By Butch Davis

Special Report for: DSBA

Indy Car Series driver Darren Manning of the A.J. Foyt Racing team along with Grand Prix Event Chairman Bud Denker, Public and Community Relations Director Merrill Cain and Communications Associate Edward J. Williams were all featured guests Wednesday at the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DSBA) media event luncheon. The luncheon that was held at Hockeytown Café in Detroit, Wednesday afternoon as featured guests all took turns to promote the upcoming Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, August 29-31, 2008.

Manning, who finished fourth last season in the Indy Car Series race on Belle Isle, said at the luncheon “Big events are important and the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix committee has meant the challenge in its pursuit of excellent of making this stop on the race circuit the best in the country.

Grand Prix Event Chairman Bud Denker said that ticket sale are up 15 percent from last year and although Sunday tickets are almost sold out, Saturday tickets for the event maybe the best buy for the money. Denker stated,” Saturday is great day to take in the event at Belle Isle with the American Le Mans Series: Warm-up & Race Detroit Sports Car Challenge presented by Bosch, Indy Car Series: Practice & Qualifying and the SCCA Speed World Challenge GT: Practice.” In addition, Denker said, “Shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, the summertime groove of Sugar Ray will entertain fans at the Grand Prix, presented by XM Radio. The concert on the XM Stage in the Meijer Family Fun Zone is free for Saturday ticket holders at the Grand Prix and Sugar Ray will take the stage shortly after the completion of the Detroit Sports Challenge presented by Bosch American Le Mans Series race on Belle Isle.

By the way, do you remember last year when it was a very frustrating to get off the island because of transpires extremely heavy traffic? Well, Event Chairman Bud Denker insure that traffic related to leaving the island on the bus shuttles has been change to keep traffic moving getting off the island and to create with the intention of leaving Belle Isle with a credibly great excursion.

Yesterday I received my monthly edition of The Scoreboard, the newsletter for the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, and the member spotlight was none other than Paul Carey.

Besides being nicknamed ‘The Voice Of God’ and being recognized as Ernie Harwell’s fantastic play-by-play partner for 19 seasons of Detroit Tiger baseball, Carey was a tireless advocate of prep football and basketball in the state of Michigan from his WJR studio seat. Carey hosted the Michigan High School Football & Basketball Scoreboard Show at midnight on ‘JR for nearly 30 years. In an age of pre-Internet media, Carey was the only source for the lion’s share of scores that mattered most to metro Detroiters until the Saturday papers came out.

It’s time to recognize Paul Carey for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of prep sports in Michigan.

I’m proposing an idea to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to create the Paul Carey Award. Presented at the association’s football championships at Ford Field, the award would recognize a state media member for their contribution to covering prep sports, a deserving writer or broadcaster of high school sports in the state of Michigan. The award’s recipient should be decided by a committee after culling a list of deserving nominees from the athletic directors of the state association. Yes, it would garner a little additional attention to the state football finals, but more importantly, it would bring light to the outstanding contributions of so many dedicated media members statewide that treat prep sports like most writers treat a SuperBowl.

Speaking from personal experience, I’ll never forget waking up on a Saturday morning and finding a picture of myself and my Ferndale High rival on the cover, above the fold, mind you, of The Daily Tribune. Royal Oak’s public schools had many great athletes in the last 50 years — trust me when I say I wasn’t one of them — yet there I was. It’s a thrill many of us never forget and something I notice still today, how hard the local media works to bring positive attention to prep sports in their respective communities. This is one of the facets of prep sports that make me proud to still be around school sports today, and I can’t think of a better namesake for such an award than Paul Carey.

Carey wrote a touching but compelling foreword for my book, Metro Detroit’s High School Football Rivalries, and for my money, the foreword alone is worth the price of the book, a great retrospective of Detroit prep football. The son of a highly-respected high school football official who was the lead referee on many a Saginaw High-Saginaw Arthur Hill Thanksgiving Day game, Carey returned to Michigan after a stint in the military and took up the craft of radio. Because of his upbringing in and around Michigan prep sports, Carey developed a strong vernacular for the who and why of The Mitten’s high school scene, like how to pronounce Ishpeming and Escanaba, which games were most important for schools like Muskegon and Marysville, and who were the emerging powerhouses in Detroit’s rapidly-emerging suburbia like Southfield, Utica, Dearborn, Pontiac and Grosse Pointe.

