Sports hits

Category: Chronicle Archives Published on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 20:00 Written by Michigan Chronicle

THE DETROIT SHOCK will take on Indiana in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.  Game 1 is on Thursday, Aug. 17, at Indiana, with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19, at The Palace. The Shock is led by Katie Smith (left), Cheryl Ford, Deanna Nolan, Ruth Riley and Swin Cash.  -Lakiesha Harvey photo

Tickets to the Shock’s first 2006 WNBA Playoff Game are on sale at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Fans who purchase tickets to Detroit’s first home playoff game will also receive an equivalent number of tickets to a Pistons 2006-07 preseason game at The Palace. Tickets may also be purchased on-line at www.detroitshock.com, or by phone at (248) 377-0100.

The Shock finished in second place behind the Connecticut Sun in the Eastern Conference . Eight of the league’s 14 teams – the top four seeds in each conference – advance to the WNBA playoffs. For more information, please visit WNBA.com.

Ford breaks WNBA’s

season rebound record

 Detroit Shock forward Cheryl Ford became the WNBA’s all-time single-season rebounder in Sunday’s 88-65 victory over the Connecticut Sun, grabbing 363 boards in 32 games on the year. Ford entered the game with 351 rebounds on the season and broke the record at the 6:14 mark in the third quarter when she grabbed her seventh rebound of the game off of her own missed shot. She finished the game with 12 rebounds (seven offensive and five defensive). Sacramento’s Yolanda Griffith held the previous mark of 357 set in 2001.

On the year, Ford averaged a career-high 13.8 points and league-leading 11.3 rebounds.

Pro boxing makes its debut at Meadowbrook Music Festival as Donofrio Boxing presents the return of former Detroiter and former WBA world super-bantamweight champion Clarence “Bones” Adams on Aug. 25. Also scheduled to appear are the Bey brothers, Mickey and Cortez, of Cleveland and Olympic boxing team fame; Detroit lightweight Damian Fuller, and welterweight Lanardo “Pain-Server” Tyner. Tickets are on sale at Meadowbrook, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 1-800-312-0300.

Ilitch Charities for Children announces ‘Champions’ Challenge’ celebrity softball game

           
Ilitch Charities for Children, along with title sponsor Little Caesars, will present a “Champions’ Challenge” celebrity softball game at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Comerica Park. Members of the current Detroit Red Wings team will take on Detroit Tigers Alumni, local media and other local celebrities. An exciting fireworks show will follow the game.

           
Players currently scheduled to appear include Red Wings fan favorites Chris Chelios, Kris Draper, and Kirk Maltby. Tiger greats slated to participate include Gates Brown, Willie Horton, Mickey Lolich, Bill Freehan, Frank Tanana and Dan Petry. The first half of the evening doubleheader will feature Detroit area media personalities in a 5:45 p.m. contest. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Proceeds from the 2006 “Champions’ Challenge” will help support youth sports and recreation activities throughout Detroit. Half of the event’s proceeds will benefit Think Detroit PAL, a local non-profit dedicated to building character in young people. The proceeds from this event will allow Think Detroit PAL to establish a youth hockey program in Detroit and partner with the Youth Sports and Recreation Commission (YSRC) to re-establish the Hometown World Series.

The “Champions’ Challenge” event also will benefit the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, Detroit Tigers Foundation and Ilitch Charities for Children (ICC), a non-profit foundation created to improve the well-being of children in the areas of health, recreation and education. All three organizations support a multitude of charitable organizations in the metropolitan Detroit area.

Tickets for “Champions’ Challenge” are on sale now.  All seats are general admission for only $10 and can be purchased at the Joe Louis Arena, Fox Theatre and Comerica Park box offices, all Ticketmaster locations including Hockeytown Authentics in Troy, and Hockeytown Cafe on Woodward in Detroit, or by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com. 

