February 2012 – Paparazzi - Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association

Big Moves for the Tigers
Hockey at the Big House
Detroit Tigers welcome Prince Fielder to the team in a press conference at
Comerica Park. Photos courtesy of Mike Alberts, Dan Graschuck and Bill Eisner.
NEW YORK (February 9, 2012) – The Detroit Red
Wings will host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan
Stadium on the University of Michigan campus in the
Scott Boros, Dave Dombrowski, Prin
ce Fielder, Mike Ilitch & Jim Leyland.
Prince Fielder's wife and son listen
Prin
to the press conference.
Dave Dombrowski Speaks at Tigers Day at DSBA on Feb. 7th.
DSBA Kathy Best Award recipient Tim
Pendell & Dave
Dombrowski.
Foley, Pendell & George Eichorn with
the
Kathy Best Award Plaque.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs and our fans are extremely thrilled to be a part of the 2013 Bridgestone
Nicknamed “The Big House,” the stadium is the
of the new year to celebrate the origin and traditions
NHL Winter Classic,” said Brian Burke, Maple Leafs
largest in North America . It is anticipated that the
of hockey.
President and General Manager. “The rich hockey
Further details on the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Win-
heritage of these two Original Six hockey clubs will
all-time world attendance record for a hockey game.
ter Classic®, including the official event logo, ticket-
make for an extremely memorable event played in
The game will be broadcast live on NBC in the U.S.
ing information and uniform design for each team,
front of the NHL’s largest crowd ever. The atmo-
and on CBC and RDS in Canada .
will be released in the coming months. Fans can visit
sphere and pageantry will be an outstanding spectacle
www.NHL.com/winterclassic and www.Detroitred-
for our sport.”
"The Red Wings' tradition of excellence, Detroit
wings.com/2013winterclassic for the latest news.
“For the players on the Toronto Maple Leafs and
the Detroit Red Wings, having this opportunity to
Maple Leafs create a Winter Classic scenario for the
Two members of the NHL’s “Original Six®,” the
ages," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "The meet-
Red Wings and Maple Leafs are longtime rivals, hav-
play hockey outdoors at ‘The Big House’ in front of
ing of these two 'Original Six' rivals, at this iconic
ing first played against each other on Jan. 4, 1927 as
a passionate and potentially record-setting crowd will
venue, will lift this Winter Classic to incomparable
the Toronto St. Patricks defeated the Detroit Cougars
be a unique experience that they will always remem-
heights. The demand to be there will be so great that
2-1 in a game near Detroit. Just over a month later,
ber,” said NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr. “The
this event could only be held at 'The Big House.'"
the Toronto team was re-named the Maple Leafs.
Leafs and Red Wings Players are looking forward to
In concert with the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter
The Maple Leafs captured a 4-3 victory on Saturday,
what should be a great day for everyone involved.”
Classic®, beginning in mid-December Comerica Park
Jan. 7, 2012 in the only regular-season meeting of the
in downtown Detroit will be home to a celebration
teams this season, marking the 644th regular-season
est stadium in the U.S. after the completion of seating
of hockey titled the Hockeytown Winter Festival™.
contest between the franchises. As of today, each is
renovations in 2010 increased its official capacity to
The main attraction of the festival will be an ice rink
the second most-common regular-season opponent
109,901. The historic home of Wolverine football
built on the Comerica Park field where a special game
for the other. The Maple Leafs have faced only the
easily becomes the largest venue to host the Bridges-
between notable Red Wings and Maple Leafs alumni
Montreal Canadiens more often; the Red Wings only
tone NHL Winter Classic®.
– the NHL Alumni Showdown – will be played.
the Chicago Blackhawks.
Not only is the Detroit-Toronto hockey rivalry a
Michigan Stadium re-claimed the title of the larg-
“It’s more than appropriate that the NHL’s biggest regular-season event is now moving to North
games between teams representing every level of
storied one, it is a competitive one. All-time dur-
America’s biggest venue,” said Jon Miller, president
hockey and opportunities for open skating for the
ing the regular season, Detroit (275-273-93-3) has
programming, NBC Sports & NBC Sports Network.
public. Over a quarter of a million fans are expected
captured 646 points against Toronto, holding an
“If any venue can grow the spectacle of the NHL
to watch youth games, high school hockey games,
advantage by the slimmest of margins over Toronto’s
Winter Classic, it’s The Big House. We continue to be
sled hockey games, AHL games, OHL games and
645 versus Detroit (276-275-93-0).
extraordinarily proud of our contribution in creating
more. The Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate
More than just a regular-season phenomenon, the
of the Red Wings, will play the Toronto Marlies, the
rivalry remains as profound and closely contested in
AHL affiliate of the Maple Leafs, on the Comerica
the Stanley Cup® Playoffs. The 117 playoff games
Park rink. For the first time in its history, the Great
between the franchises is the second most in NHL
Lakes Invitational will be played outdoors as Michi-
history (Boston vs. Montreal=170). The Red Wings
gan Tech, the University of Michigan, Michigan State
have won 59 of those games to the Maple Leafs’ 58,
and Western Michigan University will be part of the
outscoring Toronto 321-311. However, the Maple
Hockeytown Winter Festival. Also, the ballpark will
Leafs hold the edge in terms of playoff series victo-
host two OHL matchups: the Windsor Spitfires vs.
ries, 12-11.