After being hired by WJR, Carey asked permission of the station’s programming director to do the scoreboard show, and WJR jumped at the idea. It was free programming and it tied the station in with every community it reached in a very passionate way. If you think high school football is big today, it was everything back then. And so it began, a programming addition inserted at the midnight hour that became the song and verse of prep football after the marching band played it’s last note on Friday night.

It didn’t take long to catch on. Carey added a basketball show on Tuesdays and Fridays of the prep basketball season, and for one season, it was sponsored by the Detroit Pistons, even though the basketball show didn’t stick like football. If you were a prep sports fan like so many of us are in metro Detroit, you were up until midnight, waiting for Carey’s scoreboard show at the twelve o’clock hour. Sometimes Tiger baseball ran late, pushing the Tiger postgame, WJR news report and SportsWrap back — it didn’t matter– the football show went on, even as late as 12:45 am on one particular Friday night / Saturday morning.

I can still vividly remember Carey reporting the Friday night scores: “It was Detroit Pershing 20, Detroit Denby 16, Cass Tech defeated Cody 14-9, Detroit Martin Luther King 36, Detroit Chadsey 9…” Carey would read every Detroit Public School League score first, a clear nod the the city WJR operated within, and after the final PSL score, Carey would declare, “I’ll be back with the suburban scores after this.” Back from the commercial, Carey would rattle off every metro score with unfettered clarity and resonance. No one score was more important than any other, because Carey knew every score mattered to someone. A prep football Friday wasn’t complete until you listened to Carey’s Scoreboard Show.

Carey worked nearly four decades at WJR, broadcast with a Hall-Of-Fame partner for 19 seasons of baseball with one of the charter franchises of the American League and was accompanying vocalist on the soundtrack to the Tigers Bless You Boys’ championship season of 1984. Yet as many people in metro Detroit remember Carey for the Michigan High School Football Scoreboard Show as they do for Tiger baseball, in a city that will be a baseball town above all else. Even today, from his home in Florida, Carey still collects the All-State teams from the Detroit dailies and the Associated Press.

That’s a great, lasting legacy if you ask me, one that deserves to be remembered by the state’s prep sports leadership.

Reach Todd Cameron at 25cameron@gmail.com

Who would have guessed that at this point in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon — arguably the two biggest NASCAR names the last decade-plus — would be winless. Yet they are zero of the year.

That won’t prevent Stewart in his No. 20 Toyota machine and Gordon in his No. 24 Chevrolet from making the second of two Sprint Cup Series stops in Michigan this weekend. The 3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo is 200 laps (400 miles) on Sunday, August 17, at 1 p.m. and ESPN has flag-to-flag coverage.

The Carfax 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race (125 laps-250 miles) is on Saturday, August 16, 3:30 p.m., also at Michigan International Speedway. ESPN2 has the live coverage.

Competing with Stewart and Gordon at MIS are points-leader Kyle Busch, in the No. 1 car, driving a Toyota. Yes, Toyota is number one in 2008 American car sales and tops in the Sprint Cup series also.

Busch made history August 10 as he became the first driver in NASCAR history to win three road course races in one season. He led 52 laps from the pole and won the Centurion Boats at The Glen at Watkins Glen International in New York State. He also clinched a spot in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup title.

Busch has a remarkable season going for him and Toyota — he’s won 16 races in NASCAR’s top three series this season — eight in Sprint Cup, six in Nationwide and two in trucks.

Rounding out the Spring Cup series top five are: Carl Edwards, car no. 9 (Ford) 242 behind Busch; Jimmie Johnson, no. 7 (Chevy) 244 behind; Dale Earnhardt Jr., no. 22 (Chevy) 269 behind, and Jeff Burton, no. 17 (Chevy) 309 behind.