 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Tigers pitcher Mike Maroth partners with National MS Society to strike out MS

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter (NMSS) presents the Strike Out MS Bowling Spectacular Hosted by Mike and Brooke Maroth to be held on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 6-9 p.m. at Thunderbird Lanes in Troy, Mich.

Other Tigers players will join Maroth, whose father was recently diagnosed with MS, along with local sports figures and media personalities for what promises to be a fun-filled evening of spirited competition. The goal of this event is to increase awareness on behalf of the more than 16,000 people in Michigan living with MS as well as to raise $75,000 for the Michigan Chapter of the National MS Society.

Street Beat Host and Community Affairs Director for CBS/UPN Detroit, Edward Foxworth III, will serve as Master of Ceremonies of the Strike Out event, which is sponsored, in part, by Rock Financial and Buff Whelan Chevrolet.

For more information call Kim Howard at 1-800-243-5767, ext. 219 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Those interested in registering a bowling team or purchasing spectator tickets should call 1-800-243-5767, ext. 233 or visit www.nationalmssociety.org/mig.

The mission of the National MS Society – Michigan Chapter is to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis.  One of the largest MS chapters in the country, NMSS – Michigan Chapter delivers life-enhancing programs and services to the more than 16,000 people in Michigan living with MS and their families, while supporting important research into the cause and cure of MS.

Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional and contact the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-FIGHT-MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.

 <o:p></o:p>

Tigers offering summer tours of Comerica Park

The Detroit Tigers will continue to offer public tours of Comerica Park this summer through Oct. 6. The tours, which began June 6, are available on Tuesdays and Fridays on non-game days at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

Tigers fans will have the unique opportunity to tour the entire facility and will gain special access to the ballpark’s service level and suite level areas. During the 60-minute tour, fans will view the Tigers historical decade bats along the lower concourse, the Tigers statues in left center field and the Ernie Harwell statue at the ballpark’s main entrance.

In addition, each tour will take a sneak-peak at the inside of a ballpark suite. Finally, fans will tour the Comerica Park press box (The Ernie Harwell Media Center) and see the inside of both the visitor clubhouse and visitor dugout. Throughout the tour, fans will learn the history of Comerica Park and the surrounding neighborhood.

Tours will begin and end in the street level lobby of the Tiger Club, located on Witherell Street between the Comerica Park box office and the main Tigers retail store.

Ballpark tour tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for ages 5-17 (kids under 5 are free). Group tour prices may vary. Tickets are available for purchase – on tour dates – at the Comerica Park box office located on Witherell Street. 

For more information about tours or to book a group tour, call the Comerica Park tour hotline at (313) 471-2074.

 <o:p></o:p>

NCAA approves International Bowl in Toronto

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently announced approval for the International Bowl, a new college football game, to be played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The game will be played on January 6, 2007 and will match a team from the Big East Conference against an opponent from the Mid-American Conference.

Ken Hoffman, executive director for the game, said, “This will be the only college bowl game played outside of the U.S.” The game will match a second or third selection from the MAC against a fourth or fifth selection from the Big East Conference. The game will be played on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007 with a noon kickoff time.

Hoffman is also the Executive Director for the highly-successful Motor City Bowl that will hold its tenth annual game in Detroit on Dec. 26. The Motor City Bowl will provide leadership and experience in bowl management for the new game in Toronto.

Cam Hawkins, a Toronto-based hospitality industry consultant and member of the organizing committee, said, “The local and regional markets do not have easy access to attend an NCAA post season event. If the NCAA succeeds with a College Football Bowl Game in Toronto, it opens the door to other events such as basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball, etcetera.”

According to officials from the participating conferences, Toronto is considered an ideal location for the game. Bowl officials are predicting up to 20,000 fans will travel from the participating schools for the game and a weekend in Toronto.

ESPN television has partnered with the organizers in a multi-year year agreement to broadcast the game in the U.S. and Canada, as well as provide assistance with marketing and sponsorship sales. Ticket sales plans for the International Bowl will be announced soon.

