airlines # 007, crashed on approach to Warsaw. Everyone with the U.S. National Team was killed. Czyz, home in New Jersey got a new appreciation for life and excelling.
1980 was also the year President Jimmy Carter chose to boycott the Moscow Olympics. Czyz also turned down the Olympics and fought his first pro fight on April 24, 1980.
1980 was also the year NBC created the concept of “Tomorrow’s Champions.” Several talented former amateur stars had just turned pro, and were showcased on broadcast television. Among the stars being touted were Tony Ayala Jr., Johnny Bumphus, Davey Moore, Alex Ramos, and Tony Tucker.
Ironically, the most well known member of “Tomorrow’s Champions” wasn’t initially chosen to be part of that elite group. Bobby Czyz, the articulate and multi-talented middleweight prospect was shunned and excluded by NBC.
Bobby didn’t become part of the NBC marketing plan until 1981 after he tallied an impressive string of wins that attracted the boxing media.
After NBC realized their error, Bobby’s natural marketability took hold. After defeating tough veteran Teddy Mann, in his eleventh pro fight, Czyz became a central figure of “Tomorrow’s Champions” on NBC. Additionally, he played a tremendous role in developing the boxing presentations on ESPN.
In November 1982, his record was 20-0 (15 KOs). He was ranked in the top ten, and it seemed inevitable that he would land a title shot once he acquired professional maturity.
In a gutsy and controversial management move, Bobby was matched with the tough, number three contender, Mustafa Hamsho. Hamsho was known for his strength and merciless resilience.
After losing to Hamsho, Czyz was criticized by the press. He was labeled as an artificial media creation. However, unbeknown to his corner he had broken his hand in the second round.
Bobby’s injury required surgery. A bone graft was taken from his hip, and his hand was in a cast for almost three months. The forced inactivity proved to be the least of his problems.
In June 1983, Bobby’s father, Robert Czyz, Sr., committed suicide. Bobby’s relationship with his father was complicated and ambivalent. The incident had a massive impact on the next chapter in his career.
Nevertheless, Bobby resumed boxing at 162 pounds. Czyz put together an impressive eight bout winning streak. He split with his manager Lou Duvas and the ‘Bobby Czyz’ marketing machine took over.
During this period, Bobby fought some of the best bouts of his career, including a fantastic fourth round technical knockout of Tim Broady.
Despite Bobby’s success, he was left out of the championship loop at 168 pounds. Michigan based Murray Sutherland became the first super middleweight champion in March of 1984.
Ironically, weighing just over the super middleweight limit, Bobby dominated Sutherland in a ten round unanimous decision in July, 1985.
Over a year after defeating Sutherland, Bobby moved to the light heavyweight division and was granted a title shot against IBF light heavyweight champion Slobodan Kacar. Kacar was an Olympic Gold Medalist in the 1980 Moscow Games, and won the IBF title in December, 1985 with a 15 round decision over former WBA champion Eddie Mustafa.
Czyz destroyed and stopped Kacar to win the title on September 6, 1986. Czyz was now an official champion.
He successfully defended his portion of the light heavyweight title three times.
Unfortunately, another bad brake was waiting for the young boxer.
Bobby had hoped to unify the division by facing Thomas Hearns in a super lightweight bout. Hearns had won the WBC light heavyweight title on a tenth round TKO over Dennis Andries on March 7, 1987. In another example of hard luck in landing the elusive mega-fight and pay day, Hearns went back to the middleweight division.
Bobby Czyz was starting over.
In March 1990, Bobby fought as a cruiserweight for the first time, and won a 10 round decision over Uriah Grant. The bout is significant because Grant was a journeyman, but he was a dangerous knockout artist. Of Grant’s 17 wins at the time, 16 were by knockout. Grant hurt Czyz during the fight, but Bobby’s iron will passed the test against a big puncher, and he won a clear decision.