In positions six through 12 are Gordon, Stewart, Kasey Kahne (Dodge), Denny Hamlin (Toyota), Greg Biffle (Ford), Kevin Harvick (Chevy) and Matt Kenseth (Ford).

Earnhardt Jr. is looking to making it two consecutive Sprint Cup series wins at MIS. Junior won the LifeLock 400 Sprint Cup Series race on Father’s Day, snapping a 76-race winless streak. It was his first career Cup victory here.

Kurt Busch is the defending champion of the 3M Performance 400. His second career MIS victory helped thrust Busch into the 12-driver Chase for the Championship. Ten drivers led during the 2007 3M Performance 400. Gordon, Biffle, Robby Gordon, Johnson, Brian Vickers, Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Earnhardt Jr., Ward Burton and Ryan Newman all had the race lead at some point.

Kahne may be a favorite to win the 2008 3M Performance 400. He notched a second in June at MIS and now has five top-five finishes to his credit in Sprint Cup Michigan races which include a victory in the 3M Performance 400 in June 2006.

Seven seconds is the number of seconds by which winner of last year’s Carfax 250, Denny Hamlin, was in front of second place winner Kenseth. Hamlin got into the wall in his Chevrolet during a practice run only to turn around and crush the competition the next day. Hamlin managed to lead the final 40 laps and received his first career victory at MIS. His margin of victory set a Nationwide Series track record for the greatest margin of victory.

Mark Martin has led eight races in the Nationwide Series at MIS, the most of any driver. During those eight races Martin has led 304 laps, which coincidentally is also the most of any driver. The veteran has captured two Nationwide Series wins here and in his nine starts has finished in the top five every time except in 1997 and 1998 when he finished 11th and sixth, respectively.

Pit Notes: If you don’t win the pole, you may want to start fourth at MIS. Since NASCAR’s top series began racing in the Irish Hills in 1969, 12 drivers have won races starting from the fourth hole. The most recent winner from the fourth spot was Newman in June 2004. Fifteen drivers have won Cup races from the pole at MIS since 1969.

By grabbing the pole for last year’s 3M Performance 400 at MIS, Jeff Gordon now ranks third all-time in track history with five career pole awards. Besides his five poles, Gordon has won two Cup races at the two-mile oval, including in 2001 when he last won the Sprint Cup championship.

It’s an automotive fiesta this week in Michigan, with the Dream Cruise along Woodward Avenue and the two big races at MIS. Race fans won’t be getting much sleep…that much is for certain.

Tickets are available for both the 3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday and Saturday’s Carfax 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Tickets range from $55-$110 for Sunday and are $50 for Saturday. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS Ticket Hotline at (800) 354-1010.

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.

Special Writer

    I’ve been to many great events during my 28-year media career, including two Super Bowls, but if there is one day that I’d freeze in time, it is September 27, 1999, as the Tigers defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-2 in “The Finale” at Tiger Stadium as Robert Fick’s eighth inning grand slam still stands out in my mind plus: listening to Ernie Harwell at game’s end paying tribute and watching all the great players from past to present line up from center field to home plate are moments that were unforgettable. While watching the demolition of Tiger Stadium eats my heart, there will never be an event that tops this one. Before the game, interviewing my Tigers idols just made the day that much better.

    If there is one way to cushion the blow of this historical site, the Red Wings should build a new stadium at Michigan and Trumbull. They should name it Olympia Stadium and recreate the brick exterior. We know this site doesn’t lack accessibility or parking. When Mike Ilitch brought back Ernie Harwell to broadcast and let him retire on his own terms, the city rejoiced, after the public relations fiasco it created when he was dismissed. Ernie’s efforts have been outstanding in trying to preserve history and if a Hall of Famer can’t save it, no one will. But now that the demolition is started, this is a golden opportunity for Ilitch to score big with the community and turn this negative into a positive. He’ll get this stadium built faster than he thinks due to the emotion and sensibility of the situation.

  “That’s the best idea I’ve heard yet for the Corner,” said longtime Tigers booster Michael McGlinnen of Livonia.