 <o:p></o:p>

Motor City Bowl extends agreement with Big Ten Conference

The Motor City Bowl announced a four-year extension with the Big Ten Conference today to send a bowl-eligible team to face a Mid-American Conference (MAC) team at Ford Field in Detroit.  The new agreement will send a seventh bowl-eligible Big Ten team to Detroit, beginning with the 10th Anniversary Motor City Bowl football game in 2006.

The tenth annual Motor City Bowl, traditionally sponsored by Detroit’s Big Three automakers (Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler), will be played on Tuesday Dec. 26, 2006 at 7:30pm at Ford Field.  The game will once again be televised nationally on ESPN.  The Motor City Bowl, begun in 1997, was played at the Pontiac Silverdome for its first five years, before moving to downtown Detroit’s Ford Field in 2002.

The Big Ten has been an affiliate partner with the Motor City Bowl since 2002. The bowl has matched a team from the Big Ten Conference against a Mid-American Conference (MAC) team once, in 2003 when Bowling Green defeated Northwestern 28-24. The MAC, which has appeared in every Motor City Bowl game, has a 5 – 4 record. The Big Ten is currently  0 – 1.

The Motor City Bowl has showcased stellar performances from current and future NFL stars Randy Moss, Deuce McAllister, Byron Leftwich, Ken Lucas, Chad Pennington, Doug Jolley, Luis Castillo, Chester Taylor, Dan Orlovsky, Dan Koppen and others. Last year’s MVP was first-round NFL draft choice DeAngelo Williams of Memphis.

  <o:p></o:p>

 <o:p></o:p>

Foxtown Tigers Train shuttles fans to Detroit

for a night of baseball, food, fireworks and fun

This unique partnership provides the people of our region a great opportunity to watch an exciting baseball team and experience the transformation of our downtown.  Southeast Michigan’s desire for easily accessible mass transit was evident during the Super Bowl.  This partnership serves as further proof that developing a regional transportation system is essential to the growth of Detroit and the region.

Kwame M. Kilpatrick, Mayor

City of Detroit

 <o:p></o:p>

 <o:p></o:p>

All Aboard! Foxtown Tigers Train Shuttles Fans to Detroit for a Night of Baseball, Food, Fireworks and Fun

Events Showcase Area’s Existing Rail Options

Inaugural Trip Departs August 5

DETROIT – Olympia Development, the Detroit Tigers, Amtrak and the Detroit Department of

Transportation (DDOT) are teaming up to bring fans to Detroit aboard an existing metropolitan railway

beginning in August. The Foxtown Tigers Train will board passengers at three suburban locations,

beginning in Oakland County, and travel along existing rail lines that link these cities to Detroit.

Passengers will then transfer to a special DDOT Tigers Trolley and conclude their trip at Comerica Park

to see the Detroit Tigers take on various Major League Baseball contenders in Saturday night primetime

match ups.

“The Foxtown Tigers Train is a safe, fun and nostalgic way for families to visit downtown Detroit while taking in a game with the hottest team in Major League Baseball,” said Atanas Ilitch, president, Olympia  Development. “Through these events, we hope to bring community awareness of these existing rail lines, which run daily, and demonstrate that metro-Detroiters really do have transportation options into the

city.”

The inaugural Foxtown Tigers Train will commence on August 5, when the Tigers take on the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Additional Foxtown Tigers Train departures will take place for Tigers home games on August 19, September 16 and September 30th.

Reminiscent of the early 1900s, when riding Detroit streetcars to sporting events was customary, the Foxtown Tigers Train experience will include period music throughout the trip, as well as air-conditioned transportation, game tickets, appearances by former Tigers players, and special giveaways. At Comerica Park, Foxtown Tigers Train passengers will be treated to a food voucher for refreshments, an exciting

Tigers game, and the park’s spectacular weekend fireworks show.