Shortly after the comeback win, he was offered a light heavyweight bout with 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Andrew Maynard. Maynard was 12-0 at the time, and was managed by Sugar Ray Leonard. In an ironic turnabout, Bobby Czyz, once the darling of the media in the early 1980s, was considered a mere steppingstone for Leonard’s prospect. Czyz was a hardened pro with 40 professional fights under his belt, but was considered past his prime.
To add more difficulty, Czyz suffered a pinched nerve in his neck a few weeks before the fight. Nevertheless, Bobby still agreed to take the fight, but under the condition that it would have to be held over the 175 pound limit because he didn’t have enough time to recover and make the weight.
Weighing 177 to Maynard’s 176, Czyz gradually took charge of the bout in the early rounds, and staggered Maynard several times. In the seventh round, Czyz wanted to close the show. After a combination, Czyz landed a big right to Maynard’s chin, and the Olympian collapsed to the canvas. Maynard took a knee and seemed relatively clear headed, but his will to battle had been crushed. He took a ten count and Czyz jumped in triumph. “That had to be one of my best boxing moments.” said the articulate Czyz.
Still dancing in the ring after defeating Maynard, Czyz motioned to Sugar Ray Leonard who was sitting ringside and briefly discussed a match between the two. In 1988, Leonard stopped Donny LaLonde for the WBC light heavyweight championship and vacant WBC super middleweight title.
In 1989, Leonard fought to a controversial draw with Thomas Hearns in their rematch for the WBO and WBC super middleweight title. Czyz hoped for a fight with either of them.
Leonard ignored the overtures, as did Hearns.
In the months following his win over Maynard, Czyz was unable to secure a title shot in the light heavyweight division. Additionally, Thomas Hearns had defeated Michael Olajide at 168 pounds less than two months before Bobby’s win over Maynard. Most believed that Hearns vs Czyz was a natural match-up, but it never materialized.
Czyz was again on the sidelines after his biggest win in years, and was forced to move to the cruiserweight division to get a title shot.
In a twist, it was Hearns who landed a title shot in 1991 against WBA light heavyweight champ Virgil Hill. Hearns was not favored but he won a twelve round unanimous decision to win a portion of the light heavyweight crown for the second time.
Czyz won his second world title in a separate weight class with a beautiful boxing display against the bigger and stronger Robert Daniels on March 8, 1991 for the WBA cruiserweight title. Bobby successfully defended his title twice. He decisioned Bash Ali over twelve rounds five months later. In May of 1992, Czyz floored and dominated Donny LaLonde in another twelve round decision. A unification title fight appeared to be a likely possibility.
Near this time frame, Czyz started his broadcasting career doing ringside commentary for Showtime. Then fate gave him another curveball.
Czyz was hit by a car, and sustained injuries that kept him out of action until 1994. He was forced to relinquish his title, and had to start all over again.
In February 1994, Bobby won a ten round decision over George O’Mara in a non-title bout. Six months later, Bobby challenged big punching Nigerian, David Izeqwire for the IBO cruiserweight championship. Izeqwire was less experienced than Czyz with a record of 15-0, but the Nigerian had knocked out 13 of his opponents. Izeqwire took control, and knocked Bobby down in the fourth round. Bobby was unable to answer the bell for the fifth round. Czyz announced his retirement after the fight.
Once again, the retirement didn’t last long.
Czyz continued color commentary for Showtime, but re-started his boxing career again.
He won his third title in as many weight classes on December 5, 1995 besting Robert Jackson.
In a controversial decision, Czyz moved up to heavyweight and lost to Evander Holyfield and on June 12, 1998 he had his last fight against Corrie Sanders. Said Czyz, “Right then I knew it was over. He hit me so hard and so often, I knew it was time to be done.”
“Tell Emanuel (Steward) and all the guys at Kronk, hello for me. Manny is still one of the best boxing coaches in the world. Yes, I said world.” continued Czyz.