   Here in South Florida, the Orange Bowl is being torn down to build a new stadium for the Marlins. The team name will be changed to the Miami Marlins, which was used years ago when there was a Florida State League team at Miami Stadium. There were Super Bowls, NCAA Championships, Miami Hurricanes and Dolphins championship teams in the current stadium site. Tiger Stadium has hosted the World Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Games, Detroit Lions games, NFL Championship Games, Joe Louis boxing bouts, etc. There is no reason that while those original sites are gone that new memories can’t be created on that land. Joe Louis Arena will also be preserved and the city could always find ways to use that building (maybe in conjunction with Cobo Center expansion) especially being on the waterfront. Detroiters need something to feel good about. This is a good place to start. While we can appreciate history, we shouldn’t be afraid of allowing history to connect the new generation to the old generation!

   Reach Scott Morganaroth at scottbullm@comcast.net.

Let the games begin! The 2008 Summer Olympic Games open Friday, August 8, in Beijing, China, as athletes, officials, media and dignitaries from around the world gather through August 24 for competition involving 10,500 athletes in 28 sports and 302 events.

Some stories to watch as they unfold the next few weeks in Asia :

-          Will U.S. swimming Michael Phelps be able to break Mark Spitz’ record for gold medals in a Summer Olympics?  Phelps is looking to capture eight gold medals and will swim at least 17 races in Beijing .

-          Will Chinese organizers be able to stage a dazzling and dissent-free Summer Games in their Communist capital of 17.4 million people?

-          Will $40 billion in Games-related construction at 12 of 37 venues help deter potential air pollution problems in Beijing ?

-          Will the athletes from China be able to dethrone the Americans in the overall medal-count, something they failed to do at the 2004 Athens Olympics?

-          Can the U.S. men’s basketball team live up to its hype with the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd playing selfishly under Coach Mike K (Krzyzewski)?

-          Will 41-year-old U.S. swimmer Dara Torres add to her career haul of nine Olympic medals?

-          Will the U.S. men’s gymnastics team recover from the loss of gold medalist Paul Hamm?

The Summer Olympics will be officially opened Friday by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Beijing National Stadium during a three-plus hour Opening Ceremony. President George W. Bush heads up the U.S. delegation at the Games. First Lady Laura Bush and former President George H.W. Bush will also be on hand. Several world leaders are skipping the opening ceremonies because of recent human rights tensions in Tibet .

Five Fuwa, each representing both a color of the Olympic rings and a symbol of Chinese culture, are the mascots of Beijing 2008. The Olympic slogan, “One World, One Dream” calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit. Yet threatens of a potential terror attack and dissident protests have placed the Chinese security team on high alert.

The United States is sending 596 athletes (310 men and 286 women) to these Olympics, and they’ll compete in 27 out of 28 sports. The U.S. did not qualify for the men’s or women’s team handball. Sorry handball fans!

The summer Olympians with Michigan ties are: Basketball – Tayshaun Prince (Pistons) and Katie Smith (Shock), Modern Pentathlon – Sheila Taormina (Livonia),  Rowing – Matt Hughes (Ludington) & Ellen Tomek (Flushing), Sailing – Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe),  Shooting – Daryl Szarenski (Saginaw), Soccer -  Kate Markgraf (Bloomfield Hills) & Lindsay Tarpley (Kalamazoo),  Swimming – Kara Lynn Joyce (Ann Arbor), Michael Phelps (Club Wolverine), Allison Schmitt (Canton), Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester) & Erik Vendt (Club Wolverine),  Track & Field – Dathan Ritzenheim (Rockford), Brian Sell (Rochester Hills), Anna Willard (Ann Arbor) & Lauryn Williams (Detroit), Water Polo – Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor) & Alison Gregorka (Ann Arbor) and Wrestling – Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor), Spenser Mango (Marquette), Randi Miller (Marquette) & Adam Wheeler (Marquette).

            Coaches and officials with Michigan links: Mike Bottom (U-M) is Croatian national team swimming coach, Bob Bowman (U-M & Club Wolverine) is assistant U.S. swimming coach, Steve Fraser (Hazel Park, U-M & EMU) is U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling coach, Kevin Jackson (Lansing) is U.S. men’s freestyle wrestling coach and Jon Urbanchek (U-M) is U.S. swimming special assistant.

