Halfway around the world from home, Flint boxer Claressa Shields still is waiting for a definitive answer about her Olympic qualification. But the cloudy picture is clearing, if not brightening. After losing a preliminary bout Sunday at the women’s world championships in Qinhuangdao, China — the final Olympic qualification tournament — the 17-year-old Shields was… Continue reading
John Niyo
News and commentary from the Detroit News sports columnist
American Jerome Singleton, who trained for two years at the University of Michigan, edged South Africa's Oscar Pistorius to win the gold medal in the men's 100 meters at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.
"World's Fastest Amputee" credits Michigan ties for his title
Dallas — Of the 100-plus athletes here at the U.S. Olympic media summit, there might not be a more engaging or entertaining one than Jerome Singleton, who in December 2010 finished up a triple major that’ll make your head hurt — math, physics and industrial engineering — at the University of Michigan as part of… Continue reading
Ten years later, we're still talking about practice?
Well, yes, we are. Because today’s the 10th anniversary of one of the all-time great question-and-answer sessions with a pro athlete. In a lengthy interview that was at times contentious — and at others hilarious — NBA star Allen Iverson started repeating himself when the subject turned to his practice habits and Larry Brown’s criticism after Iverson and… Continue reading
Wednesday's best reads: Chipmunks, fairy tales and folk legends
Five stories worth reading today, starting with 1) of our own from Tony Paul, who got Dmitri Young on the phone and got him talking about his brother’s latest trouble . 2) I’m not Sarah Phillips. Are you? No? Are you sure? Deadspin with a dizzying story about Twitter, ESPN, the price of fame — such that it is — and a reminder that… Continue reading
Victory, Victory? It's not that simple, Tigers' Leyland says
If you want to get Jim Leyland grumbling, just ask him about clubhouse chemistry. Like a lot of managers, he’ll tell you its importance is overblown, or at least misrepresented. Mostly, he believes that so-called “chemistry” is an effect rather than a cause. Knowing that, it was no surprise to hear him Tuesday afternoon dismissing… Continue reading
Shanahan: "I was very close to a one-game suspension" on Weber hit
Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s vice president in charge of player safety, continues to be a busy man, as the Stanley Cup playoffs have quickly become a three-ring circus of bad behavior. But even before the Penguins-Flyers series turned into a “Slapshot” movie sequel over the weekend, and even before the Rangers and Senators started trading head shots and pig-piling on… Continue reading
What will NHL do with Weber? Red Wings await an answer
The game was over. So Shea Weber deserves to miss the next one. That’s my opinion, at least. And it’s one that appears to be shared by many NHL observers this morning, after the Nashville Predators’ captain capped his team’s Game 1 playoff win over the Red Wings last night by gratuitously slamming Henrik Zetterberg’s face into the glass . We’ll see if the… Continue reading
Babcock, Mr. Hockey agree: Losing is no laughing matter
With Gordie Howe celebrating a birthday on Saturday — it’ll be No. 84 for No. 9, by the way — Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was asked after Friday’s morning skate if he had a favorite memory or story about Mr. Hockey. He paused for a minute, then shared one of many. “Here’s my favorite Gordie story… Continue reading
Next on the tee ... a woman? Augusta National can't avoid this hazard
This time, it’s not Martha Burk. It’s a sponsor. And not just any sponsor, either. So what will Augusta National Golf Club do now, as it clings to its traditions, no matter what most of the rest of us may think of them? It’s an intriguing question raised by a Bloomberg report about whether Augusta National, home to The… Continue reading
Fifteen years later, March 26 still rings a bell for Red Wings fans
If it seems like forever ago, well, a lot has changed since 1997. But if today’s date rings a bell for hockey fans in Detroit, there’s a reason. Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Joe Louis Arena brawl between the Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche, a seminal moment in the Wings’ championship era of the… Continue reading