Most boxing experts agree that Thomas Hearns actually avoided Czyz at 175 pounds because of Czyz’s ability to take a punch and score knockouts.
The square prize fighter from New Jersey ended his career 44-8, with 28 KO’s.
Bobby Czyz is unique. He is not a politician and he tells it like he sees it. He always backed up his talk in the ring.
Smith and Czyz are fortunate to have such a special relationship. They are both ambassadors for Boxing. Czyz is the ‘Champion’, front and center. Smith is the ‘Champion’ behind the scenes. They are both still persevering and punching away in their own styles.
(Raymond Rolak is a past president of the DSBA.)
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Editor’s Note:
The Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association has proudly helped the Warren Cousino studnet-run WPHS Radio station with a Grant Fund donation in the past.
FROM WPHS-
Tell the Warren Consolidated School board why WPHS should stay on the air. This should be done in a respectful and honest way. How has WPHS personally affected you in a positive way? There is a regularly scheduled board meeting set for Wednesday, June 17th at 7:30 PM. During the Audience Participation portion of the WCS Board Meeting, board policy guarantees 3 minutes for each concerned member of the public. We know our fans. This could be an awfully long meeting.
Keep in mind that nothing is set in stone, and do check this web page for any updates.
HELP SAVE 45 YEARS OF EDUCATIONAL RADIO
For those of you old enough to remember the classic Roberta Flack song "Killing Me Softly"… or those of you young enough to consider The Fugees version the true classic, we’re starting to get the feeling that somebody up there is trying to do us in.
The word came down last week that the coming 2009-2010 school year will feature a combined Advanced Radio and Television Class, rather than the current structure of two separate classes. Somehow, these classes will be simultaneously run by one teacher. To accommodate the doubling of students (yes, they’re planning to physically combine the class numbers into the 30’s), the parapro will be reassigned to regular school hours. Now, without boring you with the politics of Career Technical Educational funding, one still arrives at an inevitable and startling truth; with the parapro (read Night Manager) working during the day, the after school program will effectively be eliminated.
Whether you’re a longtime listener or one of our many alumni, you surely understand what is at stake. The current WPHS staff- composed primarily of incoming Seniors from around Warren Consolidated Schools- is adamantly opposed to the restructuring of your radio station. From the educational perspective, we are shocked by the idea of loosing the hands-on experience that the after school program affords. The implications for our community are even more disturbing. In a day where most radio stations are faceless, corporate entities, WPHS is a community based radio station, covering the community that we live in. Music programming aside, we are the only live media outlet to cover sporting events throughout the district, DJ school dances at Carleton Middle School, broadcast from Warren’s skating rink, and make important, local announcements that are relevant to our community. And guess what? It all happens after school!
The Administration would have us “tape-delay” our music programming, skip the sports and the news, shut the doors, and boot the kids promptly when the last bell rings. Never mind the fact that they have never invested in the technologies required to run an automated facility, but even programming such a system takes far more time than the proposed schedule would allow.
The students that have composed the diverse collective voice of WPHS over the years have always understood the unique opportunity that WCS has previously championed. Not every student can find him/herself in sports, band, or core academic classes. But the reality is that teenagers need to do something when the school day ends. Radio is a craft, as much art as it is science. WPHS, 89.1 FM has always been a place where young, creative individuals could practice their craft with passion.
Silencing the only student run radio station in Macomb County is not an option.
What can you do?
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By George Eichorn of the Detroit Monitor
The Detroit Red Wings were a bunch of beat up guys and their fans a bunch of sore losers. That’s the way I sum up the historic Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Friday, June 12, in front of a sold out Joe Louis Arena throng.
The Pittsburgh Penguins simply out-played the Wings in winning their third Stanley Cup, 2-1, and taking the best-of-seven series, 4-3. The Wings were denied a fifth championship ring in 12 seasons and also back-to-back Cup titles. The Pens were led by goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury who could have won the Conn Symthe (Most Valuable Player) Award had it not been for the work of center Evgeni Malkin throughout the long playoff run.