            And don’t forget the two Toledo Mud Hens (the Tigers’ AAA farm club) who are playing for the U.S. baseball squad - infielder Mike Hessman and pitcher Blaine Neal. The U.S. does not send professional baseball players yet it does for men’s and women’s basketball. Go figure.

Incidentally, some 4,500 doping tests will be conducted at the Beijing Games which is a 25 percent increase from the 2004 Athens Games. At press time, there have been suspicions raised about various Olympic athletes taking foreign substances.

NBC had the first color broadcast live via satellite at the 1964 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Tokyo . In 2004 in Athens , NBC televised 1,200 hours of competition. This year, NBC (Channel 4 in Detroit ) plans 3,600 hours of coverage and 106 commentators on its flagship NBC-TV and its cable affiliates such as CNBC , USA , MSNBC and NBC Universal. NBC has owned the rights to the last six Summer Olympics and the last two Winter Olympics. For 2008, the network persuaded the International Olympic Committee to hold gymnastics and swimming finals in the morning so it will be prime time in the U.S.

“My first Olympics in Mexico City in 1968 were the first Olympics live in primetime and we had maybe two dozen commentators,” said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and Executive Producer of NBCU’s Olympic coverage.  “To have a roster of 106 commentators broadcasting 3,600 total hours is simply astounding.  It’s a tribute to David Neal and Molly Solomon that we’re able to put together such a talented and versatile roster, with a great mix of Olympic veterans and newcomers, particularly considering many of these sports are rarely televised.”

Nineteen-time Emmy Award-winner Bob Costas reprises his prime-time anchor role on NBC, a spot he’s held for the last six network Olympic telecasts. Jim Lampley (a record 14 Olympics) is the daytime host, a role he developed well on the 2004 and 2006 broadcasts. Mary Carillo is the new late-night host. Cable hosts are Alex Flanagan, Matt Vasgersian, Melissa Stark, Bill Patrick, Fred Roggin and Lindsay Czarniak. NBC’s lineup includes 28 Olympians who won a combined total of 42 Olympic medals (25 gold, 5 silver and 12 bronze).  “Team NBC” would have finished sixth at the Athens Olympics with 42 total medals behind Australia and Germany with 49 and ahead of Japan who amassed 37.

NBC correspondents include Carillo and Cris Collinsworth. On play-by-play are Tom Hammond & Ron Vaccaro (track & field); Al Trautwig (gymnastics), Dan Hicks (swimming), Craig Hummer (canoeing, cycling, triathlon & open water swimming), Ted Robinson (diving), Mike Breen, Chris Carrino & Mike Crispino (basketball); Bob Papa (boxing), JP Dellacamera, Glenn Davis, Adrian Healey and Steve Cangialosi (soccer); Chris Marlowe (beach volleyball), Paul Sunderland (volleyball), Wolf Wigo (water polo), Matt Devlin (wrestling), Andrea Joyce (rhythmatic gymnastics), Pat Parnell (cycling & canoeing), Tim Ryan (canoeing & rowing), Pete Pranica (weightlifting), Kenny Rice (equestrian), Joe Castellano (archery, softball & fencing), Barry MacKay (tennis), Eric Collins (baseball), Andrew Catalon (handball), Bill Clement (table tennis & shooting), Jim Kozimor (badminton) and Mike Corey (field hockey),

Commentators/analysts include newcomer Bela Karolyi (in-studio), Tim Daggett and Elfi Schlegel (gymnastics); Rowdy Gaines (swimming), Dwight Stones, Carol Lewis, Lewis Johnson, Ato Boldon, Craig Masback & Ed Eyestone (track & field); Cynthia Potter (diving), Doug Collins, Teresa Edwards, Steve Jones, Ann Meyers & Bob Salmi (basketball); Teddy Atlas (boxing), Marcelo Balboa, Shep Messing, Lori Walker & first time Olympic analyst Brandi Chastain (soccer); Karch Kiraly (beach volleyball) and Kevin Barnett (volleyball).