Knights.
ski.
proud to show the world why we love Hockeytown!”
hosting a regular-season game outdoors at the onset
Saginaw Spirit and the Plymouth Whalers vs. London
Dombrow
DSBA President Vicki Foley & Dave
positive economic impact to our community. We are
The 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®
Jan. 1, the National Hockey League announced today.
The outdoor rink at Comerica Park will feature
Dave Dombrowski Press Conference
of their passion for their city and for hockey.”
continues the tradition the NHL® has established of
's passion for hockey and the glorious history of the
booklet.
ce Fielder's sons check out a Tigers
of the sport of hockey will provide a tremendous
2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on Tuesday,
2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® could set an
ce Fielder
Scott Boros, Dave Dombrowski, Prin
.
Park
erica
& Mike Ilitch at Com
Hockeytown Winter Festival is just the latest example
“Mike and Marian Ilitch are deeply committed to
“We are honored to host the 2013 Bridgestone
NHL Winter Classic® and bring the Hockeytown
Winter Festival to our fans,” said Red Wings Owner
their beloved Detroit. That commitment has never
Michael Ilitch. “This is one of the greatest sports
wavered,” Commissioner Bettman added. “The
towns ever and to be able to host this celebration
and growing this tremendous event with our partners
at the NHL.”
Detroit Boxing News
Thoughts on Joe Paterno
Detroit Boxer Andy Lee, from Hockeytown Cafe. Photos courtesy of
Mike Alberts.
DSBA Member Rich Eldridge shares his thoughts on the legendary Penn State coach.
ation
Andy Lee, the Irish / Kronk boxing sens
apan
announced Feb. 7th that he will make
ng Card
pearance in the ring for the Kront Boxi
to a
prior
week
one
just
10...
possibly on March
Lee
en.
Gard
re
Squa
scheduled fight at Madison
piCham
d
is in line for a Middleweight Worl
made at
onship fight. The announcement was
ciation
the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Asso
oit.
Detr
in
Cafe
n
luncheon at Hockeytow
Four weeks ago, the college football world lost
Marathon Man
Celebrating Tomas Holmstrom's 1,000th NHL Game. Photos courtesy of Dave
Reginek..
Tomas Holmstrom enters the ice for
the pre-game ceremony with his fami
ly.
Tomas and his wife Annelie with children Max, Isak and Isabel, joined by
Red Wings owners Mike & Marian Ilitch and NHL Vice Presidnet Mike
Murphy.
in the scandal about former defensive coordinator
all-time greatest head coach that have shoes that
a coaching icon in former Penn State Football
Jerry Sandusky molesting little children, I said to
will never be filled. Joe Paterno at Penn State is
Head Coach Joe Paterno at the age of 85.
myself, "Joe, you should have quit when you were
no exception. Paterno was to Penn State what
on top and weren't gonna accomplish anything big
Knute Rockne was to Notre Dame, Bill Snyder
like you did in 2008."
to Kansas State, Frank Beamer to Virginia Tech,
A lot of good things can be said about Paterno
or JoePa as most people like to refer to him as.
I've been a critic of Joe Pa for a long time. One
Among the undefeated seasons the Nittany
Bobby Bowden to Florida State and Bear Bryant
of my biggest criticisms was that Paul "Bear" Bry-
Lions went unblemished under Paterno in 1969
to Alabama. That NCAA Division 1 FBS record
ant was always a better head coach than Paterno
and 1994. The 1969 team went undefeated for the
of career victories (409) will never be matched
was, based on head-to-head battles between Joe
second straight season and had great players such
or surpassed. In college football, that record will
Pa and the Bear, and what the Bear achieved. Joe
as Maxwell Award winning DL Mike Reid. Who
be right up there with Rockne's winning percent-
Pa should have quit coaching football sometime
knows what would've happened had undefeated
age of .881, Oklahoma's 47-game winning streak
before it eventually ended. I thought he should've
Penn State played undefeated #1 Texas in the Cot-
(1953-57), Wisconsin RB Ron Dayne's career
called it a career after the 2003 season when Penn
ton Bowl? The 1994 Nittany Lions had a lot of top
rushing yards record (6,397) and more to name.
State got back to losing from 2003-04. When the
offensive players and played tougher competition
As the landscape of college football goes for-
Nittany Lions got back on top of things in 2005 -
in their second season of Big Ten play. Penn State
ward, there will never be another head coach like
his 40th season of being Penn State's head coach
beat Michigan in the Big House and had a 35-31
Joe Paterno.
- and won a share of the Big Ten title (with Ohio
comeback road win over Illinois after being down,
State) and beat Florida State in the Orange Bowl,
21-0. Its too bad there wasn't a BCS system that
-Rich Eldridge, DSBA Associate Member
Joe Pa should have ended his career right there.
could've made Big Ten champion Penn State play
Football and Pro Wrestling Historian
There was nothing more he could accomplish
against Big Eight (and eventual national champi-
while Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconisn were
ons) Nebraska in a bowl game to determine the
among the top teams in the Big Ten. When Paterno
undisputed national champions of college football.
was fired this past November for his involvement
A lot of college football teams have their own