It took the work of a third-string player, veteran center Maxime Talbot, to secure the Pens’ spot in history as he scored both goals on turnovers by the Wings and defenseman Brad Stuart in particular. Talbot, a French-speaking buddy of Fleury, was the game’s hero on a night that the big guns on both sides were silent. No goals from the Pens’ Malkin, Sydney Crosby or the Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and – once again – Marian Hossa who was the invisible player most of the Finals.
“Man, I was and am still disappointed,” said fan Frank Tringali of Atlanta. “I wanted to see a win (but) it just was not meant. Those two goals - especially the first one - were bad goals from a team standpoint…giveaways in your own end (and) Ozzie really had no chance on both of them.”
In the waning minutes the Wings saw Niklas Kronwall beat Fleury only to hit the cross bar on a blistering shot and Nicklas Lidstrom get stoned by Fleury. It was all she wrote.
Again, Hossa was missing in action on the scoreboard. He was and is a symbol of what this seven-game classic series boiled down to: who really wanted it more. The team he spurned, Pittsburgh, wanted revenge so badly that they used Hossa’s leaving their team as extra motivation to defeat Detroit. And it worked.
I also think the feeling/tone was the Wings had all these historical facts about home teams winning in Game 7s that it was just going to be a foregone conclusion that they would win.
“To me Game 6 was the series,” said Tringali, a former Detroiter, “and fate was not kind to the winged wheel; they had it for the taking and just didn’t do it.”
I suspect there will be changes on the Wings roster for the fall. Players with decisions include Hossa, Chris Chelios, Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler, Ty Conklin, and perhaps Kirk Maltby, Derek Meech and a few others. Do the Wings resign Hossa? I am not so sure after what I saw in the playoffs. Do they get another stout defenseman? Time will tell as the long season will make the summer a short one for General Manager Ken Holland and his staff.
As for the fans, they were more than rude in booing the Pens along with Commissioner Gary Betteman; they were disgusting. There were many fans in attendance from Pittsburgh who probably got under the skin of ardent Wings fans yet that is no excuse to act so rude in the post-game ceremonies.
Buy George Eichorn’s book, “Detroit Sports Broadcasters on the Air” for $21.95 at www.amazon.com, or send a check for $25 (includes postage and handling) to him at 28822 Los Olas Drive, Warren, MI 48093. Allow two weeks for shipment and please indicate whom the book should be autographed for. Reach him at geichorn@yahoo.com.
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Around the League with Rich Kincaide Jun 9
Live-Blogging Game 6…
All I know is that if the Chris Osgood doesn’t give up any goals tonight like he did Saturday (or didn’t, depending on how you look at it), Detroit wins the Stanley Cup tonight. It’s not like he’s never done it before. Osgood shut out the Penguins back-to-back in Games 1-2 of last year’s Final.
I expected Pittsburgh to dominate early—they outshot Detroit 3-0 to open Game 5, remember?—but I did not expect them to dominate the entire first period, which they did. The Pens were outshooting the Wings 11-2 late in the period (shots finished 12-3 in the first), but at the horn or buzzer or gunshot or whatever they fire off in Pittsburgh to denote the end of a period, the score was 0-0. Like I said, if Osgood doesn’t give up any goals, Pittsburgh doesn’t win.
I spent a lot of the period looking for other back-to-back shutouts in the Final by Detroit goalies:
Terry Sawchuk did in in ‘52, the year he held Canadien to 2 measly goals. In the series. A Detroit sweep in four, pretty much needless to say.
Harry Lumley did it in ‘45—but Detroit lost the series in 7 largely because Toronto’s Frank McCool had shut the Wings out in each of the first three games to give the Leafs an insurmountable series lead. Detroit won game 4 before Lumley took over with his back-to-back shutouts in Games 5 and 6, the second of which went to overtime tied 0-0, meaning that for the 4th time in the series, McCool had held Detroit scoreless through 60 minutes. Lumley wound up with a goals-against in the Final of 1.24, and he was the losing goalie. McCool, the winning goalie, also had a goals-against of 1.24 in the Final. I think this had to be, like, the best Final, ever.