Also: Bob Fitzgerald (water polo), Rulon Gardner (wrestling), Kenan Harkin & Paul Sherwin (cycling); Siri Lindley (triathlon), Yaz Farooq (rowing), Joe Jacobi (canoeing), Heather Olson (synchronized swimming), Rod Stull (modern pentathlon), Shane Hamman (weightlifting), Melanie Smith-Taylor (equestrian), Michele Smith (softball), Jimmy Arias (tennis), Joe Magrane (baseball), Dawn Lewis (handball), Sean O’Neill (table tennis), Clement & Steve Kearney (badminton); Catalon & Mika’il Sankofa (fencing); Denise Parker (archery), Shari LeGate (shooting) and Nick Conway (field hockey).

Reporters include Joyce (gymnastics), Andrea Kremer (swimming/diving), Neumeier (track & field, diving), Craig Sagar (basketball), Jim Gray (boxing), Heather Cox (beach volleyball) and Marty Snider (cycling & triathlon). At the sports desk: Lester Holt, Peter Alexander, Eyee Hsu, Julie Foudy, Lindsay Czarniak, Alan Abrahamson, Lindsay Soto and Nancy Snyderman.

The NBC news division has dispatched Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Lester Holt, Richard Engels, Kevin Tibbles and weathermen Al Roker and Jim Cantore. The recent death of long-time Olympics anchor Jim McKay was a reminder of how ABC-TV was in place to cover the tragic kidnapping and murder of Israeli athletes in 1972.

CBC-TV (Channel 9 in Windsor ) has wall-to-wall coverage with Ron MacLean as primary anchor. Also, Canada ’s TSN will televise 150 hours from the Summer Olympics including 50 hours in prime-time.

ESPN’s 2008 Summer Olympic coverage will encompass providing news, interviews and highlights on multi-media platforms both in the U.S. and internationally as well serving as rights holder in Brazil . Each ESPN SportsCenter will feature live and taped Olympics coverage. Reporters Jeremy Shapp and George Smith are in Beijing . The 2008 Summer Games mark the fourth Olympics ESPN will broadcast in Brazil , and the first for both networks, ESPN Brasil and ESPN, which combined will air 30 live hours daily. Some 150 fully dedicated staffers, including 45 in China , will present six hours of live news and features daily. Pat Forde, Cim Caple, Elizabeth Merrill and Chris Sheridan represent ESPN.com in Beijing .

Westwood One radio has been the official radio network of the Olympic Games the past three decades. They will provide live updates from China three times per hour, 24 hours a day and will offer exclusive, live play-by-play coverage of basketball track & field, swimming, gymnastics and others. Steve Mason, Justin Kutcher, Kevin Kugler, Peter Vidmar, Jim Gray, Steve Futterman, Joe Tolleson and historian David Wallechinsky report.

Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com.

By George B. Eichorn

Of The Monitor

        SUMMERTIME THINGS:

        Catching a night-time Tigers game from the upper deck behind home plate with family and friends.

        Hearing about the new National Hockey League schedule and delighting in a Red Wings game at Wrigley Field on New Year’s Day 2009 against the Chicago Black Hawks.

        Seeing ageless Greg Norman battle up-and-coming star Padraig Harrington at Royal Birkdale at last week’s British Open. The new husband of Christ Evert, Norman faded badly in the final round to the hard-charging Irishman Harrington who made it two straight Open wins.

        Watching my brother fishing off the dock at my two sisters cottage on Elbow Lake. And seeing my neighbor take his boat out to Lake St. Clair every weekend to catch bass, perch and walleyes.

        Getting word from the Lions about training camp in Allen Park and the news that they will allow fans a few opportunities to see the team work out. And hearing John Kitna predict 10 wins for team.

        Witnessing the farce that has become the Brett Favre retirement and want-to-be no retirement from the Green Bay Packers.

        Looking at the American League standings and realizing that at 6 ½ games behind, the Tigers are still in the race despite their awful start. But can they only put together another long winning streak?

        Hearing from the Palace in Auburn Hills that Joe Dumars is still serious about making some roster moves for the team that disappointed far too many fans the last few seasons.

        Seeing those cool Michigan tourism commercials on television and marveling at all this state has to offer, from Detroit to Upper Peninsula.

        Hearing the news from East Lansing and knowing Mark Dantonio is doing all he can to make coaching the Michigan State Spartans an enjoyable and winning experience.

        Seeing Justin Verlander return to the form that we knew in 2006 and 2007, in defeating the Baltimore Orioles last Sunday, 5-1.

        Attending a Detroit Shock home game in Auburn Hills and witnessing the exciting atmosphere that the team and its fans generate.

        Receiving updated news on the PGA Championship to be contested on the majestic Green Monster of Oakland Hills Country Club in the first week of August.

        Walking around the neighborhood and seeing the smiling faces and beautiful manicured lawns and summer flowers.

        Hearing about the new thoroughbred race track in New Boston and realizing I must make a trip out there to see the place in action.

        Seeing pictures from Michigan Stadium and knowing that all the construction will someday make the place a far better attraction and magnet for fans and alumni.

        Visiting the new mobile unit of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and realizing that this indeed could be the start of something big for the 54-year-old organization.

        Watching high school kids gearing up for the football season at gridirons here and around the state. Just drink enough fluids, guys.

        Knowing that owner Roger Penske is alive and well in the Indy Racing League with his 1-2 podium finbish at last Sunday’s Mid-Ohio IRL race. The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is only five weeks away.

        Smiling at the news the NHL schedule has a more balanced slate of games including Original Six matchups like the Red Wings-Canadiens, Red Wings-Maple Leafs and Red Wings-Rangers.

        Receiving word that U-M football standout and Michigan Sports Hall of Fame member Dan Dierdorf is getting the Pete Rozelle Award for Radio-Television at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 2. Also, hearing that Ken Kal was getting the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters group.

        Watching the marvelous pre-game ceremonies from Yankee Stadium involving Tiger great Al Kaline and so many other greats. Major League Baseball and the Yankees pulled off an impressive program without detracting from the All-Star game itself.

        Following the results from the Bayview Port Huron to Mackinac race and the Chicago to Mackinac race — and wishing I was on that famous island watching the boats sail in with chocolate pecan fudge to feast on!

        Seeing people come out to Metro Parks such as Stoney Creek and Metropolitan Beach to see and hear the soothing sounds of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in free, open-air performances.

        Volunteering at the annual Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Grant Fund golf outing at Cherry Creek in Shelby Township. And the satisfaction knowing that the monies will go to helping young and aspiring sports broadcasters in southeastern Michigan and elsewhere.

        Witnessing the destruction of Tiger Stadium yet knowing that it served our community so very well for decades and decades. It is not a good thing seeing The Corner being destroyed yet it’s something that had to be done to make that area viable and attractive again.

•         Buy George Eichorn’s book, “Detroit Sports Broadcasters On the Air,” for $19.99 or less at www.amazon.com.