Johnny Mowers did it in ‘43, blanking Boston back-to-back at the Boston Garden to complete Detroit’s four-game sweep of the Bruins. Mowers allowed 5 goals in the series for a goals-against of 1.25. Not as good as Lumley, but good enough to win Detroit’s 3rd-ever Stanley Cup.
Rats. So much for my Osgood shutout theory. :51 into the second period, Jordan Staal scored on Pittsburgh’s 14th shot of the night. 1-0, Penguins. The Wings got caught on an odd-man rush when #51 Valtteri Filppula failed to hold the puck at the Penguins line and #52 Jonathan Ericsson went down to block and pass that never came and was out of the play when Staal banged in his own rebound. Osgood got a piece of it with his glove.
Maybe it’s the last change thing or having to stay on the ice after in icing whistle, but Pittsburgh looks faster at home. And they go stronger to the net.
Henrik Zetterberg goes strong to the net and hits the post with 2:00 left in the period. I wonder if its time to check the record of home teams in Game 7 of the Final.
Periods over. Shots are 24-12 Pittsburgh (12-9 Pens in the 2nd) and its still 1-0, Pittsburgh. A great game. What hitting and what goaltending!
In the Dept. of “If It Comes To That”, according to the Official Game Notes, Detroit is 3-3 all-time in Game 7’s in the Final. I’m pretty sure no team has lost a Game 7 at home since Montreal came back from 2-0 down to beat the Blackhawks at the Chicago Stadium in ‘71, but I’m going to have to check that one out.
2-0, now. Pens scored 5-and-a-half into the third on a sort-of wraparound by Tyler Kennedy. Nicklas Lidstrom had his stick held in the right corner and couldn’t get it out as a result and nobody picked up Kennedy who came out from behind the net to the side of the net to beat Osgood high. Ozzie usually gets that one, I think. Now that we see the replay, Osgood did get it. The first one, that is. Kennedy scored on his own rebound. Somebody should have knocked him on his you-know-what first. Darren Helm was closest but didn’t lay a glove on him. This is real trouble now.
2-1, now. Detroit is finally on the board as Kris Draper fires a rebound high into the net for his fist goal of the playoffs and what a time for him to get it. I know I said Draper should have been sat prior to Game 5, but I will say now that I was wrong. That was a veteran’s goal. He waited and picked his spot and he buried it.
9:18 into the 3rd and the Red Wings get their first power play of the game. Talk about, “Its about time.” Detroit was 3/9 in Game 5 after going 1/10 in the first 4 games. This game has been played almost entirely 5-5. The Pens have had only 2 power play opportunities.
Ohhhh. The puck was loose in the crease with 3 Wings nearby but none could reach it and poke it home. One minute left in the power play…
The Penguins kill it but Bill Guerin gets loose with his stick and smacks Draper in the face with it, so back on the power play goes Detroit. About 7 minutes to go. Still 2-1, Penguins.
No luck on the pp, and Osgood makes an unreal stop on Kris Letang to keep Detroit in the game.
They show somebody polishing the Stanley Cup, but with 3:30 to go you have to wonder if its not going to be going back into its crate tonight.
Dan Cleary breakaway with 100 seconds to go! He’s in cold and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped him; glove save as Cleary went with the backhand deke and Fleury never gave him a chance.
13.2 seconds to go and the Wings come so close. Johan Franzen has an open net but Rob Scuderi, Pittsburgh defenseman, makes a kick save and a beauty in the crease with his goalie out of position and guess what? We are coming home to Detroit for Game 7. Put that Cup back in the box and we’ll see you Friday night. Wow. Another great game. Need I mention that the home team has won every game in this Stanley Cup Final? I suppose you already know that.
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