        One hundred years is a long time for any sports tradition. It’s time to welcome powerboat racing fans to the banks of the Detroit River for the 2008 Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold CupGold Cup, July 11-13.
        Many of the sport’s past and present drivers are legends in the unlimited hydroplane class of racing. J.M. Wainwright, Gar Wood, Guy Lombardo, Lee Schoenith, Bill Muncey, Bill Schumacher, Dean Chenoweth, Tom D’Eath, Chip Hanuer and Dave Villwock are all past winners of the prestigious Gold Cup. Hanuer, in fact, has his named engraved the most times — 11 — on the famed powerboat trophy.
        The first Gold Cup winner was in 1904 when Standard, driven and owned by C.C. Riote of the Columbia Yacht Club, won with a standard (three heat) average speed of 23.6 miles per hours. The 2007 champion, U-16 Miss Elam Plus, driven by Villwock and owned by Sven Ellstrom won with a 147.672 mph speed. How times have changed!
        The APBA Challenge Cup, known commonly as the APBA Gold Cup, is among the most noteworthy of motorsports trophies, in part because it is the oldest active trophy in all of motorsports. The trophy was first awarded in 1904. By comparison, the first Indianapolis 500 race was held in 1911 and their Borg-Warner trophy was first awarded in 1936.
        “Hydroplane racing became a tradition in Detroit when designer Christopher Columbus Smith (of the Chris Craft boat company) built a Detroit-based boat that would crack the 60 miles-per-hour speed barrier, capturing the Gold Cup in 1915,” said historian Fred Farley.
        “As the speeds grew so did the crowds, and hydroplane racing became a major Detroit event. Through the decades Detroit builders, drivers, fans and sponsors have proven themselves to be among the best.”
        The 2008 three-day event covers a large area on the Detroit River, so there are many different viewing areas and various ticket options. Some fans come out for a casual picnic with a view from the water’s edge. Others plan their entire weekend around this summer tradition, complete with music, outdoor cookouts and a party atmosphere.
        More than fifty members of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association members and their guests attended a special DSBA 2008 Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup Preview media luncheon on June 26 at Sindbad’s On the River in Detroit. DSBA president Rich Kincaide presided and guest speakers on hand to discuss the 100th anniversary Gold Cup race represented sponsors — the Chrysler Jeep Superstores — and race organizers, the Detroit River Regatta Association. That gathering featured a lively question and answer session.
        According to Farley, the premier unlimited hydroplane race originated in 1904. In 1957, Seattle hosted the 50th running of that prestigious trophy. Promoters of the 50th annual race billed it as “The Golden Gold Cup.” Between 1957 and 2008, the Gold Cup has been contested every year except one, 1960. That was the time when high winds forced cancellation of the race on Lake Mead, Nevada.
        Unlimiteds expected to run the “Eastern Swing” including the 2008 Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup in Detroit (sponsor names are subject to change):

- U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep (Driver Jimmy King, owner Ed Cooper)
- U-5 Formulaboats.com (Driver Jeff Bernard, owner Ted Porter family)
- U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto (Driver Steve David, owner City of Madison, Indiana)
- U-7 Formulaboats.com (Driver Mike Allen, owner Ted Porter family)
- U-10 Miss Ahern Rentals (Driver David Bryant, owners Kim and Debbie Gregory)
- U-13 Miss Detroit Yacht Club/Spirit of Detroit (Driver J. Michael Kelly and owner Dave Bartush)
- U-25 Jarvis Fire and Water Repair (Driver and owner Dr. Ken Muscatel)
- U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing (Driver Jean Theoret, owners Billy and Jane Schumacher)
- U-50 Michigan Mortgage Presents Spirit of the Navy (Driver David Williams/Brian Perkins, owner Greg O’Farrell)
- U-100 Mirageboats.com (Driver Greg Hopp, owner Fred Leland)

        At the 2008 Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup, every boat in the race will utilize a “cabover” configuration. In addition to the world-class unlimiteds, you will see boats from the Offshore Pro Series, Superlight Tunnels and vintage race boats including Grand Prix’s and the wild-riding Jersey Speed Skiffs.
        The Navy’s West Coast Super Hornet Demo Team will demonstrate maneuvers of one of the U.S. Armed Forces’ most impressive aircraft, the FA-18.
        Other weekend 2008 Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup race events include a food court and the Navy “Accelerate Your Life Experience Tour” that gives firsthand looks at Navy life. It has original Navy footage, video games and 180-degree Immersa-Domes, which provide real-life environmental elements, such as sight, sound and smell.
        The Michigan Sports Hall Of Fame will have its mobile unit on hand with its excellent exhibits, plaques and historical photographs. You may test your skills in inflatable obstacle courses for different sports for a small fee.
        The Family Fun Zone area in the Hydromart will include activities and games such as free “Make & Take Crafts,” face painting, balloon artists and D.A.R.E. ID kits for the kids. Hours are Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
        Make your plans now for the historic 100th running of the 2008 Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup. For ticket information, call (586) 774-0980, visit www.gold-cup.com or email moreinfo@gold-cup.com.
       Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com.

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.